Exodus 24:15-17
Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
We have such a pedestrian view of God and His glory. When we worship God in our churches we tend to treat it more like a rock concert than walking into the Throne room of God. Almost all of those who had an encounter with God saw it like Moses is said to see it above ... devouring fire. Note some examples:
The prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 6:5
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Moses at the burning bush:
Exodus 3:4-5
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
Elijah in the cave and on the run:
1 Kings 19:11-13
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
If we are not careful we can get far too relaxed with God. We must always remember that when we approach God we are doing so through the blood of Christ. Christ tore the veil and we no longer have to fear in the same way these men did. That is what Hebrews 10 is all about:
Hebrews 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
However, coming boldly and in full assurance is not to mean that God is common. We come in boldness because of what Christ did for us ... making a way to God. We must still come to God with the understanding He is a consuming fire and we are there by grace. Jumping up and down in worship might be a way to stir our hearts in praise and might be acceptable. But, most of those in the Bible who saw God didn't jump up and down ... they fell down in holy reverence and fear. And, least you think this is all Old Testament actions toward seeing God, note in Acts 9 when Paul saw Christ he fell to the ground and lost his sight. And, note the following about John decades later:
Revelation 1:17-18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
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