LESSON 15
THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED
—by E. L. Bynum
Memory Verse: 15:2 (N.W. 16:4)————Lesson: Ex. 15:1-27
The student should realize that redemption is two-fold. Redemption. Redemption is by purchase, and it is also by power. Redemption carries with it the idea of ransom and also deliverance. Hos. 13:14; Jer. 31:11; and Eph. 1:14. Down in Egypt they were redeemed (ransomed) by purchase, at the Red Sea they were redeemed (delivered) by power.
I. ISRAEL’S SONG OF REDEMPTION. v. 1-21
A. the Song of Redemption – Retrospective. v. 1-12
1. The first song. v. 1. This is the first song of the Bible. Israel had no song in Egypt. Man can have no song without redemption. This song and its poetry contains none of the polytheism and mythology of the ancient songs and poems of Egypt, India and other ancient peoples. Why? Because it is inspired of God !
a. The Song of Redemption. “This song is twofold: (1) It applies to Israel and (2) It is typical of the believer. There is no singing mentioned in the Bible except in connection with redemption. Angels do not sing. As far as the Bible is concerned, angels have never sung since sin entered the universe of God. Israel, as a redeemed people laden with the joy of their Lord, tell it out in such accents of gratitude and praise as are set forth in this inspiring song.” W. G. Heslop
b. On the other side of the Red Sea they had no song (Ex. 14:11-12). Now they have a song. It will not take them long to lose, for only through maturity can we have a song in the night. Job 35:10, But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night. Psa. 42:8, …in the night his song shall be with me…. Matt. 26:30. Acts 16:25, And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
2. The song of Moses. v. 1. This was his first song, and his last song is recorded in Deut.32. Rev. 15:3, And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. It looks forward to Israel’s song in the Kingdom age. Isa. 12
3. The Lord’s triumph. v. 1
4. The Lord’s relationship to His own. v. 2
5. His name and occupation. v. 3. He is not only the God of peace, but He also the God of war. Liberals abhor this and remove the militant hymns from their song books. They do not like “Onward Christian Soldiers,” or “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”
6. The disposition of His enemies. v. 4-5
7. Accomplished by His might and power. v. 6-8. Notice how easy it was for God to do all of this. Israel’s praise of God for what He had done is not barbaric, fleshly or evil; but it is entirely in the will of God. See Rev. 15:3 as quoted above.
8. The enemy’s boast, and God’s answer. v. 9-10
9. The uniqueness of our God. v. 11. Deut. 3:24; Psa. 86:8; Rev. 19:6; Psa. 89:7; Micah 7:18
10. His wrath upon His enemies. v. 12
B. The Song of Redemption – Prospective. v. 13-18
1. God will lead them to their habitation. v. 13
2. The people in and around Canaan to be filled with fear. v. 14-16. Josh. 2:9-11
3. His people brought in and planted. v. 17
4. His eternal position. v. 18. Dan. 7:14, And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
C. The Song of Redemption by the Women. V. 19-21
1. The Lord brought the waters back. v. 19. The waters were brought back swiftly and miraculously.
2. Miriam leads the women. v. 20. The dancing here bears no relationship to modern dancing. Men and women did not dance together, but were separated. Usually the men did not dance at all. It more resembled marching to music.
3. They are encouraged to sing to the Lord. v. 21. Many Scriptures tell us to sing. Psa. 81:1, Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Psa. 95:1, O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Eph. 5:19, Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. James 5:13, Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
II. ISRAEL’S JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS. v.22-27
A. The Waters of Marah. v. 22-26
1. Three days in the wilderness without water. v. 22. God’s redeemed people may expect the experiences of the wilderness. They are a necessary part of our trials and temptations. Three days here speak of resurrection.
a. After a great victory at the Red Sea, they soon lose the joy of victory in the desert.
b. The pleasures of sin can never satisfy. Only God can satisfy. Psa. 63:1, O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.
2. The bitter waters of Marah. v. 23. The waters of this wilderness world are indeed bitter to God’s people. “Marah” means “bitter.” Drought and bitterness is what the world offers. Jer. 17:9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
3. How quickly their song turned to murmuring. v. 24
a. They became professionals at murmuring. Num. 14:2; Deut. 1:27. Psa. 106:13-14, They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
b. They Bible tells us why. Matt. 6:21, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
c. This is a lesson for us. I Cor. 10:11, Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
4. God’s provision through a tree. v. 25. This tree is a type of the cross. The tree was not found by Moses, but it was God who showed him. I Pet. 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
“The cross on which the Saviour died
and conquered For His saints,
This is the tree, by faith applied,
Which sweetens all complaints.”
5. God protects and heals. v. 26. Divine healers say that God does not use doctors or medicine to heal the sick. This is not true, “He employs them. The bitter waters of Marah were healed not by a peremptory fiat from Jehovah, but by a `tree’ being cast into them! Thus, in the first reference to `healing’ in the Bible we find God deliberately choosing to employ means for the healing and health of His people. Similarly, did He bless Elisha in the use of means (salt) in healing the waters at Jericho (2 Kings 2:I9-22). Similarly did God instruct His servant Isaiah to use means (a fig-poultice) in the healing of Hezekiah. So also in Psa. 104:14 we read, `He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and here for the service of man; that he may bring forth good out of the earth.’ So we find the apostle Paul exhorting Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake (I Tim. 5:23). Even on the new earth God will use means for healing the bodies of the nations which have lived through the millennium without dying and being raised in glorified bodies `The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations’ (Rev. 22:2).” A. W. Pink
B. The Waters Of Elim. v. 27
1. Twelve wells of water. A well for each tribe.
2. Seventy palm trees. A tree each for the seventy elders. Palm trees grow by the water, and so do Christians. Psa.1:2-3, But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
3. They encamped there. After trials, God refreshes His people.
“Elim! sweet foretaste of rest and blessing.
Soon must be left for the lengthening way;
But it is well that Thy pilgrims should gather
Courage and strength for the wearisome day.”
—by E. L. Bynum
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Give a brief description of the two-fold meaning of redemption.
2. What is the significance of this first song of the Bible?
3. How does it differ from the ancient songs and poems of the Egyptians?
4. This is the first song of Moses, where is the record of his last song?
5. Israel has been accused by liberals of being heathenish and sinful in their rejoicing over what God did to the Egyptians. How would you refute that?
6. What is the meaning of “retrospective” and “prospective” as used in outlining this chapter?
7. Was Miriam out of place in taking a place of leadership in v. 20?
8. If Miriam and these Hebrews danced, what is wrong with Christians dancing today?
9. Explain why a redeemed people have to go through the wilderness and come to bitter waters?
10. What did the Israelites do after going without water for three days and then only finding bitter waters?
11. How were the waters sweetened, and what is this a type of?
12. Explain the waters and trees of Elim, and the spiritual lessons to be gained from them?
13. Look up the palm trees of the Bible and explain their typical teaching.