V. 19.— And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more.
This is particularly noticed in the giving of the law. We read that the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder. Exodus 19:19. This was the signal for Israel to approach. Exodus 19:18. Accordingly “ when the voice of the trumpet was exceeding loud, so that all the people that were in the camp trembled,” Moses "brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.” Exodus 19:16-17.
Connected with the sound of the trumpet was the voice of words. We read that the law was given by the disposition of angels, Acts 7:53, and ordained by angels, Gal. iii. 19. Yet we are expressly told that God spake all these words. Exodus 20:1. These different statements are harmonized by the word of the Psalmist, “ The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11. And again, “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” Psalms 68:17.
The thunder, the lightning, with the tempest, and the sound of the trumpet waxing louder and louder, were very dreadful, but still more tremendous was the voice of God. It demanded supreme love to God, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, Matthew 22:37-40, a demand which no man can answer; by which, therefore, every mouth is stopped, and all the world become guilty before God.