Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 34:5-9

"And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah. And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children`s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. And he said, If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance." — Exodus 34:5-9 (ASV)

The Lord descended by some open sign of His presence and manifestation of His glory in a cloud, and from there proclaimed His NAME—that is, the perfections and character which are denoted by the name JEHOVAH. The Lord God is merciful, ready to forgive the sinner and to relieve the needy. He is gracious, kind, and ready to bestow undeserved benefits.

He is long-suffering, slow to anger, giving time for repentance, and only punishing when it is necessary. He is abundant in goodness and truth; even sinners receive the riches of His bounty abundantly, though they abuse them. All He reveals is infallible truth; all He promises is in faithfulness. He keeps mercy for thousands; He continually shows mercy to sinners and has treasures, which cannot be exhausted, to the end of time.

He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; His mercy and goodness reach to the full and free forgiveness of sin. And will by no means clear the guilty; the holiness and justice of God are part of His goodness and love towards all His creatures. In Christ's sufferings, the Divine holiness and justice are fully shown, and the evil of sin is made known. God's forgiving mercy is always attended by His converting, sanctifying grace.

None are pardoned but those who repent and forsake the habitual practice of every sin; nor will any escape who abuse, neglect, or despise this great salvation. Moses bowed down and worshipped reverently. Every perfection in the name of God, the believer may plead with Him for the forgiveness of his sins, the sanctification of his heart, and the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom.