When The Saints Lose Their Song

Intro. In our chapter today, we find a song. Exodus is a book of deliverance, REDEMPTION. It is therefor appropriate that this book has the first record of the saints of God breaking forth into song. It is the song of the redeemed, sung by those who have just been brought out of bondage. Now they are standing on the redemption side of the Red Sea. The enemy has been defeated. And they sing.

Text. (Read vs. 1-2) Here we see:

I. The Praise of the Delivered Ex 14:31-15:2

We find the first song, and the first song leader mentioned in the Bible! Moses.

A. The Foundation of the Song -

1. The Experience of Deliverance - Chap 14:31 - Col 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" 1 Thessalonians 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

2. The Expression of Victory - vs. 1, 21 “Triumphed gloriously”

Jesus defeated death, hell, and Satan himself on our behalf! Col 2:15 "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

B. The Focus of the Song - vs. 1

1. Unto the Lord

2. About the Lord - Lord 12 times in 18 verses, 33 personal pronouns. There was no doubt left of who was the focus of the song.

3. Because of the Lord - vs. 1 For he hath - Has done

* He has become my salvation

* He has fought on my behalf (man of war) Rev 19:1-3- Was doing

* He proved Himself to be Supreme (vs. 4-12 - notice vs. 11)

* His presence was satisfying - vs. 13 - Shall do

* He would defeat the Enemies - vs. 14-16

* He would give them their Inheritance of the Land -vs. 17

The Foundation of all we do is the deliverance by our God. Every sermon & song!

II. The Problem of the Desert - vs. 22-23 The song was filled with joy and expectation. But they lost their song because of:

A. The Place of Dryness - First a lack of Water

- They were looking for the wrong thing - they sought water instead of the God that had delivered them. (A problem of all humanity)

David did the opposite - A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. Psalms 63:1 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"

B. The Place of Discouragement - Marah - bitter - Can you imagine their excitement when they saw the water! But then they found it bitter.

- Many times, After great moments and high triumphs in life comes Marah.

- They looked the wrong way - toward Marah (bitterness) instead of Heaven

As I said recently, we seem to enjoy being bitter, and it makes no sense:

Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

1. This was a Trial of their Sincerity - Did they believe their song!

2. This was a Test of their Security - YOU SANG IT, WILL YOU LIVE IT?

They lost their song because they had their eyes on self!

Sometimes we will face trials, and they are hard, but will we keep our eyes on the God that delivered us? God was still God, but they did not immediately enjoy His provision. But it got worse!

III. The Protest of the Deficient - vs. 24 their character was tested, they failed, but let’s not be too judgmental. We come to this place often ourselves!

A. Their Short Memories - They forget His works in their life

Psalms 78:11 "And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them."

Psalms 106:13 "They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:"

Psalms 106:21 "They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;"

1. Trial dimmmed their expectation. I didn’t think it would be like this!

They had just sang a beautiful song of praise, but now thought that the future didn’t look so bright after all.

2. The Test decreased them to desire Bondage more than freedom

(How I wish we could understand that living for the Lord is more freedom than chasing the senseless pleasures of the world)

B. Their Skeptical Murmuring - God had used Moses to bring them out of Egypt, see the sea parted, and all of the sudden - THEY TURNED ON HIM!

It is amazing they did not look up for help, or at themselves in conviction - THEY HAD TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE! They were guilty of what God said in Isaiah 29:13 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me,"