Exodus 15 is the first song ever sung — which we hear of in the Word of God! Never had souls stood in the consciousness of God’s salvation before this time. We search in vain in the Book of Genesis for a record of redemption. We know, of course, how trustfully the patriarchs walked with God and rested in His promises; but we do not read of their songs of praise. They walked with Him as an accepted people walk; and no question was raised of a condition from which it needed the power of redemption to deliver. The first song bursts forth from the heart of Israel, with its threefold note of praise. We may expect to find therefore in this song, which inaugurated these dealings of the Lord in salvation, God’s true thoughts of the order of praise.
Exodus 19:44Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. (Exodus 19:4), gives us the comment of God on this chapter and on the great work celebrated there. We read, “I bare you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself.” This is the foremost thought in the salvation of God. It was not that eventually they might not learn that that same work had brought them to their longed-for Land. Nay: it was the basis of every blessing onward to the end.
But we would not for a moment admit that a soul who had realized its being in “heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” was more fully brought to God than at the shores of the Red Sea. Of course it is quite true that there was much to learn and to realize, and there might not be that full sense of a heavenly portion in one who had sung this song, as in one who had traversed the Land and had taken possession of all upon which the sole of his foot had trodden. But I would have my reader be careful not to weaken the grand fact that in what is typified by the Red Sea for us, we are brought to God Himself!
This is seen most clearly in the book of the wilderness, which is so sweetly full of grace — the First Epistle of Peter.
There we are in the wilderness most distinctly, for he does not lead us to our “heavenly places in Christ.” In 1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18), we read, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” Not, remark, to Canaan, or heavenly places, but “to God.” This exactly fits the expression in tile antitype, “I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” This is just as it should be. We may and doubtless shall, get all that follows, but the first great thing is this”: we are brought to God.” Nothing can add to this for us.
There is a lovely allusion to this in Deut. 32:1111As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: (Deuteronomy 32:11); and to the figures of what the “eagles’ wings” signify. Indeed the gospel of the glory speaks in this figure with great significance. In this grand and touching passage we read, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him (Israel), and there was no strange God with him!” The Lord asked Job (39:27-29),
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
On the crag of rock, inaccessible to man, she builds her nest, and rears her young. The time arrives when she would teach her young ones to gaze upon the sun, and soar from the rock themselves. Then she “stirreth up her nest and fluttereth over her young.” The young ones must dare the space mid-air below, and she flings them off the rock! They flutter and sink down toward the abodes of man. They near the fowler’s arrow. She swoops in her might of wing from the height above, she “spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.” The fluttering eaglet rests its pinions on the tried strength of the parent wing; the fowler’s dart can reach the eaglet’s life only through her own. Thus she teaches them to soar, and rise and gaze, as none other can but she, on the bright and glorious sun. Thus we are taught as “the way of an eagle in the air” (Prov. 30:1919The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. (Proverbs 30:19)) to walk above the world and to gaze on Christ on high, sure that as He lives we live also. We learn too that “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isa. 40:3131But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)).” But in this first song of praise; we find three distinct notes of harmony. How frequently these are reversed. Yea, even the last note taken up, and the rest forgotten! This should not be. When at the first, certain things come before us in Scripture, such initiatory references give us the roots of those varied branches and developments that follow. Some would suppose that the first thing for which we should praise is our own blessing. Gratitude for the love that has so fully saved — should cause the saved one’s heart to praise.
Let us rather see in what order these notes of thanksgiving flow from Israel’s heart that day.
(1) The first is — “the Lord”! So much is self forgotten that the Deliverer alone is seen! This is as it should be. “Sing ye unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name! (Ex. 15:1, 2, 31Then 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. 2The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. (Exodus 15:1‑3)).” How blessed, yet how simple. How profound, and yet how suited was the first note from the redeemed! How glorious would be the gatherings of His people, were their souls so free that He were the burden of their song! Not the mere effort that such should be, but the full heart telling out His blessedness! Out of its abundance pouring forth its praise!
(2) Next we have the Enemy! Those forces of might whom He had subdued! (Ex. 15:4-124Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And 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. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The 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. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. (Exodus 15:4‑12)). “Pharaoh and his hosts hath he cast into the sea... the depths have covered them; they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand hath dashed in pieces the enemy... Thou didst blow with the wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters.”
(3) And last of all they turn to their own portion — the blessedness and inheritance of the people whom the Lord had redeemed (Ex. 15:13-1713Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then 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. 16Fear 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. 17Thou 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. (Exodus 15:13‑17)). “Thou hast led forth the people whom thou hast redeemed; thou hast guided them in thy strength into thy holy habitation.”
These are the three notes of praise. Here is the divine order, the manner in which the Spirit of God would lead the full rich song. But this needs that full salvation should be known. Not merely known as a fact; but that the soul had entered upon its joyful possession. What else could suit the heart of God? What else could be the outflow of a heart that had read His? When John at Patmos heard Jesus named, his heart burst forth in such notes as these. God gave a voice, by His Spirit, to the hearts of those who knew His Son. When those words (Rev. 1:4, 54John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:4‑5)), were written in the “Isle called Patmos,” on that Lord’s day — “Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of kings of the earth,”-a person was before the disciple whom Jesus loved. All was forgotten but One! The heart burst forth with joyful exultation, “Unto him that loveth us”! Here was the first note of this song. The Lord was there.
The second, like that in Exodus 15, was His victory over our Enemies. He “washed us from our sins in His own blood.” The last note in true divine order was the result for us: He “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father”: just the order of Israel’s song. How could it be otherwise? If Israel’s threefold note of praise was dictated by the Spirit in Exodus 15; their divine order marked out in true and heavenly harmony; surely His Spirit, in dictating a song for God’s heavenly ones, must ever lead them in like and kindred notes of praise!