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GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
February 24, 2001 RADIO MESSAGE #360
Christ in Exodus #53
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(Continued from preceding message.)IV. The relationships of Christ to His people at the Red Sea (v.2; cp. Psalm 118:14; Isaiah 12:2).
1. Christ is Israel's "strength." (The word "strength" in our English Old Testament text is translated from various Hebrew words. The Hebrew word here is oz, meaning "might.")
i. Christ has all strength. This is evidenced by His title "Lord God Almighty" (Revelation 1:8; 11:15-17; 15:3).
ii. Christ is Israel's only strength. His people therefore are not of those who say "The Lord helps those who help themselves." Rather, we acknowledge that none can help himself, and that Christ is the only help of the helpless: "when I am weak, then I am strong" through "the power of Christ ... upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9f). We therefore sing of Christ: "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God" (Psalm 62:5).
2. Christ is Israel's "song." He is acknowledged as such because He is the reason, and theme and object of their song.
i. Christ is the reason for Israel's song. The only reason Israel had a song to sing at the Red Sea was because of what Christ had done for them (14:30-15:1a): "So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians .... Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD .... Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD ...." The same is true today (Psalm 98:1): "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory."
ii. Christ is the object of Israel's song (v.1b): "I will sing to the LORD." No one else is worthy of having our song of salvation directed toward it.
iii. Christ is the theme of Israel's song (v.1c): "I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously." The song of salvation has Christ alone for its theme because He is the only Savior (Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12). Let us on earth therefore imitate the holy throngs in glory in our songs to Christ (Revelation 5:9-13): "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. ... Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing! ... Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
3. Christ is Israel's "salvation." Note well that Christ is here not identified merely as Savior, but as salvation itself.
i. Christ is Israel's salvation because salvation is found in Him alone (Acts 4:12): "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
ii. Christ is Israel's salvation because He is all that it is. "Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11). "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4). "Christ Jesus ... became for us ... righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). The only righteousness we may obtain is the imputed righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:10-26). The only sanctification we may obtain is the imparted holy nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:4). The only redemption we may obtain is the result of the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19). Everything related to salvation must be found in Christ alone.