Verses 1-5, 9
-
We are to tremble before God, worship Him, and praise Him simply because He reigns over all, He is great, and He is holy. He is so pure and powerful and His presence is as a consuming fire. If the whole earth will be moved with trembling in fear of God, certainly we must tremble in fear God today. Who God is should be reason enough to worship Him. Pray to perceive and know His holiness and power more deeply!
-
Verse 4. But as powerful as God is, He uses His strength only for justice and righteousness. His power is never used for evil. We will do well if we follow His example. Use your person, your resources, and your abilities only to do good, not evil.
Verses 6-7
-
Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are three individuals in Scripture who experienced God in great ways, praying to Him receiving answers, hearing Him speak to them. They are also noted for their overall obedience, in that they kept the commandments that He gave to them.
-
If you want to experience the same intimacy with God, pray often and obey the Word to the best of your ability. It's that simple; your closeness with God will grow. We also can act as priests to God (Revelation 1:6), knowing God and helping others come to know Him also.
-
Verse 8
-
Moses, Aaron, and Samuel lived during a time, under the law of Moses, when God would punish Israel's sins openly. Many people saw God as vengeful, and feared Him so much that they worried they would die if they heard from Him at all (Exodus 20:18-19).
-
And yet, these three men, even though they saw so much judgment from God, understood Him as loving and forgiving. How could this be?
-
A person who knows God's character well knows that even in His judgment He is showing grace (Psalm 103:10). When we see God and His holy law, we see our sins as more exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13). As a result, we realize how much punishment we deserve; and yet, God remains slow to anger and patient. And even when He does punish, He shows grace. Think of it. Those who truly know God see even His vengeance as merciful. Always remember how much grace God is giving you!
-