Exodus Chapter 15

• Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 

Someone may have written this song under the inspiration of the Lord. They took tumbrels and marched around in joy as they sang a song of thanksgiving for their deliverance. They may have jumped up and down for joy, marched, leaped, twirled and many other things as they spontaneously rejoiced in the Lord. 

If they would have practiced and put on a performance to entertain, it would have been stated as such but this seems to be a spontaneous worship and thanksgiving unto the Lord for His deliverance. They were making a joyful noise unto the Lord. This is a natural reaction to victory. King David danced before the Lord with all his might when we saw the ark of God coming back into its rightful place. 

There is nothing wrong with making joyful noises in worship toward God. There is nothing wrong with being vocal about our God like we are very vocal when our favorite team scores a touchdown. I believe this worship was with instruments and it was spontaneous. I do not believe David's dancing before the Lord or the children of Israel's dancing was the practiced or planned dance steps as such but just a way to rejoice and be glad for the deliverance of the Lord. I believe it was for anyone who desired to partake of this time of worship, not just the talented, not as entertainment but as true worship. 

A good healthy church will welcome praise and worship to our wonderful God but also love the in depth teaching of the written word. 

• Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 

Notice that some praise songs are songs about God and what God has done to deliver and save His people, but also some songs are those where we speak directly to God also. Many people are from different cultures and backgrounds praise God with instruments and song. 

1. Some do not use any musical instruments and prefer to sing with just voices.
2. Some use choirs, pianos and organs.
3. Some use old style hymns singing of experiences of the martyrs, such as the Amish and some Mennonites.
4. Some in history used chants and high pitched singing.
5. Some sung the Psalms and Jewish type of music.
6. More modern singing is hymns such as those written by Martin Luther, later Charles Wesley and Fanny Crosby.
7. More modern than that was southern gospel hymns, bluegrass gospel with more upbeat worship.
8. Now we have contemporary choruses and songs both slow and those with a faster beat.
   The most controversial is the Christian rock that some churches used with a very upbeat and loud worship with electric guitars, electric pianos, keyboards, drums and cymbals. 

No matter which style of music is used, to sing and worship in sincerity with a heart that worships God and not merely to entertain or to be seen of men is the best worship. I prefer the whole congregation to sing together rather than just watch a singing group preform, but to worship with all that is within us. I love worshiping in spirit and in truth whether very emotional or quiet with tears, we should never hinder or criticize the way someone worships God. It's is too holy and precious to hinder a person's worship by getting between them and God. 

Of course I'm not speaking of crazy dangerous stuff that could harm someone like snake handling and putting on shows that exalt men rather than bring glory to God. I'm speaking of genuine heart felt praise whether loud or quiet, upbeat or soft, with a heart lifted up in singing praise to God so much so that if we would keep quiet the very rocks would have to cry out. 

They had no way of escape except by the mercy, grace and power of God. God saved them and no other. Moses can't take the credit, the faith of the people can't take any credit, and no personality can take the credit for their deliverance. He delivered them out of Egypt and through the Red Sea by His own mercy and power.

"I will prepare Him a habitation." referred to in Exodus 15:2. That says a lot. God will abide with us when we believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

God was limited to Israel before Christ came to us, (became human like one of us) and as long as they feared Him and walked in His commandments, He was right there with them. When they forsook God, His presence was not with them to protect them and the enemy would then be able to come in like a flood. 

• John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

When we just begin to believe in Jesus Christ, we are preparing ourselves for His habitation. He dwelt in the tabernacle in the wilderness but through Jesus Christ He abides in each individual who believes in Him. We become a temple or tabernacle for the Holy Spirit to dwell within. We can be always walking in His presence daily. There is an initial filling of the Holy Spirit where some may worship by speaking with tongues as evidence. This is not just a one time experience. The Holy Spirit continues to abide with us as we walk with the Lord.

• Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 

This is true against the enemies of God, the enemies of His people and the enemies of the gospel, the Lord is a man of war. 

• Exodus 15:4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 

This didn't happen without many warnings first. 

• Exodus 15:5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 
• 6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 
• 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 
• 8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as a heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 
• 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 
• 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 
• 11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 
• 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 
• 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 

Verse 13 looks like a verse with a triple meaning. 

1. As God led forth the children of Israel out of Egypt and redeemed them, He then began to guide them to a place where God Himself dwelt with them. 
2. When He sent Jesus to the world to become flesh, all who believe can be part of the habitation of God when the Holy Spirit abides within each believer. 
3. When Jesus returns, sets up His kingdom literally and puts down all rebellion, God Himself will dwell with all mankind that remains at that time including those that died in the Lord and rose from the dead. 

What a beautiful thought that God really wants to dwell with those that believe and love Him.

• Exodus 15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Philistia. 
• 15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 
• 16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 

God redeemed them and they are His. This promise was given to Israel first. All the law, sacrifices and promises was to bring them to the time when Christ would come to save them from sin. The law showed us what sin was but it couldn't save us and give us a changed life filled with the spirit of God. Those that believed were saved but by looking forward to the time when God would send the Messiah. We are saved by looking back to that time in faith. 

• Exodus 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 
• 18 The LORD shall reign forever and ever. 

This is a promise that will be fulfilled literally. Both Israel and all who believe will receive this inheritance. Even though Israel later rejected Him, the times of the Gentiles will draw to a close and the Jews will be grafted back in their own vine. 

I will say this. This day may already be arriving. Thousands of Jews are coming to Jesus Christ. The Gentile nations are going deep into sin and many are starting to reject him. The coming of evolution and Darwinism was the beginning of the end of the time of the Gentiles. Unbelief cut Israel off from the vine temporarily and unbelief will cut the Gentiles off and Israel will be grafted  back in the vine. It is our choice to hold onto the faith once delivered so that we also are not cut off from the vine. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches.

Reference: John 15 and Romans 11. 

• Exodus 15:19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 
• 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 

Again this is spontaneous praise and worship not practiced entertainment. It was to worship God and give Him glory. It was not just entertainment that gives glory to the people performing the action. 

• Exodus 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 

Now we see the end of praise and the beginning of trials. 

• Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 
• 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 
• 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 

At the first sign of trouble, unbelief sets in. We also go through these times. 

This is one reason to be rooted and grounded in the word of God. The rejoicing and excitement or miracles have a way of disappearing at certain seasons. It is these times when we need the word hidden in our hearts. 

• Exodus 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 
• 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for am the LORD that healeth thee. 

Here is a promise of continual healing. There are ifs to these promises:

First of all they must avoid unbelief because it will cause all the other sins that open the door to sickness. We must not take this wrong. Every individual who gets sick is not guilty of sin. Because of sin, sickness entered the world. The places where sin abounds the most may have the most sickness but the innocent are sometimes victims of the environment around them and may suffer sickness through no fault of their own. 

Here is God's promise:

If they keep His statues and commandments, He will not put on the diseases that He put on Egypt. 

A nation that fears God and walks in His ways will have God's protection. If that same nation begins to move away from God, reject Him and allow sin to overcome them, God's hand of protection is not there as before. God doesn't really have to bring judgment to a nation; all He has to do is go away and the devil will be free to do whatever he desires. 

I believe the United States is in danger of losing the protection it once had. We threw God out of our public schools and in came drugs, abortion, teen pregnancies, sexual disease and school shootings caused by hate. After this country got established, we never were attacked on the mainland until 9/11 by a foreign country. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and got us into a war with Germany and Japan but that was not on the mainland. 

• Exodus 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. 

This was Israel's time of spiritual renewing and refreshing. God is good to those that trust in Him. -DC

Exodus 16

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