Praise & the Glory of God- Exodus 15

William Wilberforce was a man God used to bring an end to the slave trade in England. Though we do not have the time to walk through his life, God saved Wilberforce and transformed his life.

Wilberforce cared about people and sought to bring about societal reform through biblical living. But Wilberforce sought to live out his Christian life in the public square and address what was, at the time, the most glaring contradiction of Christianity: the slave trade.

For 20 years, Wilberforce presented a bill that would abolish the slave trade in England. And for 20 years, he was met with defeat. Yet, Wilberforce believed God’s Word and would not relent. And in 1807, Wilberforce achieved victory, and England abolished the slave trade.

I cannot imagine the feeling that William Wilberforce would have experienced. His labors for abolition had finally been realized. His response, unsurprisingly, was one of praise to God.

We expect that after such a wonderful victory. Israel, after being emancipated from Egyptian slavery, had the same response.

Praise is to the Christian what breathing is to the human being, or at least should be. In Exodus chapter 15 we see Praise & the Glory of God, that is, praise brings glory to God. In fact, the very reason that you and I exist is for the glory of God.

Many people in this world, sadly, do not follow the Lord and therefore do not glorify Him. This, of course, increases their struggles with depression, anxiety, and futility, because they are not living the way God created them to live.

Sadder still is the fact that many Christians do not live for God as they ought, and this primarily is observed in the horrific lack of praise.

Let this chapter of praise be a challenge to us to become a people of praise to God.

You must praise God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do.

I. Praise is the Proper Response to God’s Redemption- 15:1-10

God had delivered Israel as He had promised to Abraham 400 years prior (see Gen. 15:13-16). Though faced with terrible bondage, Israel endured and the Lord decimated the Egyptians, embarrassing each one of the false gods and goddesses and ultimately the king of Egypt. The army was drowned in the sea, unable to fight against Israel’s God.

Immediately after this remarkable event, Moses and Israel break out in praise. It is the proper response to God’s Redemption.

Now, before we move on, we understand that redemption here is not spiritual redemption, rather, it is physical redemption. More on this in a moment.

We learn several aspects of praise in this section.

A. Praise is directed to God—not to people

Notice their praise is directed to God and not to people. We certainly want to give honor to whom honor is due, but praise is rightly reserved for God because of His redemption.

B. Praise focuses on God’s Work—not ours

Notice the focus is on what God has done, not what Israel did. There is not one mention of Israel’s endurance in slavery, as commendable as that may be. The focus is on God.

I recently heard of a young child getting saved, and several people who commented on it would say things like “I’m so glad you chose to be saved!” “You did awesome!” and similar statements. Brothers and sisters, praise focuses on God’s work!

We are redeemed, but not from physical danger, we are redeemed from an eternal danger, the wrath of a holy and almighty God. Praise is the proper response, and this praise should be directed to God and focus on His work, not ours. Follow the example of the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15-17. [BLUE TAB]

II. Praise is the Proper Response to God’s Character- 15:11-13

We see a remarkable balance in Moses’s praise. We certainly praise God for His redemption. But we are also praise God for Who is He.

It is a mark of immaturity when we only thank God for what God does. We raise our kids to learn to move from thanking people for the gifts they give to thanking people for the people they are. Likewise, Israel was moved to praise God for Who He was, not just for what He did.

In these few verses, Moses provides several aspects for which we can praise God:

His holiness

His steadfast love (i.e., mercy)

These two alone give us enough reason to praise God for all eternity.

“It is impossible for the eye to rest on Him and the spirit not be bowed in holy worship.” (C. H. Mackintosh, Notes on the Pentateuch, 207)

III. Praise is the Proper Response for God’s Work in the Nations- 15:14-18

Notice how Moses’s views shift from Israel and God’s dealings with her to the nations. This is a theme that thus far has run through Scripture beginning with God’s promise to Abraham to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:1-3).

We read this in Exodus 9:16 “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Notice how far God’s name would be proclaimed: in all the earth.

John Piper describes the situation like this, “His purpose was to enlarge his own reputation—to make his name known among the nations—with the effect that those who saw his name as glorious would worship him with hope and joy.” (John Piper, Providence, 94)

God is making His work known, and this is a wonderful reason to praise Him. The Church today is called to make disciples of all nations, and how do we do this?

R. B. Kuiper quote, “The disciples must have been shocked when the Lord commissioned them to make disciples of all the nations. That assignment was nothing short of overwhelming. It was a case of eleven men against the world, of eleven relatively ignorant men of the most despised nation under the sun against all the power and wisdom of the world. That feeble, by human standards utterly negligible, band was given orders to conquer the glory that was Greece and the grandeur and might of the world-spanning Roman empire, together with whatever wild tribes might be dwelling beyond Caesar’s domain.

‘Impossible!’ they thought. ‘Utterly impossible!’ they reasoned. ‘Unthinkable!’ They felt.

Their Commander knew their thoughts. But His thoughts were higher, infinitely higher. Said He in effect: ‘Did you in your own strength confide, your striving would indeed be losing. But remember that you are not alone. I, the man of God’s own choosing, am on your side. Lord Sabaoth is My name. Mine are all authority and all power on earth and in heaven. Yes, even Satan and all his host cannot so much as stir without My permission. To be sure, in the world you will have tribulation; but fear not, for I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5), but by the strength which I will supply you can do all things (Phil. 4:13). In Me your labour will not be in vain (I Cor. 15:58). Through the operation of My sovereign grace in the hearts of men there will be numerous converts for you to baptize into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, thus to signify and to seal unto them salvation by the Triune God and fellowship with Him in the communion of His church.”

We can praise God for His sure work in the nations!

IV. Praise is the Proper Response by both Men and Women- 15:20-21

We will not dwell long on this point, but notice that both the men and the women were involved in praise. It is not something restricted to a select group of people, it is for the assembly, for the church.

V. Praise must Be Actively Engaged, or Discontentment will Set In- 15:22-27

Praise is the antidote to the venom of ingratitude.

The children of Israel have witnessed some of the most incredible miracles in all of Scripture. The “saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians…and they believed.” (14:31)

What in the world happened? How did they go from this incredible miracle to doubt and despair?

Asking similar questions and offering a helpful answer, R. Kent Hughes says,

“What comes next? To put the question in terms of the Christian life, what comes after saving faith? The answer is sanctification—the long, hard, difficult process of being conformed to the holiness of God.” (Exodus, 380)

Israel is presented an opportunity to put into practice the faith they had, and they failed. But before we judge them too harshly, let us remember we have a fuller revelation, the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit, unlimited access to our Triune God, and His Holy Word.

It is we, not them, who should be ashamed. These tests are meant to grow and deepen our dependance and faith in God, and yet we take our eyes off the God of heaven and place it on the disappointments of this life and wonder why we are discouraged.

Hughes reminds us, “All our problems and persecutions are meant to teach us to depend on God alone, to have absolute confidence in his faithfulness.” (Exodus, 381)

Praise has a way of keeping us from bitterness because it keeps our focus on the God who has and will provide. This is no different than Paul’s admonition in I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

You must praise God for all that He has done, is doing, will do.