God rarely praised the ancient Israelites, so when he did, I paid attention.
So what did they say?
As a result, they made a request to Moses.
Why wasn't that sin? You see, in our Christian culture, we approach God in a cavalier fashion. We open the Bible, go to church, and go to our prayer closets as if we're going to the movies. I know I sin in this fashion. We do not realize that when we read God's Word, we are hearing the words of the Holy God of the universe. We do not realize that when we fellowship with other Christians at church, that the people we speak with are temples that God dwells in. We do not realize that when we go to our prayer closets, that we are communing with the God who gives us our every breath.
We are so used to coming to God directly, that we do not realize that we only have access to God through a mediator. Just as the Israelites recognized their need to approach God through Moses, so we must recognize our need to approach God through Jesus, our Mediator (Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Acts 3:22; 7:37).
Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). And through Jesus, we have direct access to the Father (John 16:26-27). So let us not approach God in a cavalier fashion, as if we are not worthy of death in approaching him. Let us recognize that we deserve to die for approaching his Holiness in our unholiness. Jesus, our Mediator, died in our place, so that we can fellowship with the Father.
May we express a reverent fear that would please our Father and magnify the worth of the work of his Son on the cross.
And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, "I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:28-29)The Israelites said something, that God heard. God agreed that their words were right. Not only that, but with high excitement, God emphasized how he wished that they would always say those things because the words they spoke came from thoughts that were born out of worship, that is, they had a proper reverence for God.
So what did they say?
And you said, "Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived?" (Deuteronomy 5:24-26)They recognized God's worthiness. They felt the weight of God's glory through seeing him as a consuming fire and hearing him thunder out of a cloud. They recognized their unworthiness. They felt the weight of their sin -- and saw that they deserved death.
As a result, they made a request to Moses.
Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. (Deuteronomy 5:27)They didn't want to hear God speak anymore. They wanted God to speak to Moses so that they could hear from Moses instead of directly from God. Wouldn't you expect this to be sin? I did. But it wasn't! Instead, God praised them for it!
Why wasn't that sin? You see, in our Christian culture, we approach God in a cavalier fashion. We open the Bible, go to church, and go to our prayer closets as if we're going to the movies. I know I sin in this fashion. We do not realize that when we read God's Word, we are hearing the words of the Holy God of the universe. We do not realize that when we fellowship with other Christians at church, that the people we speak with are temples that God dwells in. We do not realize that when we go to our prayer closets, that we are communing with the God who gives us our every breath.
We are so used to coming to God directly, that we do not realize that we only have access to God through a mediator. Just as the Israelites recognized their need to approach God through Moses, so we must recognize our need to approach God through Jesus, our Mediator (Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Acts 3:22; 7:37).
Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). And through Jesus, we have direct access to the Father (John 16:26-27). So let us not approach God in a cavalier fashion, as if we are not worthy of death in approaching him. Let us recognize that we deserve to die for approaching his Holiness in our unholiness. Jesus, our Mediator, died in our place, so that we can fellowship with the Father.
May we express a reverent fear that would please our Father and magnify the worth of the work of his Son on the cross.
No comments:
Post a Comment