“These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. 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? 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.’
“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 heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! [30] Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’ You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. – Deuteronomy 5:22–33
Paul Gilchrest writes:
Moses recalls the resplendent glory and majesty of Yahweh on Sinai and Israel’s reaction. The mountain itself had been ablaze with fire. The fear of the people at hearing God speak stood in stark contrast to Adam and Eve’s delight in the presence and fellowship of the LORD in the garden of Eden. Instead of taking God’s gracious work as beneficial, their fallenness made them perceive it as a threat to life [very much like Adam, after he had sinned, when he hid himself from the LORD out of fear]. Nevertheless, in faith they acknowledged the LORD as their God and committed themselves to obedience, asking only that Moses serve as their mediator before the awesome King.
God honored Israel’s response. Everything they said was good and God yearned for their heartfelt obedience. Deuteronomy is an exposition of God’s way of life which is rewarded with prosperity and longevity.
MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 98
Q. 98. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.