There were thirteen names, or thirteen attributes, which went to make the names, as God showed Himself on Sinai, of which thirteen nine were mercy, two were power, two were justice, (1) The Lord. There we lay our basis. Unless we are prepared to admit the sovereignty of God, we can go no further, we shall see no more. (2) The Lord God. There we put the two names in combination. The word God in its root means kindness. We put the infinitude of His sovereignty in combination with the boundlessness of His affection, and we say, "The Lord, the Lord God." (3) We come next to the goings forth of that wonderful mystery of Godhead to man in mercy. The strict meaning of the word "mercy" is, a heart for misery. The first thought here is the Lord God stooping down to the wretched, going forth to the miserable. (4) And why merciful? Because gracious. Grace is the free flowing of undeserved favour. In two things especially God shows His grace: in the pardon of sin and the gift of the Holy Ghost. (5) "Long-suffering." We now come to a wonderful part of the character of God patience. The end of this world is stayed because "the longsuffering of God leadeth men to repentance." This is the most marvellous part of the character of God His patience; it contrasts so strongly with the impetuosity, the haste, the impulsiveness, of man. (6) "Abundant in goodness and truth." Abundant is enough and something over, cup so full that it mantles. He is abundant in (7) goodness and (8) truth. (9) "Keeping mercy for thousands." There are many people who do not see their mercy, for whom God is now keeping it in reserve. He is holding it till His own appointed time, till His own season comes. (10) "Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." This brings us more and more into the work of Christ. All God's attributes met that He might pardon sin. (11) "By no means clear the guilty." The word "guilty" is not in the original; it is simply "by no means clear." He will not clear any one whom He has not pardoned. God's mercy is infinite in its own bounds, but it keeps within these bounds most strictly. (12) "He visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children," etc. This is an ever-standing, visible proof and monument of God's holiness and justice. He visits sin from generation to generation. There are inherited dispensations, inherited calamities, inherited evils.
J. Vaughan, Meditations in Exodus,p. 97.
References: Exodus 34:6. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. x., p. 217. Exodus 34:6; Exodus 34:7. H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xx., p. 325; Bishop Temple, Rugby Sermons,3rd series, p. 173.Exodus 34:14. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ix., No. 502; J. Irons, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. vii., p. 169. Exodus 34:20. Spurgeon, Evening by Evening,p. 291; W. M. Taylor, Limitations of Life,p. 219. Exodus 34:27; Exodus 34:28. R. Lee, Sermons,p. 388. Exodus 34:28; Exodus 34:29. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 116.