I will come up — As if he had said, ye deserve that I should do so. Put off thine ornaments, that I may know what to do with thee — That is, put thyself into the posture of a penitent, that the dispute may be determined in thy favour, and mercy may rejoice against judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Israel stript themselves of their ornaments, by the mount; or, as some read it, at a distance from the mount — Stand afar off, like the publican, Luke 18:13. God bid them lay aside their ornaments, and they did so; both to shew in general their deep mourning, and in particular to take a holy rev... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses took the tabernacle — The tent wherein he gave audience, heard causes, and inquired of God, and pitched it without, afar off from the camp — To signify to them that they were unworthy of it. Perhaps this tabernacle was a model of the tabernacle that was afterwards to be erected, a hasty dr... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Moses went out to the tabernacle, the people looked after him — In token of their respect to him whom before they had slighted, and their dependence upon his mediation. By this it appeared, that they were full of concern what would be the issue.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they saw the cloudy pillar, that symbol of God's presence, give Moses the meeting, they all worshipped every man at his tent door — Thereby they signified, Their humble adoration of the divine majesty. Their thankfulness to God, that he was pleased to shew them this token for good, for if h... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord spake to Moses face to face as a man speaketh to his friend — Which intimates not only that God revealed himself to Moses with greater clearness than to any other of the prophets, but also with greater expressions of particular kindness than to any other. He spake not as a prince to a s... [ Continue Reading ]
Moses now returned to the door of the tabernacle, as an important supplicant for two favours, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. He is earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Cana... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me thy way — What favour God had expressed to the people they had forfeited the benefit of; and therefore Moses lays the stress of his plea upon what God had said to him. By this therefore he takes hold on God, Lord, if thou wilt do any thing f... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence — He speaks as one that dreaded the thought of going forward without God's presence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherein shall it be known to the nations that have their eyes upon us, that I, and thy people, have found grace in thy sight; so as to be separated from all people upon earth? Is it not that thou goest with us? Nothing short of that can answer these characters.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken — See the power of prayer! See the riches of God's goodness! See in type the prevalency of Christ's intercession, which he ever lives to make for all those that come to God by him! And the ground of that prevalency, is purely in his own merit, it is be... [ Continue Reading ]
I beseech thee shew me thy glory — Moses had lately been in the mount with God, and had had as intimate communion with God, as ever any man had on this side heaven, and yet he is still desiring a farther acquaintance. Shew me thy glory — Make me to see it; so the word is: make it some way or other v... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou canst not see my face — A full discovery of the glory of God would quite overpower the faculties of any mortal man. I will make all my goodness pass before thee — He had given him wonderful instances of his goodness in being reconciled to Israel; but that was only goodness in the stream, he wou... [ Continue Reading ]
I will put thee in a cleft of the rock — In that he was to be sheltered from the dazzling light, and devouring fire of God's glory. This was the rock in Horeb, out of which water was brought, of which it is said, That rock was Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4. 'Tis in the clefts of this rock that we are s... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will take away my hand — Speaking after the manner of men. And thou shalt see my back — parts — The face in man is the seat of majesty, and men are known by their faces, in them we take a full view of men; that sight of God Moses might not have, but such a sight as we have of a man who is gone... [ Continue Reading ]