Exodus 33

Ver. 5.—That I may try whether thou wilt repent of or persist in thy sin, and act towards thee accordingly. Ver. 7.—This tabernacle was a tent erected by Moses for the worship of God till the appointed one should be finished; and the removal of it from the camp intimated the Lord’s displeasure with them, and departure from them. Ver. 9

Exodus 33:11

God’s familiar talking with Moses was a public approbation of what he had done against the calf, and the worshippers thereof

Exodus 33:18

The highest manifestations of thy glory that I am capable of bearing

Exodus 33:19

God reckons the display of his goodness his distinguished glory

Exodus 33:20

God’s face here denotes the brightness of majesty and glory which attended the external shape he now assumed

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXIII.—Fearful is the danger and wo that attend apostacy from God, and the worshipping of idols in his room! His eye beholds the inward hardness and obstinacy of our hearts. And painful indeed are the convictions of an awakened conscience when God displays his terrors, and appears as an enemy! There is need of uncommon humiliation and prayer when God’s wrath is once kindled against a people, and he has began to remove his ordinances from them. But when a gracious God, and a multitude of groaning hearts, meet together at the throne of grace, it is a token of his merciful designs, for he is ready to return to his praying people, and indulge them with the most astonishing familiarity. Their desire of fellowship and boldness of faith increases in his presence: and he will not refuse them any thing they ask, though it were to the whole of his kingdom. What blessing of direction, presence, or spiritual manifestation, can he deny us, who have Jesus our advocate within the vail! Come then, my soul, be no more a trifler in prayer, but make intercession with groans which cannot be uttered. Whatever I ask, believing, for myself, or my family, or the Church, God will give it. Let me, adoring the sovereignty of his grace, press after clearer and clearer displays of his glory, his goodness, till at last I see him as he is! Awake, ye prayerless wasters of time!—Base and unprofitable are your fellowships with men, if compared to this of Moses with his God!