Read Deuteronomy 5:22–33
Questions from the Scripture text: To whom did YHWH speak these words (v22)? Where? From the midst of what three things? With what sort of voice? What did He add? What else did He do with these words? To whom did He give the tablets? What had the people heard (v23)? From the midst of what? While what was happening? To whom did they come near in response? Who, specifically, came near? What did they say that YHWH had shown them (v24)? What did they hear? What did they see could happen, with what results for man? But what were they still afraid of happening (v25)? If what continued? What rhetorical question do they ask (v26)? With what implied answer? What do they tell Moses to do (v27)? Who heard them say this (v28)? To whom did He answer? What was His assessment of the elders’ statement? What did He desire that they would have in them (v29)? So that what would be the result? What does He tell Moses to tell them (v30)? But where does He tell Moses to go (v31)? What three things will He speak to Moses? And what is Moses to do with them? So that the people may do what, where? What does Moses now tell them to do (v32)? And what not to do? How should they walk (v33)? In order that what may happen?
How does God display His glory? Deuteronomy 5:22–33 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God displays His glory especially in His grace.
YHWH made a great revelation of Himself in fire, cloud, darkness, and loud voice (v22, cf. Heb 12:18–19). Israel understand that this is a display of glory and greatness (v24). They are afraid that this glory and greatness will destroy them (v25).
But Israel don’t see that the greatest revelation of Himself here isn’t fire, blackness, darkness, and tempest. The greatest revelation of Himself is in His grace.
That grace is already on display in the fact that they are not yet dead (end of v24). The rhetorical question in v26 should drive this home to them. When has this ever happened? It hasn’t! God has done an amazing, gracious thing.
That grace is also plain in the desire of YHWH that they would have a heart that fears Him (v29a) and gives complete obedience: always obeying all His commandments (v29b).
That grace is explicit in the further purpose of this right-heartedness, “that it might be well with them and with their children forever” (v29c).
But that grace is supremely evident in His provision of a Mediator. In the short-term, He provides Moses. God has given the moral law with His own voice and His own writing in stone (v22). But the ceremonial and civil law, He will now give through the mediator of this administration of the covenant of grace (v31). The mediator urges obedience upon them (v32–33a) for the same gracious purpose that the Lord Himself has already stated, “that you may live and that I may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess” (v33b).
As mediator, Moses is a type of Christ. It is Christ’s intercession that is the greatest display of God’s grace, the greatest display of God’s glory. How wonderful, dear reader, that in our administration of the covenant of grace, we hear all God’s Word from God’s Son, Who loved us and gave Himself for us! When we worship God, we even come with Him, and through Him, into the glorious presence of God Himself (cf. Heb 12:22–29). God has chosen to display His glory especially by His grace, and that, especially in His Son, our Mediator!
What place does God’s wrath and power have in your thoughts about His greatness? What place does His grace have in your thoughts about His greatness? What place does Jesus, the Mediator, have in your thoughts about God’s greatness?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for displaying the greatness of Your glory especially by Your great grace. And thank You for doing this, especially in Christ, through Whom we thank and praise You, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH266 “Thou Art the Way”