提要
在摩西第二天早晨要單獨上山朝見上帝以前，上帝要摩西先預備好自己（34：2），並要鑿出新的石版代替他先前摔碎的那塊。上帝要以祂的恩典再次將十誡寫在石版上。這是上帝與以色列人和好的頭一樁行動。同樣的，當我們與上帝和好，上帝也將祂的律法寫在我們的心版上（來8：10）。但我們首先必須像摩西預備石版一樣，也預備好我們的心，使它柔軟、敞開，能接受上帝的律法。剛硬的石版變成上帝對以色列人之接納和愛的表現。同樣的，當上帝將祂的律法寫在我們心上，我們也應表現出祂在我們裡面的榮美和愛。 摩西一登上山頂，上帝也立刻在雲中（遮蔽祂榮耀的光芒）降臨與摩西相會。上帝在這裡照著摩西的心願（33：18）以更完全的方式顯明祂自己。祂表達了祂憐憫、恩典、忍耐、仁慈、和赦免的榮耀，這一切都源於祂對祂百姓的大愛。我們不需要真正用肉眼看見上帝才能認識祂；我們藉著祂的屬性和特質來認識祂，並完全憑著信心經歷祂的同在。祂「為千萬人存留慈愛」表示祂的恩典闊及全人類。雖然以色列是祂當時的選民，對其他人上帝仍有憐憫和恩典。同時，上帝也是聖潔、公正的，斷不輕易放過不悔改的罪人（34：7），卅四章的第七節也可翻譯成：「赦免罪孽、過犯、和罪惡，絕不對此視而不見」。 上帝的眼目遍察全地，祂是全知的上帝。我們千萬不要以為自己能將過犯向祂隱藏。不悔改的人不能使咒詛從他們身上除去；由於他們不良的影響，造成他們的子孫也活在罪中，甚至到三、四代；直至上帝的靈使其中一人悔改，他們家族的未來才能化咒詛為祝福。摩西希望上帝重新確認祂的產業──以色列民──能得到祂的祝福和赦免。上帝對自己榮耀的新啟示使摩西伏地下拜（34：8），並祈求上帝一定要赦免他們的罪惡，與他們同行（34：9）。正因以色列人是「硬著頸項的百姓」，他們格外需要上帝在他們中間，引導他們走正路。雖然上帝已經應許過了，但摩西要求再次的肯定，上帝就藉著更新祂和以色列人的約（34：10）作為確認。重新立約的中保是摩西；同樣，信徒在新約所得的恩典之約是藉著耶穌基督立的。上帝在重立約的過程強調兩項要點，因為那正是以色列人失敗跌倒的地方：（1）「不可敬拜別神」（34：14）和（2）「不可為自己鑄造神像」（34：17）。他們也不可與迦南地的異教國家立約或通婚，任何型式的妥協只會導致靈性的墮落。
摩西在山上的第二個四十晝夜，上帝向他重申有關安息日和其他節期的律例（34：18、26；參23：10、19），再加上一些附帶的說明。這次摩西對上帝有更多的認識，也得見上帝更多的榮耀。在他即將下山前，上帝再次吩咐摩西要將律法書寫下來，這是為了使百姓有具體的材料可以學習，知道上帝向他們所求的是什麼，也好將寫下來的文字傳給他們的後代。這次，山下的百姓會不會有信心，相信上帝能供應摩西在山上一切的需要？一個人四十天不喝水、不進食是不可能活命的，但上帝神奇的維持了摩西的性命，而這次以色列人也通過了試驗。摩西下山向苦候上帝回音的焦急群眾，報告上帝與他們和好的消息，他也很榮幸的受託將上帝親手寫的話帶給百姓。能將上帝的話傳給別人是件多麼光榮的事！摩西臉上散發出上帝榮耀的光輝，那是他曾與上帝面對面，以及他為百姓代求被上帝接受的記號。百姓一定充滿了喜樂，但同時也經驗了一種他們非常需要的，對上帝和祂聖潔的敬畏之情。
|
Overview
Before going up alone to meet with God early the next morning, Moses was told to make himself ready (34:2) and to cut new stone tablets to replace the ones he had broken. God, in His grace, would once again inscribe His moral law upon them. This was the first act of God in His reconciliation with Israel. Likewise, when we are reconciled to God He writes His laws upon our hearts (Heb. 8:10). But first, like Moses who was required to prepare the tablets, we must prepare our hearts that they be open and tender to receive the law of God. The rough stone tablets became a beautiful expression of God’s love and acceptance for the Israelites. In the same manner, when God writes upon our hearts we should show forth His beauty and love within us.
Once Moses ascended the mountain, God immediately came down to meet him in a pillar of cloud, thus veiling the brilliance of His glory. Here God made Himself known to Moses in the fuller way he desired (33:18). As God passed by Moses, He expressed the glory of His mercy, Grace, patience, goodness, and forgiveness which all stem from the great love He has for His people. To know God we do not have to visually see Him; we know God we do not have to visually see Him; we know Him by His character, attributes, and experiencing His presence all in faith believing. His “mercy for thousands” implies the universal extent of His grace. Although the Israelites were His special people at that time, He still was good and merciful to others. At the same time, the Lord is just and holy, and will not clear the guilt – those who do not repent (34:7). This part of verse seven can also be translated: “forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin which by no means goes unnoticed”.
The Lord is all-seeing and all-knowing. No one should think they can hide their wrongdoings from Him. Those who do no repent, and thereby do not reverse the curse upon them, cause sinfulness (because of the bad influence,) among their descendants as well, even until the third or forth generation. This is true until the spirit of the Lord draws one unto repentance and thus the future curse of their family may be changed from a curse to a blessing. Moses wanted reconfirmation from God that the Israelites, His inheritance, would see His blessings and His forgiveness. God’s newly reveled glory caused Moses to bow low and worship Him (34:10). This was done through Moses as their mediator, likewise the New Covenant of grace with believers is made through Jesus Christ. There are two main points in the covenant that God stressed since on these very things they had already failed: (1) “You shall worship no other god” (34:14) and (2) “you shall make no molded gods (34:17). They were not to make any treaties with the heathen nations, nor allow any intermarriage which is a compromise leading to spiritual downfall.
During this second forty days and nights, the Lord reiterated several rules He had given concerning the observance of the Sabbath and other feasts (34:18-26; see comments on Ex. 23:10-19), plus some and additional information. This time Moses gained more knowledge of God and saw more of His glory. In the closing period upon the mountain, the Lord once again commanded Moses to write the book of the Law. This was so the people would have something concrete that they might learn and know what God expected of them, and to have the written word to pass on to their future generations. Would the people remain faithful this time while Moses was absent, and trust that god could provide all his needs? It is impossible for a person to go without food and water for forty days, but God supernaturally sustained Moses. This time the Israelites passed the test. Moses descended the mountain with good news of reconciliation to those anxiously awaiting the Lord’s reply and he was honored by God to carry down His written Word to them. What an honor it is to give the words of God to others! Moses’ face was shining with the glory of the Lord, a sign that he had met with God and his mediation on their behalf had been accepted. The people must have been filled with great joy, but at the same time they experienced a much needed fear and reverence for God and His holiness.
|
