The Song of Triumph
Prof. Gaussen. Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing to the LORD… The Song of Moses has never been surpassed for the poetical beauty of its imagery and its expressions. It is, besides, so full of holiness and adoration, as to render it incomparable. I. Let us recount ALL THE CAUSES FOR GRATITUDE WHICH ARE ENUMERATED IN IT. 1. The Israelites had been delivered from a terrible danger. The enemy had said, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them." 2. They had been delivered from inevitable danger. None could save them .but God only. Before them was the sea; behind them were Pharaoh and his host. 3. They had been delivered from universal danger. Not the lives of a thousand only, or even of ten thousand, among them had been threatened; all, old and young together, were to have been slain. 4. They had been delivered by most glorious miracles; the strong east wind, the pillar of light, the sea changed, as it were, into walls of ice. 5. They bad been delivered notwithstanding their sins. Oh, what an example of the free grace of God! They had scorned His words, had murmured; it was, so to speak, in spite of themselves that God had saved them. 6. They had been delivered altogether, not one was missing, not one had perished, not even the youngest child. No mourning marred their triumph, as often happens to the nations of the earth when they are celebrating a great victory. 7. They had been saved by the power of God alone. It was not their work, it was that of the Lord, who had said to them, "Stand still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord; the Lord shall fight for you." 8. Lastly, their deliverance was accompanied by promises for the future. God had brought them out of Egypt, but it was to lead them to Canaan. II. If we are true believers, and if Jesus is our Saviour, WE HAVE THE SAME REASONS THAT THE ISRAELITES HAD FOR SINGING THE SONG OF PRAISE. 1. Like them, we have been delivered from a terrible danger. It was the danger of death, — not of the body, for that is comparatively nothing, as our Lord has said, but of the soul; that is to say, condemnation, alienation from God, a whole eternity passed "in outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth." 2. Like the Israelites, we have been delivered from inevitable danger. There is no way of escape — no salvation in any other than in the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. We have been delivered from a universal danger. Indeed, we are all by nature under condemnation. "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." 4. We have been delivered by most glorious marvels. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God," exclaims the apostle John. These things are so sublime, that the angels desire to look into them. 5. We have been delivered notwithstanding our sins; for "God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 6. Like Israel, we have been delivered altogether. Not one of the chosen people of God will be missing; the youngest child, the most despised, the most forgotten of men, if he has put his trust in the Lord, will not perish. 7. God has saved us without any strength of our own, for we were incapable of doing anything. "I have trodden the winepress alone," saith the Saviour by the mouth of Isaiah. He obeyed for us, He has borne our sins, He has accomplished all the work of our salvation. 8. Lastly, our deliverance has been accompanied, like that of the Israelites, with glorious promises. The Lord will guide us with His counsel, and afterwards He will receive us to glory. He will be our strength, because He has been our Saviour. (Prof. Gaussen.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. WEB: Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, "I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.