(25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (27) And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
What solemn, but yet soul comforting views, are here given of Christ? In order to impress upon the Church, the vast, and infinite importance of hearing Christ, (which God the Father more than once gave such testimony concerning, accompanied with this express command; hear ye him, Matthew 17:5) the Holy Ghost, hath in these verses first drawn a line of eternal distinction, between Christ and Moses; and then shewn, somewhat of the outlines of the Son of God, in our nature, in testimony both of his eternal Power and Godhead; and of his office-character, as God-Man-Mediator. I beg the Reader's close attention for a few moments to this subject.
First. The line of eternal distinction between Christ and Moses. The Lord the Spirit calls Moses the man on earth. They escaped not, who refused him that spake on earth. Christ, as is elsewhere declared, is the Lord from heaven, 1 Corinthians 15:47. And John the Baptist hath given a blessed testimony to the same, when speaking of himself, in comparison of his Lord. He that cometh from above, saith John, is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him, John 3:31; John 3:31
Secondly. Look at the outlines, drawn of the Son of God in this scripture; and may the Almighty Author of such a delightful scripture make it blessed to our view, whose voice then shook the earth. When was this? In order to answer the question, when was this that his voice shook the earth, we must read Haggai's prophecy, in the second Chapter, from verse the fifth to the seventh (Haggai 2:5-7); from whence this quotation by the Apostle is made. According to the word that I covenanted with you, when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth with you; fear not. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, yet once it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land: And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come. Reader! pause. Here is the Lord of hosts, the same Lord, which covenanted with his People when they came out of Egypt, declaring that his love, was still with his people, and his Spirit remaining with them. He then declares, that when the desire of all nations should come; which is a well known name, and character of himself, he would shake the heavens and the earth, meaning the hearts and minds of his people, by the sovereignty of his grace. And here in this scripture, the Holy Ghost by the Apostle refers this sovereign act of grace, to the same Person as shook the earth, when he came down on Mount Sinai, whose voice then shook the earth; but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Hence it must be inferred, by the plainest, and most palpable evidence, that it was the Son of God, in his representative character of Mediator, which then shook the earth, who in the prophecy of Haggai declares he will again shake, not only the earth, but the heavens. The phrase once more and again, hath a most decided reference to the same, or similar act, having been done before. And nothing can be more evident, than that both were the deeds of one, and the same Person. In the relation of that solemn scene at Mount Sinai, we are told that the Lord descended upon it in fire; that the whole Mount quaked greatly; that when Moses spake; God answered him by a voice, Exodus 19:18-19. And the Lord bid the children of Israel by Moses, to observe those tokens of his presence. Ye have seen that I have talked to you from heaven, Exodus 20:22. How clear then is this blessed portion of the Holy Ghost by Paul; that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Almighty Lord, which is Spoken of in both scriptures. Indeed, who should it be, but Him? He, and He only, is the visible Jehovah, in all revelations made to man.
No man hath seen God at any time; but the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him, John 1:18
Oh! ye deluded miserable men, who deny the Government of Christ! What can possibly prevent the awful consequences prophesied of an heresy so awful, living and dying in the hardened state of unbelief. Some of God's children indeed have been found, led away by the temptations of Satan and long in this state, whom sovereign grace hath recovered. Should the Lord, in his mercy, direct the eyes of such an one, to this blessed scripture; and carry conviction from it to his heart, to acknowledging of the Lord that bought him. Oh! The greatness of the blessing, in recovering all such from the snare of the Devil, who are taken captivity captive at his will. Kiss the Son! lest he be angry and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are they that put their trust him, Psalms 2:12.