Praising God for His Deliverance

Exodus 15:1-21

L/W—

T/W—We discuss the response of Moses after God’s deliverance of Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt in the miracle of the Red Sea crossing

(READ EXODUS 15:1-21)

David, when he wrote Psalm 32:1-4, expressed the contrast between the weight of keeping silent in his sin versus the weightlessnes found in crying out for God’s deliverance

Psalm 32:3-4 “When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah”

Psalm 32:5-7 “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah”

Later in Psalms, David would write one of the most impactful chapters on repentance, and while we don’t have time to dive into all of Psalm 51, what we can draw from 51 is that David, in trusting God to deliver him, experienced God deliver him, restore to him the joy of the Lord’s salvation.

The point? God delivers His people through their trial/tribulations/temptations and God delivers His people from their sin(s) as they trust in His direction, repent & confess of their sin(s), and depend on His strength to overcome.

This is what God had done for the Isarelites. God’s great deliverance at the Red Sea was a most dynamic, wonderful, and astounding experience. When things seemed insurmountable and impossible, God moved in ways only He could to deliver the Israelites.

God knew this—and in His infinite wisdom and compassionate desire—He stirred Moses to record the praise in his heart for what He had accomplished and record it for us in Scripture. Why? So that Moses, along with the Israelites, and along with you and I, could remember and be reminded of God’s mercy, grace, and loved toward His people and how He desires nothing more than to see man trust Him as their Lord and Savior, Deliverer and Redeemer.

My prayer as we walk through this, “Song of Moses” is that

As a believer, will be stirred to remember and rejoice over our own deliverance from sin and it’s wages

As a non-believer, you might be stirred to know that God desires to rescue, redeem, and restore you through His Son, Jesus Christ

Further, my prayer is that as we walk through this, we will gain a deeper understanding of how our:

Praise should have the right focus

Praise should have the right root

Praise should be for God’s direction

Praise should be of a special nature

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I. (v.1-2) A Song of God’s Praise (the right focus of our praise)

Exodus 15:1-2 “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

(CONTEXT)—The Lord is the focus of praise—(in this passage of 21 verses—He is addressed 13 times)

Moses addresses God 10 times as LORD (1,2,3,6,11,16,17,18)—be reminded that the name “Lord” here speaks to His name as Jehovah/Yahweh and carries with the meaning of His nature, which He acts upon:

Redeemer/Deliverer/Savior, who is

Immediate and Involved

Moses also addresses God as Adonay (v.17)—another name for God which means, “My Lord,” and speaks to

The personal nature of one’s relationship with God

Miriam’s song addresses the Lord 2x (v.19 & 21)

Moses and the Israelites were overcome with the joy of the moment—overflowing with hearts of rejoicing & praising

Two Reasons for this praise in these verses:

The Lord (Yahweh/Jehovah) had redeemed them, saved them, and delivered them from their enemies

He fought for His people

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.””

Deuteronomy 3:22 “You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.’”

Deuteronomy 20:4 “for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”

He delivered His people: see the totality of the victory in what God promised Moses and Israel

Exodus 14:13-14 “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.””

The Lord was, therefore, worthy of praise and renewed committment (v.2)

There was a personal nature in the praise of the Israelite believer

The relationship b/t God and the Israelite believers was very personal

The Lord is, “my strength

The Lord is, “my song...”

The Lord is, “my salvation

The Lord is, “my God..”

The Lord is, “my father’s God...”

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION—YOU and ME)

In order to praise God from the right heart-space, He must be both Savior and Lord:

We are quick to call Christ our Savior—and rightfully so

We will however, due to our fallen nature, struggle to make Him Lord, b/c this invokes the necessity of the surrender and self-denial

We hold back in giving Christ ourselves and our sin(s) b/c

We desire to depend more on the “lord of self,” rather the Lord Himself

We fear, rather than trust, what counting the cost of surrender will accomplish

We desire to hold on to the comfort of the lives, “we’ve built for ourselves,”

We desire our wants/needs/desires more than what matters most to God

We desire to hold on to pet sins, the passing pleasures of sin, and those sins which so easily ensnare and

In our holding back and reservations in making Christ the Lord of our lives, we fall short in rightful praise and worship of Him

The person who experiences true deliverance in their lives, is the person who has come to the end of themself and has realized their true deliverance came only when Christ was made Lord and the praise that follows is a praise which cannot be contained

FIRST: The praise of our hearts must be directed ONLY to the Lord, WHO He is, as well as WHAT He’s accomplished

Our deliverance is NEVER by any other means than Jesus Christ and Him crucified

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

Who He is—Who God is just as important as what God has done, b/c what He’s accomplised is contigent on who He is

Who God is can found the names of God

Genesis 1:1 (God is Elohim—creator God)

Genesis 2:4 (God is Jehovah/Yahweh-Redeemer

Genesis 22:14 (God is Jehovah Jireh—provider)

Exodus 15:26 (God is Rapha—healer)

Judges 6:24 (Jehovah Shalom—God is peace)

Who God is, is represented (as best as he can) by John in Revelation. Revelation 4:3-5 “And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

Jasper—perfection and purity

Sardius—justice of God

Rainbow—mercy of God

So, in our praising of God for Who He is—we are praising God for the nature/characteristics which He acts upon towards those who belong to Him

What God has accomplished for us

Our deliverance is NEVER through our works, morality, or religion, rather our deliverance is through the grace of God in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Our deliverance is complete and total freedom from the wages of sin

Colossians 2:13 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,”

Romans 6:10 “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,”

Our deliverance is by the grace of God, and while God’s grace free’s us from sin’s condemnation, His grace

Gives us the power to say “NO” to sin

Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,”

Sustains us

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

2 Cor 12:9-10 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” To live for the glory of God

Is given to meet all our needs, regardless of circumstances/pressures; freshness

John 1:16 “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

SECOND-For rightful praise to, there must exist a right relationship

The phrases Moses uses to describe His relationship, must be the phrases we use to describe our relationship:

“My strength”—Regardless of the trial/circumstance the believer encounteres, the believer knows, that within the confines of a personal relationship God provides strength to face:

Problems

Temptations

Sufferings

Persecution

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Nehemiah 8:10b “... Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

“My song”—Trials and hardship are just as prevelant in the believer’s life as they are in an unbeliever’s life; both suffer and experience tribulations; the difference lies here: God comfort comes for the benefit of the believer

Who the believer trusts, directly effects how the believer lives:

The believer must know the afflictions of the world may effect his/her life—but they cannot effect his/her soul, b/c they know to whom their soul belongs

Therefore, the believer can

Have joy in trials

James 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Rejoice in the sufferings of this world

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

Sing in the face of sorrow

Romans 5:3 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;”

Acts 5:41 “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

Further, in light of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, believers know, not only does God’s grace save, again God’s grace is sufficient to sustain them, despite their weaknesses

“My salvation”—Despite all the evil and sin the world, all the trials/temptations which attack the believer, the believer knows Who holds His salvation

The joy of salvation is first known in a person’s conversion; however b/c of the evil & sin in the world believer’s often need to be reminded of salvation’s joy; we find it in

Repentance and confession

Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

Remembrance that our salvation assured in Christ

John 10:28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

In the rebuking/reproof & correction that comes from God—In God’s discipline in our lives, we are reminded that we are His children, whom He loves

Hebrews 12:5-7 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

The delighting and meditating of God’s Word

Psalm 1:2-3 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”

2 Timothy 3:15 “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

“My God”

The deliverance of one’s life from the wages of sin to eternal life is a personal one; it’s intimate and specific

The deliverance of one’s life from the wages of sin to eternal life MUST be a personal one

Salvation is not “transferred” from parents to children

Salvation is not “awarded” for church attendance, your service, your tithing, or your works

Salvation is the gift of God’s grace SOLELY for the person who recognizes they are lost sinner in need of a Savior and cry out with a cry of surrender to Jesus Christ, His cross and His resurrection

II. (v.3-12) A Song of God’s deliverance (the root for our praise)

Exodus 15:3-7 “The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.”

Exodus 15:8-12 “And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’ You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.”

Six truths are seen in these verses—we will give the context and application as we go through each one

(CONTEXT) God delivered Israel by His name (v.3-5)

“The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name...”

“The Lord...”—again we know these names to mean Redeemer/Savior/Deliverer, the One who is immediate and involved…in verses 3-5 Moses praises God for acting on His nature, as He

(v.4) He hurled Pharaoh’s chariots/army into the sea

(v.4) He drowned Pharaoh’s officers in the Red Sea

(v.5) He covered and sank them in the depths like a stone

“…is a man of war...”—God is a warrior meaning He

Fought for Israel

Stood against Israel’s enemies

Conquered all of Israel’s opposition

Triumphed over ALL evil for Israel

What needs to be seen here: (David Jeremiah) “There was not battle b/t defenseless Israel and Egypt; Yahweh fought (and still does fight) for His children

Exodus 14:25 “And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.””

What needs to be understood here: There was NO THING and NOTHING Israel could do:

There was not another way around the Sea or the Egyptians

They were unequipped for ANY kind of battle against the Egyptians

They had no way to cross the Red Sea on their own—especially at the location at where they crossed

(CONNECTION)—Man is delivered today through the same means—the power of His name

“The Lord”—In His name, redemption, restoration, salvation, and deliverance is found, as He acted upon His name:

In sending us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to deliver & save man from their sins

“…is a man of war...”—In His nature as a “man of war” (warrior) we can know the same as Israel:

He fights for us

He stands against our enemies for us

He conquers all opposition for us

He is victorious over ALL evil fo us

What needs to be seen here: We are defensless against the enemy—we are not match for the powers of hell

We must entrust the battle of our souls to the hallowed name of the Lord

What needs to be understood here: There is NO THING or NOTHING “we” can do:

There is no other way around

Left to ourselves—we are unequipped to fight ANY battle against the enemy—especially the battle for our souls

There is no way for us to “cross” over to where God is on our own

What we must see in all of this is:

The only means by which our souls are restored, victory of sin is accomplished, eternal life is found, and the means by which the enemy has no answer is the the cross of Jesus Christ

The cross is the WAY

The power of the cross is what we equip ourselves with

The cross is what bridges the gap b/t man and God

(CONTEXT) God delivered His people by the power of His right hand (v.6)

God’s “right hand”—this is a symbol of power it refers to His omnipotence

All power belongs to Him

He can do anything and nothing is too hard for Him

God’s “right hand”—can

Roll back and make a passage-way through the waters—if He wills

Reverse any law of nature as He wills—something the Israelites just witnessed

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)—We are delivered today through God’s right hand

In salvation, we see this in the power of the blood

Established in the O/T

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”

Fulfilled Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

The battle over a person’s salvation is “won” only through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ

In sanctification: seen in the power of God’s Word as we yield the power of the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit

Mark 4:26-29 “And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.””

In times of sin:

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

(CONTEXT) God delivered His people by the greatness of His majesty (v.7)

Note 3 things:

(FIRST)Pharaoh and his army are said to have risen up against God not Israel (“...You have overthrown those who rose against You...”)

(SECOND) God counts believers as His own—His very own people—His very own family

(THIRD) To “rise up” against believers is the saem as rising up against their Father—God Himself

Note God’s response b/c of this:

God overthrew those that opposed Him—His wrath consumed them as stubble

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)

In God’s majesty He takes the enemy and those that come against us and reduces them to ashes, while at the same time:

In God’s majesity, taking our lives as ashes (dead in sin) and giving us beauty (life)

Isaiah 61:3 “To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.””

(CONTEXT) God delivered His people by His might control over the waters (v.8)

Short context here—a poetic way to declare God’s sovereign nature; the “blast of God’s nostrils,” caused the strong east wind which

Piled up the waters

Stood the waters upright

Congealed the deep waters

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)-God is completely sovereign over the circumstances in our lives:

No sin/struggle is too dark/sinister/deep for Him

No trial/temptation is too difficult for Him to overcome

No issue within your marriage is too much for God’s control

No addiction a person lives under is too much for God to unshackle

(CONTEXT) God delivered His people by His triumph over the enemy’s hatrest/pride

Egypt was overcome with a spirit of hatred against Israel, to the Egyptians

The Israelites were the scum of the earth

The Israelites were people only worthy to be slaves

Egypt was overcome with hatred for Israel, b/c

Israel was the cause of the 10 plagues launched against them

Israel was the cause of the destruction of Egypt’s economy/agriculture—way of life

Egypt was so overcome with hatred, they loathed Israel so much they vowed to utterly destroy God’s people

“I will pursue”

“I will overtake”

“I will divide the spoils”

“I will gorge myself on them” (NIV)

“My hand shall destroy them” (v.9)

Despite the vitral hate of the Egyptians—the aggressiveness of their pursuit—God’s promise to deliver His people was fulfilled (Exodus 15:10 “You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.”)

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)-The world is set against God and therefore set against believers

About the world:

Where the world teaches you can do your own thing—believers live to the denial of self

Where the world teaches you can live in your sense of morality/goodness—believers live to the righteousness of Christ

Where the world teaches the pride of “gain and get all you can”—believers live to the humility of sacrifical giving and living

Where the world teaches comfort and indulgence—believers live in the promise of contentment and modest living

About the contrast:

The lives of believers and the life of the worldly are always at odds; and because of this:

The world (its systems and those lost to it) ridicules and persecutes believers

What we must remember---God has promised to deliver us from all of this (to live in abundant life both now and eternally)

Psalm 91:3 “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.”

1 Cor 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

2 Timothy 4:18 “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

2 Peter 2:9 “then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,”

What’s to see in these 1st 12 verses? There is no One like our God

“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.”

Majestic on holiness

Awesome in glory

Working wonders

III. (v.13-18) A Song of God’s Purpose (praise for where He’s leading us)

Exodus 15:13-18 “You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation. “The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, Trembling will take hold of them; All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away. Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O Lord, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.””

(CONTEXT)—The glorious purpose of God in delivering them from Egypt—was to lead them the promised land of Canaan

This section of verses refers to the promised land

This section of verses states there would be enemies along Israel’s march to Canaan—their promised inheritance

This section of verses states that God would also cause the hearts of those enemies to melt

This section of verses states that God would bring Israel to the promised land—to the very presence where God would dwell with His people

This section of verses point to the future and they also serve as an assurance

What is the source of God’s purpose?

His mercy

Mercy—as it’s been stated before, is God withholding from us what we deserve, so that He might display to us what we don’t deserve—His grace

His love

Love

God’s love is an AGAPE love/it’s a convent-keeping love/it’s a love that extends from the His throne to our hearts

God’s love is an expression of His preciousness towards us, in being created in His likeness and image

How was God’s mercy/love demonstrated?

Just as He redeemed Israel from enslavement through His messenger in Moses—so to does God demonstrate His love and mercy towards us in sending His only begotten Son—Jesus Christ, to redeem us from our bondage to sin

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION)—Just as Israel was promised to encounter enemies, so to our believers promised to encounter enemies/trials/tribulations

God’s mercy and love is not confined to the pages of the Bible—God’s mercy is alive and active

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I believe so many people live with the belief that God’s Word cannot have any power over the lives, over their sins, their shortcomings & failures—that any power God’s Word possesses was/is confined to those written about in Scripture:

I believe so many people live, in the deception of the enemy, they

“Aren’t worth what the cross offers”

“Have too much sin for Christ to forgive”

“The power of the blood of Jesus isn’t reserved for them

What we ALL must understand is this:

“For the word of God is alive and active...” take this in light of John 1:1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”

“Word”—is direct reference to Jesus Christ—He is the very Word of God

“Alive and active...” take this in light of the gospel’s accounts of the resurrection, Luke 24:5 “Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

If Jesus Christ is the very Word of God and the tomb is empty, then this stands to mean the Word is very much alive and active in people’s lives:

AND IN UNDERSTANDING THIS:

The same promise given to Israel—that God would see/lead them to the promised land—is the same promise afforded to believers today

Despite the enemies we will face, the obstacles we will encounter, the loss we will experience, the sin that will cause us to stumble:

God’s redemption in your life serves as the catalyst to a born again new life where regardless of the enemies we face, God will deliver us the promised land of His presence

Despite your weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures—God is active over ALL of them, so that as you boast in His strength and not yourself

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

IV. (v.19-21) A Song of a Special Nature—sung by the women of God’s people

Exodus 15:19-21 “For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!””

(CONTEXT AND APPLICATION)

Miriam was Moses’ sister—who looked after him when he was a baby (Ex 3:1-10)

Note when Miriam sang this song

(v.19) Right after God destroyed the Egyptian army in the sea

(v.19) Right after the Israelites walked on dry land

Our praise of the Lord must and should be in the immediate moments

Following salvation

Following deliverance from trials/tribulations

Followng deliverance from sin we’ve had to confess

(WORSHIP_

Saved/redeemed/delivered/restored—These are words often associated with a person who’s surrendered, used to describe what Christ has accomplished for them through the cross and empty tomb.

Yet these words carry more meaning than we often give credit, b/c these words indicate a “position” God counts us in, when we’ve surrendered our lives to Him

Position of

Saved—the position of being saved from the wages of sin (death—which Biblically means separated

Redeemed—the position of being rescued from loss (we were apart from God in our sin; we were lost to this world in our sin, there was no way WE could redeem/ransom ourselves before Christ

Delivered—the position of being delivered from or out of the midst of/to draw to oneself (God delivered us from our separated stated and “delivered us” to Himself)

Restored—the position of being perfectly joined together/mend/frame/to render fit or complete (think of mending nets) and signifies right ordereing and arrangement; this is also a position of being placed in a positon better than one’s original state (Eph 2:1-3 vs Ephesians 2:4-10)

The uniqueness of these “positions” is that if God counts us as such and places us there, than no power of hell or scheme of man can remove us from these positions

And, when we understand the gravity of who we were, what we were, and where we headed—then our praise to the Lord for these “positions” should exude from our hearts & mouths