The citizen., 1919-05-01

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81 e ks:< AWs creation In order
TO tell out at
length his mightier work OF redemp-
tion. lie made man by his breath; he
saves him by his blood. IL Is In what
he has done for mans redemption that
he Is to be forever glorified, and while
the symphony Of the stars still rings
in his ears, yet here, at the Red sea,
is sweeter music for his heart than
theirs, and Of such delight to him that
he writes down every word of IL as a
part OF Holy Scripture.
No song had Israel In Egypt. but
slghs and groans and cry. But now
they are out OF Egypt and Canaan
looms before their eyes. The chains
Of Bondage were snapped on the Pass
over night when. sheltered by that all
protecting blood. the judgment that
fell upon Egypt passed over them.
Now their dellverance is n realization.
Pursued by Pharaoh's armies and
hemmed In between the mountains and
the sea, they cry out In a frenzy of
despair. When lol the sea divides and
through II they 20 dry-shod and un-
harmed TO the other side. And look
ing back they saw the sea that had
opened TO let them out Of Egypt clos
Ing to shut them out and closing over
their enemies. Then they sangi
The passage OF the sea has put them
In a wilderness. and yet they sing.
And the wilderness is just what this
world has become TO those who know
what that mighty work Of the cross
has done for them and who, In spirit.
have seen just beyond the wilderness
the heavenly Canaan 10 which that
cross has secured an enduring title.
And this song of praise from the
hearts of redeemed sinners who have
looked across the place Of death and
beheid triumphant Savior Is what
our Father God is waiting still to hear.
And now can we sing. for by this
way of the sea have we come into this
pilgrim path with God. II is the shep-
herds hand that holds that rod
stretched out across the sea. And
our Shepherd who giveth his life for
the sheep has opened for us safe
path through his death That "strone
east wind" of adversely blowing
through all that night Of his
anguish on the cross, where fol-
our sins he was nailed, has
cleared way for us by which we pass
out Of Egypt, out Of the whole sphere
TO which the "law of sin and death
applies. Christ's death. In all its value
is ours. and our hearts. once desolate
because Of sin. have now a song.
In vain does one look In this song
for anything that man has done. Such
note would make an awful discord
Every word OF this Is the celebration
of what Jehovah has done. and Its first
strain tells Of the source OF all praise
Il will sing unto Jehovah for he hath
trlumphed gloriously." II Is this that
makes melody In the heart. AS Israel
saw. so have we seen a triumphant
Savior. and that sets the heart a-sing
ing.
The second measure celebrates the
deliverance. II was all the work OF
God. We only looked on. Alone h,
wrought and without any asslstanc
from us. Alone he finished that worl
to which we could add nothing saw
to mar IL.
But not power alone is necessary 10
salvation. and the third stanza tells OF
Gods holiness. GLORIOUS In holiness
is he who has saved us. SO that tn
very holiness that was against us a
sinners Is now on our side making u
secure. And here is another source O
praise.
And this gives complete assurance
as to the future. for Thou leadest II
thy mercy the people thou hast re
deemed: thou guidest them with IN,
might to thy holy habitation." Their
are no misgivings as to the end an,
no slandering God with expressions o
raiIwaysdoubt and fear. Such thing
cannot exist In the heart that know
the triumph Of Christ.
In the fourth measure Of the SON
they see all enemies laid low. AM
the Christian counterpart of this is tn
challenge OF Rom. $3.50. "lf God b
for US who can be against US? VIII
Is he that condemnethY
The song closes with the land o
promise as the end of the journey
"Thou shalt plant them In the noun
tain OF thine inheritance" And In thes
words we hear our Lord saying TO u
II 70 TO prepare a place for you
that where l am there ye shall b
also" A prepared place for a pre-
pared people. and God leading the wa
into II. There Is no more to say AM
the song closes.
o soul. hast thou learned to sing