The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 9

beast, and over his image, and over the number of his name, stand on-i.e., on I he margin of-the sea of glass, having the harps of God," and "sing the sou~ of Moses, lhc servant of God,and the song of the Lamb"(Rev.xv.2). We do not enter into any elaborate explication of the Apocalyptic syrnLols. The beast and his folh,wers ,,bviously represent the Antichristian foes of the Church-the worldly secular powers that resist, vpposc, and persecute the true servants of Christ. God's judgment on these hostile world-powers, already summarily depicted in eh. xiv. 19, 20, is to be afterwards more fully described under the imagery of the seven last plagues. This vision of the multitudes on the sea of glass is anticipative, and represents the celebration by the Church of her own deliverance, and of the completion of judgment upon her enemies. 'l'he "sea of glass" has obvious reference to the Red Sea, made to roll back, and stand up lik'3 a sea of crystal (ver. 8), yet illuminated and filled with lurid radiance, by the fiery glow of the pillar which shone on Israel. 'l'be "sea" is the symbol (in this instance) of deliverance achieved, of victory won, of enemies judged and overwhelmed-the fire in the crystal pointing to the burning wrath which consumed them. But what we have immediately to do with is the fact that the faYed multitudes sing the "song of Moses, and of.the Lamb." 'l'bis plainly does not mean that they sing two songs; nor yet tliat the song which they sing is the song recorded here; for the terms of what they sing are subsequently given (Rev. xv. 3, 4). The meaning is that the Church, having experienced a deliverance similar to that experienced by Israel at the Red Sea, but as much greater than that old deliverance, as Christ is greater than Moses, and bis salrn- tion greater than the salvation from Egypt,-the old song is re-cast, and its terms re-adapted, to express both victories at once, the lower and the higher. The <Jld is taken up into the new and is celebrated along with it. No victory of God for bis Church will ever pass out of remembrance. Each will be the theme of grateful celebration to all eternity. But type must merge in antitype, and be celebrated with it in a single strain. 'l'he song of the redeemed over the defeat of the Anticbristian powers at the end-over the defeat of all their enemies--is the true counterpart of this song of Moses, and the one (the latter) remains for e'l'er the background of the other (the former), and is blended with it in the united celebration. Glancing at the two songs, this in Exodus, and that in the Revelation, we note-1. 'l'hat the scope of both is the same-the defeat of hostile, pursuing, persecuting powers. And as the defeat of Pharaoh '\\as the natural sequel to the exodus, and confirmed to Israel that redemption then acbie.ed, so will the defeat of Christ's enemies in the end appear as the appropriate sequel to bis \'l'ork upon the Cross, and will complete the deliverance of bis Church from those that trouble her (2 'Ihess. i. 6). 2. 'Ibat the attributes of God extolled in both are the same. 'Ibis of necessity, for the work beiug similar, so must be the attributes revealed in it-holi- 1,ess, power, unchallengeable supremacy, justice and truth, which here include mercy. "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty," etc. (Rev. xv. 3). 'l'he effects prc;.duced on the nations by this display of God's attributes are also similar- " who shall not fear thee, 0 Lord, and glorify thy name . . . for all nations shall come and worship before thee." A higher result this, however, than in the case of the type. a. 'l'he sir,gers in both cases are the same-those viz. who haYe experienced the deliverance which they celebrate. Would we join them? We, too, must be in Christ, and partakers with those who, in the strength which he gives, are overcoming the world (1 John iv. 4).-J. O. Vers. 1-19.-77rn so11g of tri11mpli-God exalted in the lips of the people. 'Ibis song we may take as being in some measure the result and expression of the state of feeling mentioned in eh. xiv. 31. People ,vbo feared Jebo,·ah and belie'l'ed in him were very likely, in such a rush of feeling, to sing as did the Israelites here: at the same time we mu6t be careful not to rest content with attributing this song merely to natural causes. '1 here is no need to deny the presence of genius; if only we bear in mind at the same 1 ime, that it is genius elevated and sanctified by the inspiration which JehoYab alone can give. Who else than God himself can lead into a true acquaintance with him? and if they who thus know him would speak of him and sing of him, it must be with such an arrancrement of thouobts and choice of expressions as he alone can supply. 'l'he history of hymnology m~kcs it very e,·ident that genius is not _enough for distinction in J1i~ ~acmi scrvi<;e, Poems full of f,Cnius, and almost faultless Ill form, arc yet worthies~  10 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. n. 1-rn.