The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. (Psalm 68:8, KJV)
In the previous verse (v.7), the psalmist reminds us about the greatness of God, especially with regards to the past, while the Israelites were passing through the wilderness. The earth was shaken, the heavens dropped and the mountain was moved by the presence of God. You can imagine the great power of Yahweh, by His power, person, and presence the mountain, Sinai, started moving, it was shaken, it was trembling. Before that, at the end of Exodus chapter fourteen, we read how the Israelites walked upon the dry land and the waters were like a wall on either side of them.
…the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left(Exodus 14:29).
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea(Ex.15:8).
When God descended onto Mount Sinai, smoke came out as out of an oven, and the mountain was moving very hard (see Ex.19:16-20). The mount was moving. It was indicating the power and presence of the Lord.
In the eyes of the Israelites the glory of God was like devouring fire.
And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount(Ex.24:15).
And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel(Ex.24:16-17).
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights(Ex.24:18).
People were afraid to face the glory of God. They were afraid to die.
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die(Ex.20:19).
Moses’ face was radiant, due to the glory of God, and the people were afraid to come close to him.
And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh to him(Ex.34:30).
There was smoke coming out of the mountain. When the temple was built, at the time of its dedication as the house of God, it was filled with smoke and the priest could not stand in that place for it showed the presence of God.
The glory of God was like a devouring fire; fire is a symbol of the judgment of God. The fire will appear and burn everything which is made of wood, grass, and chaff. The fake work will disappear but the real work will remain.
The face of Moses was radiant. Just as people today who live in an intimate, deep fellowship with the Lord, others can see by their faces that they are friends of God. The presence of joy and peace is seen on their faces.
The mount was shaking on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were praying and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They saw tongues of fire like flames, and the home where they were praying was shaken, and they heard the noise of wind (see Acts 2:1-3).
It isa fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God(Hebrews 10:31).
For our God is a consuming fire (Heb.12:29).
If the sea can be dry and the mountains can move… how about you and me?
Thank God He sent Jesus! He alone can save us; let us thank Him for His immeasurable, incomprehensive, grace which He bestowed upon us.
