Brown's Daily Word 9/15/14

Praise the Lord for the way he sets the solitary in families.  On Saturday, our lovely daughter Janice spent her birthday "unplugged", as she went camping with Jeremy, Micah, Simeon, and Ada.  They had an invigorating wilderness weekend that included swimming in New England's chilly waters (and, I'm sure, some slack lining and a lot of delicious camp food).  Many years ago, on a brilliant and hot September 13 in Corpus Christi, Texas, she came into our lives to bless us.  Thank you, Jesus.  It was a Monday when she was born.  I worked at Memorial Medical Center, a teaching hospital in beautiful Corpus Christi.  Alice was working in an Insurance agency.  We were welcomed by an amazing Christian congregation, Morgan Avenue Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist Church.  The ladies of Morgan had given a gigantic baby shower just a week before Janice was born.  Alice even went to work that momentous day.  She came home at noon and we went to the hospital.  I drove, though I had only my learner's permit.  Since I worked in the hospital I knew the doctor who delivered Janice.  I knew Janice's nurse and almost all the staff.  Janice was born in the Lone Star State, Texas.  We still maintain friendship with some whom we knew while in Corpus Christi, most notably Fred and Bea Wenger, who had moved to Corpus Christi for the chaplaincy program.  They were dear friends who loved us and helped us out from time to time and who loved Janice.  Their daughter was her first babysitter. 

    The Lord blessed us with wonderful weekend.  He blessed us in His House yesterday with His people joining those who love Jesus around the corner and around the globe.  I preached at Union Center and Alice preached at Wesley UMC. 

    One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Exodus 15.  This is known as the song of Moses.  We have in record in the Word of God three songs and prayers Moses composed.  They are found in Exodus 15, Deuteronomy 31 and Psalm 90.  The song recorded in Exodus is the first song recorded in the Bible.  This is song of victory, sung after it was clear that Israel had been given the victory.  Victory is the very key note of the song, which begins with these words, verse 1: “Sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”  Victory implies war.  The song also speaks of war.  In verse 3 we read, “The Lord is a man of war.”  How we need to be reminded of this!  War characterizes God.  He is not merely one who will go to war, if provoked, who will defend His cause.  Rather, God is a Warrior who will certainly go on the offensive for His cause and on behalf of His people.  The Lord is a warring God.  His entire Being is one of valor and courage and strength.

    The song then refers to the war just fought, from the perspective of the enemy, Egypt, in verse 9.  “The 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.”  Egypt willingly warred against God.  She gave herself over to that war with all the power she had in her, and with a heart that was absolutely intent on destroying Jehovah’s people, and Jehovah Himself.  In that war she became boastful.  Remember again, the song contains revelation.   By inspiration, Moses wrote what Egypt said.  Then they said, as they went into the Red Sea, “We will overcome Israel.  We are stronger.  We are better!”  Jehovah gives over to such blind folly all those who oppose Him.  He hardens their heart, makes them self-confident, and makes them boast in their pride – only to show them that, when they fight against Jehovah, they cannot stand a moment. 

    The song continues to speak of how easily Jehovah destroyed His enemies, verse 10:  “Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.”  Jehovah’s destruction of Egypt was a wonder.  In sending the waters back over the Egyptians and drowning them, Jehovah displayed His power.  This verse indicates that, although it took power to overthrow the wicked, it was not at all difficult for God to do so.  He easily drowned in the Red Sea those who opposed Him.  “Thou didst blow with thy wind” as though a breath of His mouth destroyed them.  Remember that when Christ comes again, He will destroy Satan, “with the breath of his mouth.”   Martin Luther said in his hymn, “One single word shall fell him.”  

    The song of Moses declares, “The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.  I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”  That note of victory ought to characterize the songs we sing today.  That is the note that the church in heaven sings.  Revelation 15:1-4:  “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 'Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?  for thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgements are made manifest.'”  That same Jehovah God is the victor; He is the occasion and the subject of the song.  God has the victory over the beast, and the beast’s image, and the beast’s mark, and over the number of the beast’s name.  Over that proud, boastful spirit Jesus Christ has the victory. 

In Christ,

 Brown

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