Drawing Near to Worship God Alone

Exodus 20:18-26 

18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”  20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
    22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. 24 An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. 25 And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’

After receiving the commands of God on the holy mountain, the people of God trembled in fear at the sight and sounds.  There was thunder and lightning, smoke from the mountain, and the trumpet of God blowing loudly of His glory and power.  They asked Moses to speak with God because they dared not, and begged him to pass on all God told him to them as an intermediary and intercessor.  Though they believed they would die if God spoke with them, Moses assured the people that God was testing them that they should have fear of Him before them so that they would not sin, but not fear Him in His sovereign grace and goodwill of mercy as it were.  Then the right way to worship by sacrifice was clearly given in how altars should be made, and how no ungodly material was to be part of them.  No idols lining the walls or in the makeup of the altar were permitted.  These were to be places of right worship where God would come to them with blessings.  The altars were to be either made from the ground or stone as God created them, not crafted with tools by impure hands.  They were not even to expose themselves by walking up stairs to the altar.  Modesty in holiness and adherence to worship God alone were the guidelines.  We see lessons here in fear and worship, fear of Him always before us, yet trusting for security and grace in that fear which is not merely awe alone.  We should worship in godly fear with complete trust in Christ’s grace and eternal security of grace, but never seek to equal ourselves with Him nor lose the perspective of who He is as the Holy One.