Israel Responds to God's Revelation and Redeption

Singing often engages on’e semotions effectively. Music is memorable. We often associate particular songs with special times of God’s working in our life.

Psalm 147:1 KJV 1900

Praise ye the Lord: For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

I. Hymns outside the Psalter

A. A song of Moses and Miriam ()

The old Testament is an account of God’s self-revelation as well as His acts of redemption. At times, the people of Isrel responded to God’s revelation and redeption with songs of thanksgiving and praise. One such hymn appears in . Moses and the children of Israel sang this osng after the Lord delivered them through the Red Sea. The song appropriately includes a refrain sung by Miriam and the Ladies’ chorus:

Exodus 15:21 KJV 1900

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.

The song exalts God because He is a warrior Who, “Dashed in pieces the enemy” (15.3,6), controls the wind and sea (15.5,8,10), and is ‘glorious in holiness’ (15.11).

The Psalm predicted fear and dread would fall upon the inhabitants of Canaan and that the Lord would bring His people into their promised possession ()

Canaan and that the Lord would bring Hispepoel into their promsied possession ()

B. Song of Moses ()

Before Moses died, he taught a song to Israel (). The song rehearses the entire history of Israel. Moses and Joshua (Hoshea) taught this song to the people (32:44-45). The Song of Moses and Miriam () is a hymn of worship. This final song of Moses, however is a historical hymn of warning and consolation. It serves more of an instructional purpose

Deuteronomy 32:46 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

Both hymns were sung in response to God’s self-revelation and acts of redemption and deliverance.

In , How does Moses’ word picture in this verse help communicate the importance of his song’s message?

Deuteronomy 32:2 KJV 1900

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender herb, And as the showers upon the grass:

The psalm includes the division of the nations and the selection of Jacob as God’s special inheritance (v. 8-9). It then mentions the Lord’s special care during the wilderness wanderings right up to the Israelites’ entrance into the Transjordanian region (32:12-14).

The Song truthfully refers to Israel’s rebellions against God (v. 15-18); “Jeshurun” means “the upright one” and refers to Israel. It also describes God’s holy anger against Israel, which would allow Israel’s enemies to defeat her (v. 19-26)

- Why was it important for Israel to remember past failures in their relationship to God?

With this song, Moses also taught the people that God would limit the victories of Israel’s enemies lest the enemies gloated int their own power (V. 27-35). The Lord would judge His people rather than leaving judgment to the nations (v. 36-39). In fact, the Lord would exact vengeance on those who defeated Israel (v. 40-43).

C. Song of Deborah and Barak ()

The song of Deborah and Barak in rehearses the events of the preceding chapter; therefore, it provides some excellent examples of Hebrew poetry.

The prose account in Chapter 4 is straightforward with the feel of clipped prose. Everything is stated economically. This style contrasts with the poetic account in Chapter 5. The poetic song is more repetitive in its phrasing; in places it even has a cadence. Verses 7,12,& 27 are excellent examples of labored repetition for effect.

The story in the song ends on a dramatic note by portraying Sisera’s mother waiting for the safe return of her son (v. 28-30).

The Song ends by asking God to deal with all the enemies of Israel as He had dealt with the enemies of Deborah and Barak (5.31). The Song tells a story of God’s deliverance, but it also says much about God directly. In this way, it is an even more historical song than the song of Moses.

D. Song of David ()

King David, “The sweet psalmist of Israel” ( ), wrote more psalms than any other single person. Many of David’s psalms reflect the love of God and the future redemption that would come through the Messiah - David’s promised Descendant. Some of David’s psalms appear outside the book of Psalms (EG: ; ; ).

records David’s personal thanksgiving that the Lord had delivered him from Saul and from all of his enemies (V. 1). The hymn also appears in nearly identical form as . The hymn comprises three major sections:

Praise that the Lord Delivered David from his enemies who wanted to kill him (v. 5-20)

Praise that the Lord rewarded David because he was God’s servant (v. 21-30)

Praise that the Lord protected David to reveal His greatness and power (v. 31-46).

David likely wrote this song after the Lord made the Davidic Covenant with him (22.51).

The Song of David shows similarities to the songs of Moses and Miriam, Moses, and Deborah and Barak. All of these hymns rejoice over the Lord’s great acts of deliverance and rehearse some of His wonderful attributes. The song of David differs from the others because it involves so much personal praise rather than national praise. David here, as elsewhere, bared his soul. Both personal praise and corporate praise are appropriate for the believer today too.

Read: , - How does David’s personal praise of God help YOU praise God personally?

II. The Psalter

Most of the songs in the Old Testament are in the book of Psalms. “Praises” is the Hebrew title for this collection of songs. The Hebrew verb from which the Hebrew title is derived means “to shout for joy, to rejoice.”

David wrote more psalms than anyone else, but others wrote psalms as well. Moses, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, and Ethan wrote some of the psalms. All of these men reflected upon the one true God of Israel Who made the heavens and the earth

Psalm s 146:6-5

Psalm s 146:5-6

Psalm 146:5–6 KJV 1900

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, The sea, and all that therein is: Which keepeth truth for ever:

Each writer lifted his heart to God in praise so that “Everything that hath breath [might[ praise the Lord” (150.6). The psalms respond to God’s revelation and to His great works of redemption.

A. Responding to God’s Revelation

1. His Work ()

Psalm 19:1 KJV 1900

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.

David sang what Moses wrote about God’s creation. The stars, sun, moon and planets show that God deserves honor. The sky tells of what God has done (19:4-6). God has give His Word so that those who read it might know Him and might do His will, but His creation reveals His works so that all might know His creative power.

Psalm 19:3 KJV 1900

There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.

God works within His creation and controls it.

Psalm 147:16–18 KJV 1900

He giveth snow like wool: He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: Who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

God knows every star by name (). He calls for rain and feeds the animals ()

Creation must respond to the creator. Some civilizations have worshiped the creation, but eh psalms of Israel invoke praise to the Creator:

Psalm 148:3–5 KJV 1900

Praise ye him, sun and moon: Praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: For he commanded, and they were created.

2. His Word (; )

David began by pointing to God’s creative works and the way that these work s reveal His mighty power. David finish by singing about God’s marvelous Word.

God’s creative works are great, but eh law of the Lord is perfect (V. 7). God’s word makes one wise, give sjoy and enlightenment, and brings purity and righteousness (19:7b-9). It is little wonder, then that David likened the value of God’s Word to gold and sweetness of His word to Hone (19.10). david referred to the rol that God’s word plays in shielding the believer from sin: warning, rewarding, and protecting ()

Read - What word picture would you use to describe teh value of God’s Word to you?

Ultimately, God would reveal Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ

John 1:14 KJV 1900

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

but without God’s Word, few would know His Son. The Old Testament introduced the saints of old to the coming Savior. The New Testament introduces us to the Son.

The Writer of added even more praise to God for His Word. The psalm is structured as an acrostic poem with each section of verses beginning with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Nearly every verse in this hymn praises God for his Word.

Psalm 119:89 KJV 1900

LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

The psalm uses various terms to refer to God’s Word (way, commandment, judgment, testimony, statute, precept, saying, and law). These terms describe the Word of God, which cleanses, guides, guards, and enriches people (, )

3. His Worth ()

The psalms not only show how God reveals Himself in His works and in His Word, they also reveal His worth. The psalms repeat, describe, explain and illustrate time and again the attributes of God. God is eternal, holy, just, loving, and faithful. He is infinite in every attribute, and none of His attributes conflicts with any other.

Psalm 90:1–2 KJV 1900

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Time cannot contain God because He is eternal! The psalms often describe God as “holy” (sanctified, separate, set apart from evil). His place of dwelling is holy (11:4, 15:1, 47:8, 48:1; 86:2). His name is holy (; ; ; ; ). He is holy (; ; ; ; ; ).

Psalm 71:22 KJV 1900

I will also praise thee with the psaltery, Even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing With the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

The psalms also reveal how God shows judgment and love at the same time

Psalm 7:11 KJV 1900

God judgeth the righteous, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

He is righteous and will judge sin, but He will also have compassion on those who like David, seek His forgiveness.

Psalm 51:1 KJV 1900

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

Psalm 147:5 KJV 1900

Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.

Psalm 139:7 KJV 1900

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

B. Responding to God’s Redemption

1. Admitting a need for redemption (; )

God gave His Word so that people might understand His plan of redemption. The Psalms give an evenhanded assessment of lost humanity. The apostle Paul quoted from when he placed all mankind under God’s wrath. All have sinned and deserve God’s punishment

Psalm 14:1–3 KJV 1900

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:10–12 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Repeatedly the psalmists requested God's mercy and deliverance. Sometimes the psalmists requested deliverance from calamity or from enemies. Sometimes they requested deliverance from sin and foolishness.

Psalm 107:2 KJV 1900

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

Many other verses in the book of Psalms use the words ‘redeem’ redeemed, redeemer. David asked for God’s forgiveness and cleansing

Psalm 51:1–2 KJV 1900

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

He admitted his own original sin (v. 5) and he expressed belief that God would forgive him for all of his sins (v. 7-10). David also exhibited a truly contrite heart, real repentance for his sins (v. 16-17). God does not disappoint the repentant sinner

Psalm 34:22 KJV 1900

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Since the need for redemption is so great and since God has met that need, the psalmists encouraged Israel to rejoice in God’s redemption and to praise Him for it.

Psalm 130:7 KJV 1900

Let Israel hope in the Lord: For with the Lord there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption.

Read: - What would you say to someone who thinks he has no reason to praise God? Why is the everlasting nature of the Lord’s truth a reason to praise God?

2. Acknowledging the redeemer ()

Some of the psalms make predictions concerning the coming Messiah, who would pay the redemption price for sin. He would be the Son of God (; ; ) and the Descendant of David (; ; ,). He would be rejected by the People (,; ) and betrayed (; ). During His death He would be offered gall mixed with vinegar (; ). He would rise again from the dead (; ) and ascend on High (; )

more than any other, speaks of the Messiah’s death. David wrote this psalm to describe his own experiences, but the Holy Spirit spoke through Him to refer also to David’s great descendant, the Lord Jesus Christ. The psalm begins with the words spoken by Jesus on the cross: “My God my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (22:1a; cf. ). The psalm predicts the way that Israel would despise Jesus () and laugh Him to scorn (). The psalm provides the words spoken at Calvary by Jesus’ religious opponents (22.8; ). The psalm even predicts specific details of Jesus’ crucifixion. People would gape at Him (; ). They would pierce His hands and feet (). His executioners would part His garments among them (22.18; ). And He would be thirsty (22.15; ). The psalm provides a truly remarkable set of predictions concerning the price that would be paid for the redemption from sin.

CONCLUSION

Let’s Create a psalm of Praise to God together today expressing personal praise for God’s greatness and grace in our lives.

As we consider songs of the Old Testament, May I also encourage you that your music today is important to God! In the Last 50 years, Music has nearly become a god. We must keep in perspective that music is a valuable tool, but it can also be a destructive weapon. Let’s keep Music focused on God today!

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