Overview
The anger of God is a fearful thing. The Bible makes it very clear that God's wrath is raging because of sin, and His just nature demands and guarantees that sin will be punished — spiritual death is the penalty. Mount Sinai is a symbol of that anger. As the Israelites camped at its foot, the mountain raged and convulsed with "fire, darkness, gloom, and storm" (v.18). It was giving birth, as it were, to the Law of God. And its "voice" was as frightening as an unexpected "trumpet blast" or a threatening word from some awful power (v.19). Even Moses was terrified (v.21).
This is what the Law does. It terrifies and discourages the faithful pilgrim. Not only are we unable to fulfill its every demand (thereby frustrating and flattening spiritual resolve), but we're also damned by its inflexibility. That's because God's wrath and justice are pure and inflexible. We're all in deep trouble — unless there's more to God's nature than what is reflected in the Law.
"O love of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong!" wrote an anonymous poet. Even while God is pure and just, He is also gracious and loving. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). He is not willing that any should perish. That's why He sent His Son to become the Lamb slain for our sin. This Lamb has become our ever-living Priest who sits at the Father's right hand, ever making intercession for us.
Instead of Mount Sinai and terror, we have Mount Zion and joy! Instead of an old covenant, we have a new covenant. Instead of animal sacrifice, we have the Lamb of God who was slain once for all. We have a Saviour! And we have thousands upon thousands of angels to sing the "Hallelujah!" chorus. So let's "worship God acceptably with reverence and awe..." (v.28).
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