“Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”Psalm 113:5, 6.
(8T 283.1)
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“Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall laud Thy works to another, And shall declare Thy mighty acts. Of the glorious majesty of Thine honor, And of Thy wondrous works, will I meditate. And men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts; And I will declare Thy greatness. They shall utter the memory of Thy great goodness, And shall sing of Thy righteousness....”Psalm 145:3~7.
(8T 283.2)
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“All Thy works shall give thanks unto Thee, O Jehovah; And Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, And talk of Thy power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of His kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations....”Psalm 145:10~13.
(8T 283.3)
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“My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah; And let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.”Psalm 145:3-21, A. R. V.
(8T 283.4)
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As we learn more and more of what God is, and of what we ourselves are in His sight, we shall fear and tremble before Him.
(8T 283.5)
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Let men of today take warning from the fate of those who in ancient times presumed to make free with that which God had declared sacred. When the Israelites ventured to open the ark on its return from the land of the Philistines, their irreverent daring was signally punished. “He smote of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, He smote of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men; and the people mourned, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God?”1 Samuel 6:19, 20, A. R. V.
(8T 283.6)
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Again, consider the judgment that fell upon Uzzah. As in David’s reign, the ark was being carried to Jerusalem, Uzzah put forth his hand to keep it steady. For presuming to touch the symbol of God’s presence, he was smitten with instant death.
(8T 284.1)
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At the burning bush, when Moses, not recognizing God’s presence, turned aside to behold the wonderful sight, the command was given:
(8T 284.2)
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“Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.... And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”Exodus 3:5, 6.
(8T 284.3)
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“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a Man over against him with His sword drawn in His hand: and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him, Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries? And He said, Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my Lord unto His servant? And the Captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”Joshua 5:13-15.
(8T 284.4)
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In the sanctuary and the temple, that were the earthly symbols of God’s dwelling place, one apartment was sacred to His presence. The veil inwrought with cherubim at its entrance was not to be lifted by any hand save one. To lift that veil and intrude unbidden into the sacred mystery of the most holy place was death. For above the mercy seat and the bowed, worshiping angels dwelt the glory of the Holiest, glory upon which no man might look and live. On the one day of the year appointed for ministry in the most holy place, the high priest with trembling entered God’s presence, while clouds of incense veiled the glory from his sight. Throughout the courts of the temple every sound was hushed. No priests ministered at the altars. The hosts of worshipers, bowed in silent awe, sent up their petitions for God’s mercy.
(8T 284.5)
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