This exposition of Exodus 15:1-21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 28, 2018.
Intro:
We are a “singing people.” The church has always been a singing body and rightfully so because we are a people of the Book and the Bible is filled with song.
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Job tells us that at creation the “morning stars sang out as all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). In Judges 5 Deborah and Barak led the singing as the nation celebrated the defeat of Jabin. David sang when God delivered him from his enemies (Psalm 40; 2 Samual 22). At the birth of Jesus the angelic chorus welcomed his arrival. The apostle Paul encourages the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God (Colossians 3:16). When John went through that open door into heaven he heard the angels singing (Revelation 4 & 5). It is no wonder when God delivered His people from Egyptian bondage He put a song in their hearts. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 15.
Text: Exodus 15:1-21
I’m not an overly “expressive” guy.
I tend to sit with my arms folded at ball games.
I refuse to obey the demands of cheerleaders.
The only chant I participate in is the one I’m doing inwardly that says, “I will not be moved!”
But, like it or not - there are things that bring me to my feet and cause my voice to ring out.
Somethings just demand a response!
The more unexpected, the greater the response.
The more extraordinary, the more elaborate the praise.
I’m not particularly musical. I have no sense of rhythm and yet certain tunes set my foot to tapping without my giving it a thought. It just happens. Certain songs just, well, have to be sung. Israel has been on an emotional roller coaster. For 400 years they cried out to God pleading that they might be freed from the grip of Egyptian bondage. Moses returns after 40 years in Midian and announce that God has called him to lead the people out of Egypt. No sooner does he approach Pharaoh with this news then things go from bad to worse! Not only are they not free, their work load increases. Now, in addition to making the bricks, they will also be gathering their own straw. Thanks Moses for nothing! Then came those 10 plagues. Throughout that whole ordeal it seemed that they would be released then, nothing. Hopes up and then dashed to the ground. Finally came that glorious, terrifying night. The children of Israel, each family, killed a lamb and smeared its blood on the door of their houses. That night the angle of death passed through Egypt killing the firstborn in every house, man and beast from the house of Pharaoh who sits on the throne to the house of the lowest slave. But when the angel saw the blood, he “passed over,” that home bearing spared.
Finally Israel was allowed to leave.
But no sooner had they left then Pharaoh had regrets.
There they were with their backs to the Sea and Pharaoh in hot pursuit.
Miraculously, gloriously God delivered them.
While they stood safely on the other shore the army of Egypt was drowned in the Sea.
This was no time to stand with arms folded. Sometimes you gotta sing!
As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…
Thesis: The glory and wonder of God’s gracious deliverance demands a response of unbridled praise and adoration.
This is a song. This is a response of praise. It cannot be neatly outlined. But I do want to make three observations from this song.
- Those delivered by his grace, glory in the wonder of his unique character and person. (15:3, 6-7, 11, 13)
First, God is praise because of who he is.
He is praised because of his character, his attributes.God is praised because he is the Eternal One - 15:3
God is praised because he omnipotent - 15:6
God is superior - 15:11
God is loving - 15:13
God is faithful - 15:14-16This is a God worth praising because of who he is. The beauty, the wonder, the glory of his person demands a response of unbridled praise. He alone is worthy of such adoration. But there is more…
- Those delivered by his grace cannot help but sing the praise of his wondrous deeds. (15:4-5, 9-10, 12-13, 14-18)
Israel sings the praise of God:
• destroying their enemies/overthrowing their adversaries - 15:4-5, 7, 9-10, 12
• redeeming his people - 15:13
• guiding them to his abode - 15:13
• bringing them into his presence - 15:17 (His promise = I will be your God, you will be my people)He is praise worthy because of who he is and because of what he has done but there is still more…
- Those delivered by his grace stand in awe of his loving care. (15:2-3)
Note the word “my.”
• My strength
• My song
• My salvation
• My God
• My father’s God
Conclusion:
One day when we are safely home, we will sing:
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev. 15:1-4)
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