PSALM
136:10-22
PRAISE
THE DELIVERER
Psalm
136:10-12 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth
for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for
ever: With
a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Susie: The
killing of Egypt’s firstborn, people and animals, was the culmination of ten
plagues sent against them to cause Pharaoh to release God’s people, the nation
of Israel.
Susan: God is
the ultimate defender, the strong hand. One does not want God as an enemy. With
an outstretched arm, He received His people. Moses later challenged the people
to choose between God and idols.
Deuteronomy
30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that
both thou and thy seed may live:
Susie: Jesus
made it plain that if we are not on the Lord’s side, we are His enemy.
Matthew
12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad.
Susie: Pharaoh
stood against God, and we see what God did. God not only caused Pharaoh whose
heart was hardened to release His people, but He softened the hearts of their
Egyptian neighbors to give them all kinds of valuables, the spoils of Egypt, as
they were leaving.
Susan: God
caused the enemies of the Israelites to set them up for success.
Susie: He
delivered them from slavery and caused their masters to pay them for leaving!
Psalm
136:13-14 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth
for ever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy
endureth for ever:
Susie: Pharaoh
reneged on his promise to let the Israelites go and had his army chase them. They
were seemingly pinned down, the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s chariots
behind them.
Susan: Here
comes the famous parting of the Red Sea miracle from which this familiar song
is taken:
Susan: I
chuckle to myself because it was almost that great a miracle for the Lord to
convince Susie to become my roommate/caregiver/co-minister.
Susie: Never
say never. LOL. Back to the psalm. God parted the waters of the sea so the
approximately two million Israelites could walk not through mud but on DRY
ground.
Susan: The
sea was not a barrier for God. He miraculously parted it that His purpose would
be fulfilled and His glory revealed.
Psalm
136:15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy
endureth for ever.
Susie: Just
as the last Israelite passed safely between the two walls of water and exited
on the shore, Pharaoh’s army had driven and marched into the middle of the Red
Sea.
Susan: Suddenly,
the army was engulfed by the walls of water crashing down upon their heads and
swallowing them up like the big fish that swallowed Jonah.
Susie: Only
these waves did not spit them back out on shore. They all drowned. Imagine the
chaos, confusion, and sheer panic of that army.
Susan: Imagine
the despair of Pharaoh and the Egyptian people at the loss of an entire troop
of charioteers.
Susie: God
certainly proved Himself to be the ultimate protector that day.
Psalm
136:16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy
endureth for ever.
Susan: God
led and fed the Israelites for decades in the wilderness. He preserved their
clothing and protected them.
Nehemiah
9:21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they
lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Psalm
136:17-18 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: And
slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Susie: Throughout
their travels, the Lord enabled the Israelites to be victorious over the armies
of kings, both those on the way to the Promised Land, and the kings of Canaan
once they arrived there. Joshua chapters 6–12 described the victories in the
Holy Land. The next two verses relate to victories during the 40th
year of their wandering as they were preparing to enter the land promised to
them by God.
Psalm
136:19-20 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: And Og
the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Susie: The
story of the defeat of these two kings is found in Numbers 21:21-35. Moses sent
word asking for permission to pass through their kingdoms with the
understanding that the Israelites would take no food or even water from their
lands. Both kings had the audacity to refuse this request and brought their
people out to fight the Israelites. God gave His people the overwhelming
victory in both cases and the Israelites moved in and claimed this territory.
Psalm
136:21-22 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Susan: God
was the gracious enabler in all these victories for Israel. Slaves became freed
men and women and even land owners to the glory and honor of God.
Susie: In
God’s mercy, lovingkindness, and grace, He provided a home for His rebellious
children who relentlessly tested Him along the route from Egypt to Canaan. We
experience that same undying mercy, lovingkindness, and grace today as we trust
in Jesus our Creator, Protector, and Provider and base our lives on the fact
that He is preparing a Promised Land, a forever home with Him for us.
QUESTIONS
1.
Psalm 136:10-15 praises God for His deliverance
of His people from Egypt. What miracles did God perform on their behalf in
order to free them?
2.
What two leaders of the Israelites praised the
Lord in song after Pharaoh’s army drowned in the Red Sea? See Exodus 15:1-21.
3.
What two things were signs of God’s care during
the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness? See Numbers 9:21.
4.
What did God do to the kings who refused safe
passage to the Israelites?
5.
Have you ever felt that God did something
miraculous on your behalf? If so, write about it.
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