The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 8

the rnighl~· waters" (vers. 5-10). 3. The fatality of it. The destruction wa.s com- p.ete. 'l'hcre was no recovery from it. Horse and chariot and charioteer ; the chosen captains; the whole array of Pharaoh's military strength-all went down in one swift, fell swoop, to the sea-bottom. "Thy right hand, 0 Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy" (ver. 6). Pondering these images, we cannot but be impressed by the folly, the insanity, as well as the futility, of all attempts at contending with the Almighty. III. THE ATTRIBUTES OF Goo AS REVEALED IN THE TRIUMPH. 'l'hese, naturally, are made conspicuous in the ode. It was Jehovah, not Israel, who had achieved thu triumph; and to Jehovah, accordingly, was all the praise due. Further, the design in the transaction had been precisely this: to display the character of God as Jehovah, 1md gfre a new demonstration of his possession of the att1ibutes denoted by the nam(l Jah (vers. 2, 3). The attributes of Jehovah specially extolled are-1. Power. "Thy right hand. 0 Lord, is become glorious in power" (ver. 6). The greatness of this power is seen by its being measured ~a-a.inst the military might of Pharaoh, which thereby becomes a foil to it: another measure being found in the might and fury of the elements ,vhich it controls-winds, mighty waters, etc. Its resistlessness is seen in the sud,lcn- ness and decisiveness of the overthrow. 2. Supremacy (vers.11-18). 'fhis attribute, which is of the very essence of the Jehovah conception, was signally illustrated in the Red Sea catastrophe (Ps. cx:xxv. 6). Not only was God therein revealed as absolute Ruler in the domain of nature, but it was shown how Pharaoh himself, pursuing his own end. was yet bent to be an instrument in accomplishing God's; how, when he thought he was freest, and most certain of victory, God had the hook in his jaws, and was leading all his host straight into the grave prepared for him; how, &eeordingly, God is Supreme Ruler in the moral as well as in the natural world, in the region of human wills as well as in that of natural causation. 3. Holiness. The holiness of God. burning like fire among stubble, and utterly consuming the hosts of the enemy, is justly celebrated in these verses (ver. 7). God was revealed as " glorious in holiness" (ver. 13); and because he was so, Israel was filled with awe in his presence (ver. 13), and his habitation is spoken of as an "holy habitation" (ver. 13), a sanctuary (ver. 17). 4. Mercy. This is the other side of the transaction of the Hed Sea-the side of deliverance, as the former was of judgment, and mention is made of it in vers. 2, 13. Here, then, is a. wonderful constella.tion of Divine attributes-exhi- bited. too, not in word, but in suitable action, in deeds which gave them embodiment, a.nd impressive manifestation. They are the same attributes which have been at work -all down history, operating for the good of the Church, and for the overthrow of evil. IV. THE EFFECTS OF THE TRIDMPH (vers. 13-18). It is viewed-I. As inspinng fear in the surrounding nations, in Edom, in Moab, among the Philistines, and other inhabi- tants of Canaan. Every powerful manifestation of God's attributes is fitted to awaken terror among his enemies, and actually does so. Results similar to those here de- scribed will follow the great predicted judgments on the last representatives of Anti- cbristianism (Rev. xi 13). The nations who heard of Israel's deliverance would have reason t,o fear, for their position exposed them to risk of attack, and Canaan was actually the destill11.tion of the tribes. This may suggest to us that if Israel had gone up to conquer these tribes, at the time when God wished them, they would not have t,,und the conquest so hard as their fears represented. The Philistines and Canaanites were "melted" with terror: they were paralysed by their fearfi, and "still as a stone" (vers. 15, 16). Yet, through the unbelief and cowardice of the attacking force, this 1creat opportunity was missed. 2. As a pledg~ that God wo~d compl~te th_e wor~,he had begun, and would ultimately "plant them m the mountain of his mhentanet: (vers. 1;1-li). In several of the expressions, the tenses are past, as though the th1ng pro- pLesied were already as good as done. This also is an apostle's mode of arguing-God who ha.~ done the greater, will not now fail to do the less, and perfect the work he has begun (H.om. v. 9, 10; viii. 32; Phil i. 6). Mark in this ode the designation of Israel as a redeemed, a purchased people (ver. 13)-the Red Sea deliverance being viewed as a second purchasing of Israel by God to himself.-J. 0. Vers. 1-20, 21.-TI,e song of Moses and of the Lamb. We cannot fail to connect in c,ur thouahts the circumstances of this maanificent triumph-celebration with that other ~cenc, de:Cribed in the Apocalypse, where they who have "goU.en the victory over the CII. xv. 1-lfl.J THE TIOOK OF EXODU~. !)