Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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charged God with unrighteousness in giving that grace freely to some which he withholds justly from others.
21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt
stand upon a rock:
He denied that which was not fit to be granted, and which Moses could not bear: Thou canst not see my face, Ex 33:20. A full discovery of the glory of God would quite overpower the faculties of any mortal man in this present state, and overwhelm him, even Moses himself. Man is mean and unworthy of it, weak and could not bear it, guilty and could not but dread it. It is in compassion to our infirmity that God holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth a cloud upon it, Job 26:9. God has said that here (that is, in this world) his face shall not be seen (Ex 33:23); that is an honour reserved for the future state, to be the eternal bliss of holy souls: should men in this state know what it is, they would not be content to live short of it. There is a knowledge and enjoyment of God which must be waited for in another world, when we shall see him as he is, 1Jo 3:2. In the mean time let us adore the height of what we do know of God, and the depth of what we do not. Long before this, Jacob had spoken of it with wonder that he had seen God face to face, and yet his life was preserved, Ge 32:30. Sinful man dreads the sight of God his Judge; but holy souls, being by the Spirit of the Lord changed into the same image, behold with open face the glory of the Lord. 2Co 3:18.
22 and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put
thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
He should see what he could bear, and what would suffice him. The matter is concerted so as that Moses might be safe and yet satisfied. First, Save in a cleft of the rock, Ex 33:21,22. In this he was to be sheltered from the dazzling light and devouring fire of God's glory. This was the rock in Horeb out of which water was brought, of which it is said, That rock was Christ, 1Co 10:4. It is in the clefts of this rock that we are secured from the wrath of God, which otherwise