Reverence in the Presence of God

 

Reverence in the Presence of God

Text: Exodus 19:9–25; Hebrews 4:16

When Israel stood at Mount Sinai, God prepared them to receive His holy law. They were told to wash their clothes, consecrate themselves, and even set boundaries around the mountain. Thunder, lightning, and the sound of a trumpet filled the air. All of this was meant to teach the people reverence—a deep sense of awe before the Almighty.

Today, we must ask ourselves: in our church life, where is that same sense of reverence? Have we perhaps lost it in our casual age? Or do we still come before the Lord with hearts filled with awe and respect?

The Purpose of Preparation

God’s instructions at Sinai were not simply about outward rituals. They were meant to shape the people’s hearts, to remind them that they were approaching the Holy One. The washing, the waiting, the trembling—all pointed to the fact that God is not to be taken lightly.

In our worship today, we no longer prepare with those same external rituals, but the principle remains. Do we take time to prepare our hearts before worship? Or do we rush in casually, forgetting that we are entering the presence of the King of kings?

Jesus Broke Down the Barriers

At Sinai, boundaries were set around the mountain: “Do not come near.” But when Jesus came, He tore the veil in the temple from top to bottom. The message was clear: through Christ, we now have access to the very throne of God.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” No longer do we tremble in fear at the base of the mountain; we are welcomed as children into the Father’s presence. Christ removed the barriers, not so that reverence would vanish, but so that awe could now be joined with intimacy.

Outward and Inward Reverence

Some may ask: does reverence mean we must always wear our finest clothing? Not necessarily. God has always looked upon the heart. David was chosen over his brothers because, as 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Yet there is nothing wrong with desiring to look our best for church. Dressing with care can be a reflection of respect. But true reverence is not in polished shoes or pressed clothes—it is in humble hearts, lifted in worship, seeking God with sincerity.

Recovering Reverence in Our Churches

Have we lost the sense of awe? Sometimes church can feel routine—songs, announcements, sermons—until we forget that God Himself is present with His people. Reverence is not stiffness, nor is it empty formality. Reverence is a posture of the soul that says: “God is here, and He is holy.”

We recover reverence by preparing our hearts before we gather, by treating worship as sacred, by coming not as consumers but as worshipers. When we sing, we sing as if before His throne. When we pray, we pray as children speaking to their Father. When we listen to His Word, we lean in as though God Himself were addressing us.

Coming Boldly as We are

The Israelites trembled at Sinai, but we come boldly to the throne of grace. Yet boldness does not cancel reverence—it deepens it. We stand in awe, not out of fear, but out of love, because the God of holiness is also the God of mercy.

So let us come as we are, through Christ. Let us come with hearts prepared, with spirits humble, with a renewed sense of awe. For the God who gave His law is the same God who gave His Son, and He is worthy of our deepest reverence. Amen.

More on: Sabbath School Lesson 8 - Covenant at Mt. Sinai