Dr. Michael, my Old Testament professor, did a marvelous job at reforming my childhood understanding of the giving of the Words of God.
First, he pointed out that the huge build up to the giving is an indication that God did not merely appear and insist that the people "obey" him. Those who received the Word had responded to God's call to come out to the place where they would encounter God. As they attempted this trip, God was by their side. God protected them from those who would impede their travel; God fed them with manna and quail.
Second, there is a relationship between the God who gives these Words and the people to whom they are given. The Words are not some decree or manifest which merits one admission. They are a covenant, marking a preexisting relationship. "I will be your God, and you will be my people," God has declared. "How will others know about this relationship between us?" the people ask. "Live this way, and they will see," God replies.
The group of us meeting on Mondays have been looking carefully at all of Luther's Small Catechism. We started our study with the 10 Commandments. If it has been a while, return to that part of the Church's teachings and be reminded that these are not rules once most obey in order to belong to some club. These are instructions for how we live our lives.
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