Song of Moses and of the Lamb
Notes
Transcript
Brief Background
Brief Background
For those who are just joining us, we are working our way through the book of Revelation. John the son of Zebedee was in exile on the isle of Patmos. Yeshua was revealed to him there, and John was commanded to write to seven communities in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).
In the last few weeks, we have discussed how this central section of Revelation, Chapters 12 and 14, “not only reinterprets traditional images that it recounts, but provides a key to interpreting other symbols throughout Revelation.” (Craig Keener) We covered the Song of the Redeemed, the Messages of the Three Angels, and the Harvesting of the Earth.
Now we will look at a second song of the Redeemed, the “Song of Moses the servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb.”
The Sign and the Sea
The Sign and the Sea
Chapter 15 transitions between the Second Interlude and the Bowls of Wrath. But before John goes into the description of the judgements contained in the bowls, He once again reminds us of the setting. All these judgements that are poured out on the Earth originate from Adonai and are connected with the justification of the Righteous Witnesses (Martyrs). Let’s go ahead and read, Revelation 15 .
Then I saw another great and wonderful sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven plagues—the last ones, for with them God’s wrath is finished. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name standing by the sea of glass, holding the harps of God. And they are singing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful are Your deeds, Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! Who shall not fear and glorify Your name, O Lord? For You alone are Holy. All the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed!” After these things I looked, and the Temple of the Tent of Witness in heaven was opened. Out of the Temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, dressed in pure bright linen and wearing wide gold sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power. No one was able to enter the Temple until the seven angels’ seven plagues were finished.
The Great and Wonderful Sign
The Great and Wonderful Sign
The first and last verses of this chapter form book ends for the Song of Moses and of the Lamb that is between them. So, while the plagues will be described in detail over the next three chapters, John is drawing our attention to the Worship of Adonai and of the Lamb.
Verse 1 states that these seven plagues are “the last ones” and represent the “end” or goal of Adonai’s judgement. John recognises that this “Sign” is in the heavens, but as we will see over the next few weeks, as these bowls are poured out there is a physical manifestation of each one. As with the Seals and the Trumpets, we see that God’s purpose, His concern, is that all should repent and turn to Adonai. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that:
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
We will see this explicitly stated later om in Chapter 16.
Sea of Glass Mixed with Fire
Sea of Glass Mixed with Fire
The Sea of Glass is something that was described by Moses, shortly after Beni Yisrael met with Adonai at Mt. Sinai. Just before receiving the Covenant of Adonai the first time, we see an amazing revelation of Adonai’s throne room. Exo. 24:9-11
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. They saw the God of Israel, and under His feet was something like a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the very heavens. Yet He did not raise His hand against the nobles of Bnei-Yisrael. So they beheld God, and ate and drank.
Here we have Moses and the elders seeing Adonai and, Moses notes that there was a pavement of clear blue sapphire under His feet. John describes this same picture as a sea of glass, mixed with fire. So, if the glory of Adonai were not enough, it is doubly reflected by this magnificent mirrored sea. As I was studying this sea or foundation, I came across a wonderful verse from the prophet Isaiah 54:10-13
Though the mountains depart and the hills be shaken, My love will not depart from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken, says Adonai who has compassion on you. Afflicted one, storm-tossed, unconsoled, behold, I set your stones in antimony, lay your foundations with sapphires, make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children will be taught by Adonai. Your children will have great shalom.
Isa. 54 is a wonderful promise of Adonai regarding the restoration of Israel, and the New Covenant that Adonai has invited them into. This is the same New Covenant that Gentiles are also grafted into through Messiah Yeshua. Adonai is promising to build us a house made of the same beautiful stones that His House is made from in heaven.
Song of Moses
Song of Moses
Now we see those who have overcome the Beast and have not bowed to His image nor received his name are worshiping before Adonai. All of those who have died in Messiah are standing there as a great cloud of witnesses, and declaring Adonai’s truth and justice.
Moses’ Perspective
Moses’ Perspective
The context of the first song of Moses is extremely applicable. Exodus 15:1-18
Then Moses and Bnei-Yisrael sang this song to Adonai: I will sing to Adonai, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea. Adonai is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. Adonai is a warrior—Adonai is His Name! Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has hurled into the sea, and his chosen captains have sunk into the Sea of Reeds. The deeps cover them. They sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, Adonai, is glorious in power. Your right hand, Adonai, dashes the enemy to pieces. In the greatness of Your excellency You overthrow those who resist You. You send forth Your wrath— it consumes them as stubble. With the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps became firm ground in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil. My lust shall gorge on them! I will draw my sword— my hand will destroy them.” You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who is like You, Adonai, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them. You in Your lovingkindness led the people You have redeemed. You guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation. When the peoples hear, they will tremble—anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom are terrified. Trembling grips Moab’s mighty men. All of Canaan’s inhabitants will melt away. Terror and dread will fall on them. By the greatness of Your arm they become still as a stone, till Your people cross over, Adonai, till the people whom You purchased cross over. You bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, Adonai, that You have made for Yourself to dwell in— the Sanctuary, Adonai, which Your hands have prepared. Adonai will reign forever and ever!
We sing a part of this song almost every Shabbat. Do you recognise it? It’s the Michamocha. Moses is exalting Adonai because of His victory over Pharoah’s army. After describing the victory of Adonai and the protection of Beni Yisrael, Moses continues by describing the future results. He speaks of how the peoples of Philistia, Canaan, Moab and Edom will tremble and be seized with anguish. This is the result of Adonai bringing judgement upon Egypt.
Moses then describes Israel as “the people whom you have purchased,” and speaks of the Promised Land and the Sanctuary or House that Adonai has prepared. I am reminded of the final promise of Revelation, that Adonai would tabernacle or dwell among His people once again. Here Moses is prophetically speaking of the House of Adonai, the place that Adonai had made for Himself to dwell in.
John’s Perspective
John’s Perspective
As we come back to Revelation 15:3 “And they are singing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful are Your deeds, Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!”
We see that the believers surrounding the throne start by acknowledging the Majesty and Greatness of Adonai. There are two titles here in the Greek text, the first is Lord God Almighty and the second is King of the nations.
Lord God Almighty
Lord God Almighty
Both of the tiles are seen throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. The first is Adonai Elohei Tzva’ot (יהוה אֱלֹהִים צָבָא), The Lord God Almighty (of Hosts). This is a tile that we first see in 2 Sam. 5:10 “David continued to grow stronger, for Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot was with him.” And we see David using this title of Adonai throughout the Psalms. We then see Elijah using this name for Adonai in 1 Ki. 19:14 where he is complaining to Adonai that he is the last prophet left. Jeremiah and Amos both use this title in a similar way to Elijah.
David knew that Adonai was the one who would give him victory in battle, and he relied on the Ruler of Heaven’s Armies, but Elijah, Jeremiah and Amos are all complaining to Adonai. The complaint of Elijah, 1 Ki. 19:14 is very similar to that of Jeremiah and Amos.
“I have been very zealous for Adonai-Tzva’ot,” he said, “for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword—and I alone am left, and they are seeking to take my life!”
Amos, however, lived in the time of Uzziah and Jeroboam II.
Amos' message was given to the nation during a time of relative material prosperity, but when Israel was not committed to Adonai spiritually. (Messianic Jewish Family Bible, TLV, Preface to Amos, p. 650)
Jeremiah, as you may know, prophesied at the end of the Kingdom of Judah just before the exile into Babylon. In the cases of Elijah, Amos and Jeremiah, they were all prophesying that Adonai would come and bring judgement to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
King of the Nations
King of the Nations
The title King of the Nations, or in some manuscripts King of the Ages, is not as easy to track down. There is a reference in Jer. 10:10 where Adonai is described as the Eternal King or (מלך עולם melek ʿôlām).
But Adonai Elohim is truth. He is the living God and eternal King. At His wrath the earth quakes and the nations cannot endure His indignation.
However, by the first century:
The phrase מלם העילם melek hāʿôlām, “king of the universe,” is a formula found at the beginning of every rabbinic benediction except the benediction of the Amidah. A number of Jewish scholars argue that this emphasis on the kingship of God was formulated in conscious opposition to emperor worship; cf. E. J. Wiesenberg,
So here in Revelation we see an ancient name of Adonai that was primarily used when recalling the broken covenant, and a modern name (1st Century) of Adonai that seems to have been used to counter the emperor worship going on throughout the Roman empire. In both of these cases we are reminded that it is Adonai who causes empire to rise and to fall; it is Adonai, who as Daniel puts it: Dan. 5:18-21
Your majesty, God Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor. Because of the grandeur that He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and languages dreaded and feared him. He killed whomever he wanted and spared anyone he wanted; he raised up whomever he wished and humbled anyone he wished. But when his heart became haughty and his spirit hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from among men and his mind became like an animal, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he fed on grass like an ox, and his body was damp with the dew of heaven until he recognized that God Most High is sovereign over the realm of mankind and that He sets up over it whomever He wills.
When the king hides his face
When the king hides his face
For this reason, those surrounding the Throne of Adonai ask incredulously, (Rev. 15:4) “Who shall not fear and glorify Your name, O Lord?” Then they declare that Adonai is holy and that all nations shall come and worship before You!!! Adonai receives glory through our worship of Him, but also through the judgement of His enemies. Either way, Adonai will be glorified!
The passage in Revelation closes with the opening of the Heavenly Tabernacle and the procession of the 7 angels with the 7 bowls. There is one final point I want to make before we go to the application. Adonai deliberately surrounds Himself with the smoke of His glory, and it says that no one was able to enter the Temple until the 7 plagues were finished. When I read this, all I could think of was a scene out of the movie Ivanhoe where King Richard Plantagenet holds His mouth closed and looks away from a man condemned to death. This is the point of no return for the earthly kingdoms and its rulers. A day is coming when the bowls will be full, and Adonai will hide his face from the world, but that day is not yet.
Application for Today
Application for Today
How do we apply this to our lives? As I look at this passage in Revelation, I see several points that are relevant to us
Worship Adonai: We are called to worship Adonai in the good times and in the times of judgement.
Fear Adonai: We are also called to fear Adonai. The more we understand His holiness, and the more we understand our wretchedness without Him, the more we value his forgiveness and grasp His love.
Work Today: We are all called to work in His field today, while it is still called today, because a time is coming when no one can work. We are called to give an account for the hope that we have to anyone who asks. Blessed are feet of those who share the Good News of Yeshua.
I will close with the following Psalm of David (Ps. 143).
A psalm of David. Hear my prayer, Adonai, give ear to my petitions. In Your faithfulness and Your righteousness, answer me! Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for in Your eyes no one living is righteous. For an enemy pursues my soul. He crushes my life down to the ground. He makes me dwell in darkness, like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me. My heart is shocked within me. I remember the days of old. I meditate on all You have done. I ponder the work of Your hands. I spread forth my hands to You. My soul longs for You as a parched land. Selah Answer me speedily, Adonai— my spirit fails. Hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the Pit. Make me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You I trust. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, Adonai. I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Ruach lead me on level ground. For Your Name’s sake, Adonai, revive me. In Your justice bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies and destroy all who harass my soul, for I am Your servant.