The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
The verse stands within the sacred song of triumph and praise in Exodus 15:1-21, sung after God opened the Red Sea, delivered Israel from Egypt and Pharaoh's army, and destroyed that army, with the people's voices ringing out in praise over the waters. It was a public expression of triumph and praise sung together by the whole host of Israel, with Miriam leading and Moses joining in.
It foretells that the peoples who heard of Israel's deliverance and Egypt's defeat would be afraid, and that news of the Lord's victory and the destruction of the Egyptian army would reach the inhabitants of Palestina and make them afraid and sorrowful. The Egyptians themselves saw Israel safe on the farther shore as the sea closed over their army, fulfilling the song's declaration that news of the Lord's victory would make surrounding peoples afraid. This dread is the response to mighty acts by which God leads the people He has redeemed toward His holy habitation, the promised land, as they journeyed onward.
The song preserving the history of this deliverance was appointed by Christ, Israel's invisible leader, to be sung as the people journeyed through the wilderness, so that precious lessons would be fixed in their minds and God's dealings would be kept in memory and taught to their children. Singing it lifted thoughts from the trials and difficulties of the way, soothed and calmed the restless and turbulent spirit, implanted principles of truth in the memory, and strengthened faith. Acting together in song taught order and unity and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another.
The verse stands within the sacred song of triumph and praise in Exodus 15:1-21, sung after God opened the Red Sea, delivered Israel from Egypt and Pharaoh's army, and destroyed that army, with the people's voices ringing out in praise over the waters. It was a public expression of triumph and praise sung together by the whole host of Israel, with Miriam leading and Moses joining in.
It foretells that the peoples who heard of Israel's deliverance and Egypt's defeat would be afraid, and that news of the Lord's victory and the destruction of the Egyptian army would reach the inhabitants of Palestina and make them afraid and sorrowful. The Egyptians themselves saw Israel safe on the farther shore as the sea closed over their army, fulfilling the song's declaration that news of the Lord's victory would make surrounding peoples afraid. This dread is the response to mighty acts by which God leads the people He has redeemed toward His holy habitation, the promised land, as they journeyed onward.
The song preserving the history of this deliverance was appointed by Christ, Israel's invisible leader, to be sung as the people journeyed through the wilderness, so that precious lessons would be fixed in their minds and God's dealings would be kept in memory and taught to their children. Singing it lifted thoughts from the trials and difficulties of the way, soothed and calmed the restless and turbulent spirit, implanted principles of truth in the memory, and strengthened faith. Acting together in song taught order and unity and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another.