JUNE 5, 2023 – BEFORE GOD

READ: Hebr. 12:18-24

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life … the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb … and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness …. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire…  – Deut. 4:9-14

 The people of Israel witnessed a very impressive event. They were all summoned together by Moses on the command of God. There they all saw the darkness and the blazing fire of the mountain up to the heart of the sky, and they heard a voice from the midst of the fire, the voice of the LORD accompanied by the blast of a trumpet (Hebrews 12:19). 

No form, no person was visible, but they heard God’s voice from that fire (Exodus 19-21). And God’s voice spoke the Ten Commandments. No one could escape these penetrating words. They were engraved in the heart of all the Israelites while they saw only the blazing fire in the darkness at the foot of the mountain.

Moses insists that this significant event must never be forgotten. It must really stay with them their whole life and they must also teach it to their children and grandchildren. This must be done not only because it was impressive but especially because it was decisive for their future life. Be on guard, that this encounter with God never fades from your heart. 

How could that ever happen, you wonder. Yet the LORD finds urgent exhortation necessary. For they must fear Him, honoring Him with great reverence as the holy God, all the days of their life on earth. The experience of the wilderness journey taught how quickly they forget God’s covenant and law.

How about us? We have seen nothing, but we hear God’s law every Sunday!

Why must the law be read every week?

Singing: Ps. 99:5