Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

from whence we may infer, that the latter had advanced into the sea, before they knew any thing of the miracle that had been wrought. How great then must have been their consternation, when the glory of the LORD beamed forth and discovered to them the danger of their situation; mountainous waves standing on heaps collected together by that omnipotent Being whom they had so repeatedly offended, and ready to fall on their presumptuous heads! A sudden conviction of the power of the LORD, and of their own weakness, seizing upon their spirits, and impelling them to flee from the unarmed people they were the instant before with full confidence of victory pursuing! It is likely that in this confusion the Egyptians drove against each other, and by this means broke their chariot wheels. At length the Divine command was given; Moses again lifted up his rod, and the fate of those who had so long opposed the will of the SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE WAS in an instant determined. Well might the Israelites; fear the LORD, and believe his faithful minister?

From the wonderful history of Pharaoh and the Egypt tians, we learn that the LORD GOD is undoubtedly the LORD and GOVERNOR of all things; for every part of nature is subservient to His will, and He can alter or dispose of it according to His pleasure. Pharaoh him'self could not have maintained a contest with the LORD GOD for a moment, had not his Almighty antagonist armed him with strength to endure His vengeance for the purpose of proving His own omnipotent power.

We also learn from this portion of Sacred History, how displeasing in the sight of GOD are pride, cruelty, and impiety: let us then be thankful to the LORD for His goodness, and never make an improper use of His. gifts, lest we provoke Him to turn them into curses: and let us carefully guard our minds against the first

temptations

temptations to presumptuous sin, by entertaining at humble opinion of ourselves, not omitting to pray to GOD to give us his grace, that we may not fall into hardness of heart, or contempt of His holy will and commandments.

From this part of the History of the Israelites, we may infer, that there is no situation in life, so distressing, but that God is able to deliver us from it. We must not indeed expect Him to perform miracles in our favour, by changing the course of nature, because miracles have ceased since the full establishment of Christianity but if we read the history of different nations, and observe what passes in the world around us, we may find that Divine Providence frequently interposes in a wonderful manner, to relieve the distresses, and soften the afflictions of those who trust in God. We should therefore pray to GoD for protection, use the means He has furnished us with for our support, and when dangers threaten, or misfortunes befal us, we should then submit to his dispensations with patient resignation, and humble hope of deliverance, through his infinite mercy and goodness.

SECTION LXIX.

THE SONG OF MOSES.

From Exodus, Chap. xv.

THEN 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.

The 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.

LORD, is his

The LORD is like a man of war: the name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

The depths have covered them, they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right-hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right-hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

And 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.

And 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.

The enemy said, I will pursue, 1 will overtake, I will divide the spoil: my lust shall be satisfied upon them : I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Thou didst blow with thy wind; the sea covered them they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, amongst the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders!

Thou stretchedst out thy right-hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The people shall hear, and be afraid :

take hold of the inhabitants of Palestina.

sorrow shall

Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed: the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them: all the inhabitants of Canaan shalt melt away.

* Wisdom xviii. 15.

Fear

Fear 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 thy people pass over which thou hast purchased.

Thou 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 sanc tuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established.

The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots, and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them: but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of

the sea.

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD; for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

This Divine song was so admirably adapted to the occasion, that it is needless to write a comment on it; it conveys a most lively idea of the sense which Moses entertained of the wonderful deliverance of the Israelites. Some parts of it are prophetical, and foretold the subsequent conquests of God's people. We find from this passage of Scripture, that singing of Psalms, or devotional songs, was a very ancient custom; and when performed with seriousness and solemnity, it is certainly extremely edifying, for it elevates the thoughts

to heaven.

Miriam is supposed to have repeated the whole of Moses' song in concert with the women.

SECTION

SECTION LXX.

HE ISRAELITES MURMUR AGAINST MOSES.

From Exodus, Chap. xv.

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah; for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

[ocr errors]

And he cried unto the LORD and the LORD shewed him a tree which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes; I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees and they encamped there by the waters.

1

And they took their journey from Elim; and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to GOD we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land

« ForrigeFortsæt »