Deuteronomy 5:22-27 – Draw near to God to listen and obey

In six verses, Deuteronomy 5:22-27 described the terrifying scene when God handed the children of Israel the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Amid the fire and the thick gloom of dark smoke engulfing the mountain, God spoke with a voice louder than thunder. It was both an awesome scene and a moment of solemnity. It was a great display of magnificence but also a display of terror. Everything that took place not only revealed the glory of God but also called attention to the Ten Commandments He had just given. They were a set of God’s holy will when embraced would set them apart as His people.  

The law, while delivered by Moses, originated from God, the source. They were not the invention of men but came directly from the mouth of God. He spoke amid fire and thick gloom created by the smoke. Hence it must be seriously embraced. The last phrase in verse 22 that says, “He added no more”, indicating the completeness and permanence of the Ten Commandments. God, Himself had them written on two tablets of stones with His own finger. The intention was clear. He wanted them to be a perpetual and pure transmission in their whole entirety.  

The voice and the awesome scene in the giving of the Ten Commandments had an enormous effect on the people. The display of God’s awesomeness instilled a great sense of fear upon them. They recognized that they were in the presence of a holy and awesome God. So they marveled that they were still alive although they had seen the great display of His power and heard from Him directly. So they ran to Moses, the leaders, and elders of the tribes, requesting that he be their mediator. They would rather that Moses hears from God and then relay to them whatever God wanted them to do. They promised that whatever God said they would do.

Mount Sinai was a terrifying scene. The people were fearful to draw near to hear from God directly. Today we thank God for our encounter at another mountain called Mount Calvary. Just as the encounter at Mount Sinai marked the people of Israel out as God’s unique people, our experience at Mount Calvary also marks us out as God’s own people. The difference is that instead of having Moses as our mediator, we have Christ. Through Him we have access to God. We have the privilege of hearing directly from Emmanuel, the God who is with us. If the people of Israel promised to listen and do even though Moses was their mediator, how much more should we listen and obey when our mediator is Christ Jesus. So let us draw near and hear, and enjoy our fellowship with God!