The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 10

for praise. For in this as other matters God has taken the weak things of the world to c,mfound the things that are mighty. He puts the holy and eternal fire on lips that t~e world despises. 'i'hey who have made the praises of the Church have not been the writers of epics; they are not found among the poets-laureate; and so here we must look for the power of God as much in the construction of this song, as in the production of the eYents it celebrates. We are called on to obserre him who somehow makes men to utter e'<'en more than they know. It may be needful at the proper time to consider this as a contribution to Hebrew poetry; it is better still ever to remember it as a con- tribution to the worthy praise of God, that praise which while it celebrates him, instructs and ennobles the man who renders it. The question of authorship here, bear in mind, ib not to be settled right off by saying that Moses composed it. He and the people sang it, but who composed it is quite another question. And that this point is left undetermined only throws us back more on the thought of God as the great agent in bringing this song into existence. .As UJ the U!pics treated of in the song, the very fact that there have been so many different ways of dividing it, makes one more disposed to consider it in its unity, without any attempt to divide it into sections at all. Thus then let us notice in snccessitm the dominant truths and convictions which run through the song. The first point is the exaltation of God amongst his people. This is the word with which the song begins. "I will sing unto Jehovah, for he is highly exalted." I. :!\oTICE THE FACT THAT THERE IS EXALTATION OF Goo. God, in ruling the com- position of this song, takes care of this most important point. It was the very point ~hat neulcd to be brought out in all its prominence, so that no man should be exalted instead of God. Men exalt one another. They are constituted so as to admire that which is great and powerful, a.nd when they are not men of faith, able to comprehend the grnatness of the invisible God, their admiration must needs expend itself on the visihle man. All temptation of this kind is here kept out of the way. The feeling that Jehovah is exa.lted runs all through the song. Everything is ascribed to him. Moses himself ma.kes no claim. expects no praise. The people do not gather round him and hail him a.s deliverer. The tone of the praise is thus in perfect harmony with the J.eed that bas been done. God becomes practica.lly everything and man nothing. For what l,ad Israel done here 1 'Ibey b.a.cl indeed walked down to the Red Sea, through it, and on to the other side, but no one who regards the proprieties of language would speak of tLls as co1itributing to their salvation. We do not praise a man for availing himself of the conditions of safety. Thus we have a type of the way in which God is exalted and glorified in spiritual salvation. When we consider what bas to be done in saYi.ng a man from bis sins; and when we consider also the manifestations, so abundant, so transcendent, of God's power in doing so, then bow plainly incongruous it is to begin 11raising man for that simple a.et of faith by which he avails himself of God's goodness in Christ. The more we consider, the more we shall feel that whatever praise man may deserve is better left t-0 God to expres~. By all means let us have brotherly appreciation for brotherly kindness; brotherly gratitude encouraging brotherly love. But God only can praise rightly. Though nothing is said of Moses in this song, God took am_ple care of the fame and reward of his faithful servant. We bad better keep to that which God requires from us, namely, praise to himself. AB he requires it, so we may be sure he wilt fit us to render it. II. THE EXALTATION OF JEHOVAH IS AN EXALTATION TO SUPREMACY. He is supreme over physical force in one of its most imposing forms. "'l'he horse and his rider b~th he thrown into the sea." Perhaps those who have bad to meet a charge of cavalry m the ban le-field can best appreciate this expression. Jehovah is a man of war, and he goes out with strange weapons against great kings and their chosen captains; _weapons which they cannot understand and cannot meet. He does not meet sword with sword, and chariot with chariot· the elements of nature are at his instant and entire command. In his hand the mi,ghti.est are as nothing. What is the excellency of Pharaoh, even though he be king of Egypt, before the greatn~ss of t~e excellency of Jcho~ah? Th,e .. nswer is that as stubble before the fire, so 1s opposmg man before Almighty Goo. "What a wind that must be, that strong east wind which 1aises waters, even from the dee1,, an,l keeps them when they are raised!" So we imagine man speaking in hi11 U..cYitable suLmissiun to the powers of nature when they a.re row;ed. llu& wheu God CII, XV, 1-HJ.] TUE no )K OF EXODl.7S. 1I