Exodus:33

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* Verse 1-6 - Those whom God pardons , must be made to know what their sin deserved . "Let them go forward as they are ;" this was very expressive of God 's displeasure . Though he promises to make good his covenant with Abraham , in giving them Canaan , yet he denies them the tokens of his presence they had been blessed with . The people mourned for their sin . Of all the bitter fruits and consequences of sin , true penitents most lament , and dread most , God 's departure from them . Canaan itself would be no pleasant land without the Lord 's presence . Those who parted with ornaments to maintain sin , could do no less than lay aside ornaments , in token of sorrow and shame for it . * Verse 7-11 - Moses took the tabernacle , and pitched it without the camp . This seems to have been a temporary building , set up for worship , and at which he judged disputes among the people . The people looked after him ; they were very desirous to be at peace with God , and concerned to know what would come to pass . The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry , now returned . If our hearts go forth toward God to meet him , he will graciously come to meet us . * Verse 12-23 - Moses is very earnest with God . Thus , by the intercession of Christ , we are not only saved from ruin , but become entitled to everlasting happiness . Observe here how he pleads . We find grace in God 's sight , if we find grace in our hearts to guide and quicken us in the way of our duty . Moses speaks as one who dreaded the thought of going forward without the Lord 's presence . God 's gracious promises , and mercy towards us , should not only encourage our faith , but also excite our fervency in prayer . Observe how he speeds . See , in a type , Christ 's intercession , which he ever lives to make for all that come to God by him ; and that it is not by any thing in those for whom he intercedes . Moses then entreats a sight of God 's glory , and is heard in that also . A full discovery of the glory of God , would overwhelm even Moses himself . Man is mean , and unworthy of it ; weak , and could not bear it ; guilty , and could not but dread it . The merciful display which is made in Christ Jesus , alone can be borne by us . The Lord granted that which would abundantly satisfy . God 's goodness is his glory ; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy , more than by the glory of his majesty . Upon the rock there was a fit place for Moses to view the goodness and glory of God . The rock in Horeb was typical of Christ the Rock ; the Rock of refuge , salvation , and strength . Happy are they who stand upon this Rock . The cleft may be an emblem of Christ , as smitten , crucified , wounded , and slain . What follows , denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state , even as revealed in Christ ; for this , when compared with the heavenly sight of him . is but like seeing a man that is gone by , whose back only is to be seen . God in Christ , as he is , even the fullest and brightest displays of his glory , grace , and goodness , are reserved to another state . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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