3. song of Moses . . . and . . . the
Lamb--The New Testament song of the Lamb (that is, the song which
the Lamb shall lead, as being "the Captain of our salvation," just as
Moses was leader of the Israelites, the song in which those who conquer
through Him
[Ro 8:37]
shall join,
Re 12:11)
is the antitype to the triumphant Old Testament song of Moses and the
Israelites at the Red Sea
(Ex 15:1-21).
The Churches of the Old and New Testament are essentially one in their
conflicts and triumphs. The two appear joined in this phrase, as they
are in the twenty-four elders. Similarly,
Isa 12:1-6
foretells the song of the redeemed (Israel foremost) after the second
antitypical exodus and deliverance at the Egyptian Sea. The
passage through the Red Sea under the pillar of cloud was Israel's
baptism, to which the believer's baptism in trials corresponds. The
elect after their trials (especially those arising from the beast)
shall be taken up before the vials of wrath be poured on the beast and
his kingdom. So Noah and his family were taken out of the doomed world
before the deluge; Lot was taken out of Sodom before its destruction;
the Christians escaped by a special interposition of Providence to
Pella before the destruction of Jerusalem. As the pillar of
cloud and fire interposed between Israel and the Egyptian
foe, so that Israel was safely landed on the opposite shore before the
Egyptians were destroyed; so the Lord, coming with clouds and in
flaming fire, shall first catch up His elect people "in the
clouds to meet Him in the air," and then shall with fire destroy the
enemy. The Lamb leads the song in honor of the Father amidst the great
congregation. This is the "new song" mentioned in
Re 14:3.
The singing victors are the 144,000 of Israel, "the first-fruits," and
the general "harvest" of the Gentiles.
servant of God--
(Ex 14:31;
Nu 12:7;
Jos 22:5).
The Lamb is more: He is the SON.
Great and marvellous are thy works, &c.--part of Moses'
last song
(De 32:3, 4).
The vindication of the justice of God that so He may be glorified is
the grand end of God's dealings. Hence His servants again and again
dwell upon this in their praises
(Re 16:7; 19:2;
Pr 16:4;
Jer 10:10;
Da 4:37).
Especially at the judgment
(Ps 50:1-6; 145:17).
saints--There is no manuscript authority for this. A, B,
Coptic, and CYPRIAN read, "of the NATIONS." C reads "of the ages," and so Vulgate
and Syriac. The point at issue in the Lord's controversy with
the earth is, whether He, or Satan's minion, the beast, is "the King of
the nations"; here at the eve of the judgments descending on the
kingdom of the beast, the transfigured saints hail Him as "the King of
the nations"
(Eze 21:27).
JFB.
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