Day 39, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Exodus 19–20
Living in The Fear of God
What do these things have in common?
- being buried in a snowstorm
- barely escaping injury from a fallen tree branch struck by lightning
- a near-fatal traffic accident
- a grave medical diagnosis
These are fearful tests. We wonder if this will be the time we meet our maker. These are also wake-up calls. They get our attention and cause us to live more clear-headed and righteous. This was what it was like when the Israelites met God at Mt. Sinai in the Sinai desert.
Proposal for the meeting
God preceded their meeting with a promise. The LORD says,
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you [Moses] are to speak to the Israelites. (Exodus 19:5-6, NIV)
This is a conditional covenant (promise). If the people fully obey the LORD and all his directives, he will treasure them as his own. God will choose her over any nation on the earth.
Although most of us are not Jewish, true believers in Jesus Christ today have a similar promise from God, but this commitment is unconditional. God established and purchased it through the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter writes,
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1Peter 2:9-10, NIV)
The Apostle Paul also writes,
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:11-13, NIV).
Preparation for the meeting
The Israelites agreed to obey the covenant. Afterward, they prepared themselves to meet with God. Moses instructs them to wash their clothes and abstain from sexual relations for three days. The washing of clothes doesn’t bring about any righteousness, but it’s symbolic and done out of respect for their holy God. Abstaining from sexual relations for three days is required so they might give their full attention to the LORD.
How do we prepare ourselves before God? Do we wash ourselves and change into different clothing? Physically, no, but spiritually, yes! The Apostle Paul tells us: “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:11b, NIV). By each of us accepting Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, he washes us and makes us clean (more...). Are you washed? Are you ready to meet God?Meeting God
On the day of meeting with God, he reveals himself to his people with thunder, lightning, a loud trumpet sound, and a smoking mountain. He displays himself in this way so they might fear the LORD and keep from sinning (Exodus 20:20). And, fear him they do!
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:18-19, NIV)
Such a scene would make us fearful, too. The LORD is awesome in the glory of his might and holiness! Thirty-three times in the Bible, it is recorded that people lay prostrate in the presence of the LORD!
When God has the Israelites’ attention, he proclaims ten commandments which they are to obey (Exodus 20:3-17). The first four direct them to keep reverence for God. The last six direct us to exercise morality and respect for each other. (more…).
Here are the ten for us to remember:
Ten Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:2-17)
Living in the fear of the LORD
Are we ready to listen to God? After he cleanses us, we need to read his Word, the Bible, to discover what behavior pleases him or doesn’t please him. We shouldn’t live in self-indulgence, waiting for the next disaster. The LORD will bless our lives if we live reverently before him, seeking to please him, and we love our neighbor as ourselves.
Discussion
How can we prepare to meet God? What might that meeting be like?
What are some of the ten commandments?
Why and how should we live in the fear of the LORD?
Focus Verse
Exodus 20:20 (NIV) “Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’”
Watch this classic version of Moses receiving the 10 commandments here.
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author
Looking Ahead: We know we are to live in the fear of the LORD, but how should this affect our daily relationships with other people? Our next lesson is entitled, The Importance of Social Laws and Enforcement.
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