The Ten Commandments, Today's Verses are Ex 20:20-22

We continue our look at The Ten Commandments with an in-depth look at 20:20-22 

 

You can find the posts on a few of the Scripture passages that precede The Ten Commandments at the following links:

The observational overview of Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE
And the in depth look at Ex 19:3-6 can be found HERE.
The in depth look at Ex 19:7-11 can be found HERE.
The concluding thoughts on Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE. 

 

The posts dealing directly with The Ten Commandments can be found at the following links:

 

The initial overview of Ex 20:1-17 can be found HERE.   

The in-depth look at Ex 20:1 can be found HERE.  

The in-depth look at Ex 20:2-6 can be found HERE.

The in-depth look at Ex 20:7 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:8-11 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:12 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:13-16 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:17 can be found HERE. 

The concluding thoughts on Ex 20:1-17 can be found HERE.

 

The Initial overview of Ex 20:18-22 can be found HERE. 

The In-depth look at Ex 20:18-19 can be found HERE.

 

I do encourage everyone to look at all the prior posts in this series as the preceding context helps us to a deeper understanding of the Ten Commandments.

 

You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).  (Scriptural cross-references are THE most important resource!)

 

 

Exodus 20:20-22 (NASB)
²⁰ Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
²¹ So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.
²² Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

 

Grammatical and other Considerations

• Moses tells them to not be afraid and yet tells them that God came to test them so that the fear of God may remain with them.  The fear of God is different from being afraid?
• This was done so that they may not sin.  God gave them help!
• Only Moses approached God as the people were afraid.
• God tells Moses to reaffirm to the people that they have indeed seen that God, Himself, has spoken to them!

My Questions:

• What is the difference between being afraid and having the fear of God with us?

Verse Cross References:

• Ex 20:20 -- Dt 13:1-3 Pro 16:6 Isa 8:13 Ex 4:13 Isa 41:10 Isa 41:13 Ex 15:25-26 Dt 4:10 Dt 6:24 Pr 3:7 1Sam 12:20 Dt 8:2 Dt 6:2 Dt 10:12 Jos 24:14 Job 28:28 Pro 1:7 Ps 2:11 Lk 12:5 Acts 10:35 2Co 7:1 Php 2:12 Rev 14:7 Ex 1:17 Pro 2:3-5 Psa 111:10 Jos 1:7 
• Thoughts --Fear of the Lord.  It is everywhere in the Scriptures.  It leads to right behavior.  And yet we are always told to not be afraid.  What IS the difference between being afraid and having the fear of the Lord.  Lk 12:5 is important!  I think Pro 2:3-5 is important!  Seek and ye shall find! 
• Ex 20:21 -- Dt 5:22 1Ki 8:12 Ps 18:9 Ps 18:12 Ps 97:2 1Ti 6:14-16 
• The people definitely had the fear of God in them now.  They needed (as we now still need) a mediator.  Moses was their mediator.  Jesus Christ is ours!
• Ex 20:22 -- Dt 4:36 Dt 5:24-26 Ne 9:13 Heb 12:25-26 Psa 136:23 
• After commanding Moses to remind the Israelites that they had indeed witnessed the presence of God in the clouds speaking to THEM directly, God then went on to speak more to Moses and elaborate on the Law.

Important terms

(Do not be )Afraid:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ge 43:23 Ge 46:3 Dt 20:1 Dt 20:3 Dt 31:6 Jos 11:6 Ps 56:4 Ps 56:11 Pro 3:25 Isa 37:6 Isa 44:8 Jer 1:8 Zep 3:16 Mt 1:20 Mt 14:27 Mt 17:7 Mt 28:5 Mt 28:10 Mk 5:36 Mk 6:50 Lk 1:30 Lk 2:10 Lk 12:32 Jn 6:20 Rev 1:17 Ge 15:1 Ge 21:17 Ex 14:3 Dt 1:21 Jos 8:1 Isa 51:7 Mt 10:28 Mt 10:31 Lk 5:10 Rev 2:10 
• Thoughts -- There are so MANY instances of people in the Bible (and consequently us) being told to not be afraid.  There are a few instances of Jesus identifying Himself along with telling the person to not be afraid beacause it is indeed He.!  A lot of the times the phrase is used to tell us to not be afraid for worldy reasons or in doubt of God's plans and promises.  I need to meditate on this some more! In general the English word afraid is used when we are being instructed to "not be (afraid)".  Or to put another way, when we are being instructed to be courageous! The English word fear is always used in the context of having "the fear of God" which is considered a positive!  We are never told to be afraid of God (at least that I have seen), but are instructed to fear God or have the "fear of Him" with us.
• Definition -- to be afraid, stand in awe, or fear.  Basically connotes the psychological reaction of fear.

Test:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- (God testing humans)-- Ex 16:4 Dt 8:16  Jdg 2:22 Jdg 3:1 Jdg 7:4 Ps 26:2 2Ch 32:31  Jer 17:10 Jer 20:12 Zec 13:9 Jn 6:6 1Co 3:13 (self test? 2Co 13:5 ) REv 3:10  Ge 22:1 Ex 15:25 
• (Man testing God!  not good!) -- Ex 17:22 Nu 14:22 Dt 6:16 Ps 78:17-19 Isa 7:12 ( Mal 3:10 -- God asking men to test him...) Mal 3:15 Mt 4:7 Mk 8:11 Lk 4:12 Lk 10:25 Lk 11:16 Ac 5:9 Ac 15:10 Ex 17:7 Ps 95:9 Ps 78:41 
• Thoughts -- Many of the uses of the English word test in the New Testament are when men are testing Jesus!!  We are NOT to test God.  However He tests us!  But this is not to be confused with tempting us to sin!  I also feel like more thought is needed on this topic!
• Definition -- to test, to try, to PROVE!  (an interesting choice of words) (in the New Testament, the Greek word also means to prove, question.)

fear (of Him)  (fear of God):

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ge 20:11 2Sa 23:3 Ne 5:15 Job 4:6 Ps 36:1 2Co 7:1 2Ch 19:7 2Ch 19:9 Job 28:28 Ps 19:9 Ps 34:11 Ps 11:10 Pr 1:7 Pr 1:29 Pr 2:5 Pr 8:13 Pr 9:10 Pr 10:27 Pr 14:26-7 Pr 15:16 Pr 15:33 Pr 16:6 Pr 19:23 Pr 22:4 Pr 23:17 Isa 11:2-3 Isa 33:6 Ac 9:31 2Co 5:11 Ge 22:12 1Pe 2:17 Rev 14:7 Rev 19:5 Ne 5:9 Job 4:6 Job 6:14 Ps 2:11 Ps 5:7 Jer 32:40 Isa 63:17 Ecc 7:18 
• Thoughts -- The fear of God is always shown to be a good thing!  It is proper and worshipful AND leads to proper behavior and wisdom.  The fear of the Lord is much different than being afraid!  much different!
• Definition -- The Hebrew word for afraid in this verse basically connotes the psychological reaction (not a good one) to fear!  The Hebrew word for fear in this verse means fear, terror or reverence!  A sense of awe!  I like reverence!  We should be in awe of God.  We should revere Him and worship Him and we should have a sense of fear.  He is God!  But we should not be afraid of Him.  Our reverence (or fear of Him) should lead us to correct behavior and lead us to seek Him!  To be afraid of Him would be to retreat from Him and would cause us to not accept His merciful gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ!!  Notice that the people are afraid in this verse!  They stand at a distance, and want Moses to talk to God.  We DON'T have to do that!  We have Jesus!  We should not be afraid of Jesus.  We should WANT to be close to Jesus and humbly and gratefully accept His gift of salvation! And if we do that, we are able to talk to God directly and to ask Him directly!  Jesus tells us this Himself:   John 16:23-28   In these verses Jesus is telling the apostles they will ask God directly in Jesus' name!  Jesus death and resurrection have done all the work.  All we need do is believe and accept that gift!  And then we can go up to the mountain to talk to God, not afraid but basking in the true fear (reverence) of the Lord!
• Further thoughts:  Adam and Eve were AFRAID of God in garden after they had disobeyed and sinned.  Ge 3:4-11 Eve coveted, sinned, tempted Adam to sin (who acquiesced without a bit of protest) and they were afraid of God.  Being afraid of God seems to indicate wanting to hide from God due to guilt and shame because we know we have sinned!  Having the fear of God with us actually leads us to seek God out!  When we have the proper reverence we want to NOT sin!  We want to read and hear God's commands!  We want to be IN a right relationship with Him.  This is the difference!  And it is huge and important and worth much more thought and meditation. 
• (there is more on fear with regards to fearing our enemies and being strong and courageous enough to not fear and to believe the promises God has made to us!...but I think in this particular verse the emphasis is on being afraid leading to separation from God and having the fear of God leading us closer to God!)

Spoken:

• Definition -- a verb focusing on verbal communication and especially the time and circumstance of that communication!  God is stressing to the Israelites that they have JUST heard Him speak to them!

Answering My Questions

• What is the difference between being afraid and having the fear of God with us? -- (I think the insights gained above from looking at "the fear of God" answer my question so I reprint them below)
• Thoughts -- The fear of God is always shown to be a good thing! It is proper and worshipful AND leads to proper behavior and wisdom. The fear of the Lord is much different than being afraid! much different!
• Definition -- The Hebrew word for afraid in this verse basically connotes the psychological reaction (not a good one) to fear! The Hebrew word for fear in this verse means fear, terror or reverence! A sense of awe! I like reverence! We should be in awe of God. We should revere Him and worship Him and we should have a sense of fear. He is God! But we should not be afraid of Him. Our reverence (or fear of Him) should lead us to correct behavior and lead us to seek Him! To be afraid of Him would be to retreat from Him and would cause us to not accept His merciful gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ!! Notice that the people are afraid in this verse! They stand at a distance, and want Moses to talk to God. We DON'T have to do that! We have Jesus! We should not be afraid of Jesus. We should WANT to be close to Jesus and humbly and gratefully accept His gift of salvation! And if we do that, we are able to talk to God directly and to ask Him directly! Jesus tells us this Himself: John 16:23-28 In these verses Jesus is telling the apostles they will ask God directly in Jesus' name! Jesus death and resurrection have done all the work. All we need do is believe and accept that gift! And then we can go up to the mountain to talk to God, not afraid but basking in the true fear (reverence) of the Lord!
• Further thoughts: Adam and Eve were AFRAID of God in garden after they had disobeyed and sinned. Ge 3:4-11 Eve coveted, sinned, tempted Adam to sin (who acquiesced without a bit of protest) and they were afraid of God. Being afraid of God seems to indicate wanting to hide from God due to guilt and shame because we know we have sinned! Having the fear of God with us actually leads us to seek God out! When we have the proper reverence we want to NOT sin! We want to read and hear God's commands! We want to be IN a right relationship with Him. This is the difference! And it is huge and important and worth much more thought and meditation.
• (there is more on fear with regards to fearing our enemies and being strong and courageous enough to not fear and to believe the promises God has made to us!...but I think in this particular verse the emphasis is on being afraid leading to separation from God and having the fear of God leading us closer to God!)
• There IS much more to look at with regards to this subject!  A LOT more!

Summarizing

• The notes above regarding the difference between being afraid and having the fear of the Lord in and with us are a huge part of this verse.  Also pertinent is that God reminds the Israelites that He spoke to them directly, so they know that these commandments are His Word!  AND they know that He is real, more awesome than humans can comprehend and that these commandments are for them to follow.  We also see that the Israelites are afraid of God.  They DON'T want to be near Him yet as they send Moses back up the mountain to be their intermediary.  We don't need to do that.  Jesus' death and resurrection (and our acceptance thereof) make it possible for us to speak to God and to be in a right relationship with Him.  We don't need to be afraid, we should just have the fear (reverence for) of the Lord in us!

Topics for further study

• Courage
• Fear of God
• God testing us
• Us testing God

Bibliography

• Baker, Warren, ed. – The Complete Word Study Old Testament Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Baker, Warren and Eugene Carpenter. The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Fleming, Don. Concise Bible Commentary. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word Application Index. Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Holy Bible, New American Standard. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Nave, Orville. Nave's Topical Bible: A Digest of The Holy Sciptures. New York: Topical Bible Publishing Co., 1896. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison, ed. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Torrey, R. A. The New Topical Textbook. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1897. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Vine, William E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1940. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary – Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 

Next time we will conclude our look at The Ten Commandments with some closing thoughts on Ex 20:18-22