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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Tuesday, 14 January 2025:
Exodus 15:1-21 – Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously….
Church worship music is used to proclaim the glory of God and to remind people of His mighty works. What Christian songs and hymns mean the most to you?
This “new song” appears to be miraculous and spontaneous, from a new heart, the outpouring of people overcome by genuine worship. When was the last time you were so grateful for the Lord you simply burst out in song? When was the last time you did this within a group of likeminded believers?
“This is the very first of those sacred songs preserved in Scripture, and in some respects it is first in merit as well as in time.” (Spurgeon)
“I will sing to the Lord….” God is the primary audience for worship music, not people. When people become the focus, it ceases to be worship.
- Psalm 40:3 — He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Exodus 15:2 — The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation….
“Notice, the song is all of God; there is not a word about Moses. Read this song through, and neither Moses, nor Aaron, nor Miriam are in it: God is all in all…. Note, the word is not ‘The Lord gives me strength,’ but ‘The Lord is my strength’! How strong is a believer? I say it with reverence, he is as strong as God — ‘The Lord is my strength.’” (Spurgeon)
Exodus 15:3 – The Lord is a man of war.
Many are on a mission to end all war, considering war to be the worst evil. However, there are evils that are worse than war. Injustice and godlessness can cause far more destruction over time than war. God is a God of justice, and “the Lord is a man of war.” Peace only comes through surrender to God’s will. When Jesus Christ reigns, war will end. Until then, wars will continue, and when there is not war, there will still be other forms of conflict and oppression. Luke 19:42 — “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
- Matthew 24:4-14 — And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Exodus 15:8-10 — …the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea…. the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Again, this does not describe a “reed sea” where Pharaoh’s chariots were simply stuck in mud. This describes an unforgettable miracle seen by millions that brought them to their knees in fearful worship. Also, other nations heard of this event and trembled. (v14-16) Don’t let secularists explain away God’s miracles. Don’t let them call you ignorant because you believe the truth of God’s word and because you believe in the power of God which transcends their understanding.
- Joshua 2:10 — For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. (40 years later)
Exodus 15:20 — Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.
Miriam is a very important figure in the biblical narrative, though often overlooked. This is her first mention in the Bible. She is the elder sister of Aaron and Moses (Exodus 4:14), apparently their only sister (Numbers 26:59), so we can surmise she was the sister who supervised the launching of Moses’ basket onto the Nile River to preserve his life (Exodus 2:4) and arranged the hiring of Moses’ mother as his nurse. This verse indicates she apparently had some form of prophetic gift too. However, later she uses her influence to inappropriately challenge Moses’ authority (Numbers 12). This should be a warning to us: all humans are humans, imperfect sinners. Miriam, like everyone in the Bible and every historic figure we celebrate, did some great things when she was aligned with God’s will and some terrible things when she wasn’t. We shouldn’t negate what she did good because of what she did wrong; we shouldn’t celebrate the fact she was a women in an age where men were predominately the leaders; we should recognize that all people, men, women, Greek, or Jew, are sinners who fall short of the glory of God, are completely dependent upon God’s grace, and do great things within God’s will through His revelation and power, or destructive things through their own desires and power. Be careful of all teachers and influencers because they are fallible. Never put people behind podium on pedestals. Listen to learn, but validate everything through God’s word like a good Berean.
- Acts 17:11-12 — Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Exodus 15:22, 24 – They went three days in the wilderness and found no water…. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?’”
It only took three days of difficulty for the people to forget their miraculous salvation and to lose heart. Wasn’t Moses just as thirsty as everyone else? What made him different than all the rest?
If you are going to be a leader, you are going to have to deal with ingratitude, disrespect, bad attitudes, selfishness, incompetence, etc. As one pastor said, “If you can’t stand the smell of sheep, don’t be a shepherd.” People need leadership for a reason. Leadership is lonely and costly. Real leadership rarely ‘pays off’ in this world. Real leaders sacrifice all without walking around with a ‘martyr complex’. Real leaders rarely say “I” or “me,” but only point to the Truth.
Exodus 15:26 – “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God….”
Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works. However, many of God’s blessings on earth are conditional – “If.” God commands love as the Greatest Command. Jesus said that the evidence of love or product of love is obedience – If you love me, you will obey my commands. We walk with Jesus and grow closer to Jesus through obedience. If you truly love Him, you will obey Him; the more you obey Him, the more you will learn to love Him. Be diligent in your walk in the word.
Exodus 15:26 – “…I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
“Dr. S.I. McMillen in his book None of These Diseases noted that many of God’s laws to Israel had a direct impact on hygiene and health. Practices such as circumcision, quarantine, washing in running water, and eating kosher made a real medical difference in keeping Israel free from disease. Beyond the direct medical implications, obedience also means we are at peace with God — and free from a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety in life. This has an obvious benefit to the health of any person.” (David Guzik)
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 14 January 2025: Today, Walk in the strength and peace of the Lord through joyful obedience to Him, and replace the things you normal watch or listen to with sermons and worship music. Through the internet, you have instant access to the best of both. Take advantage of that blessing to help you keep your focus on the Lord all day long.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 