Traditionally at Passover and Unleavened Bread we completely cover the Exodus story and the fulfillment of Yeshua as the Passover lamb. But today I would like to cover another aspect of the feast that we don't talk about as much.
It is customary on the last day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, which is also a Sabbath, to read as part of the Passover portion Exodus 15:1-26. The reason is because according to Jewish understanding the Israelites reached the Red (Reed) Sea on the seventh day after they left Egypt. It is at the crossing of the Red Sea that their redemption came to pass and they saw the destruction of their enemy.
In Jewish literature they have what is called the 10 Shirot, or 10 Songs. Exodus 15 is one of those songs and it is called the Song of the Sea and also the Song of Moses. It is the first recorded song in scripture and it was sung every week in the temple service on the Sabbath. It is the 2nd song in the 10 songs.
It is also recorded in Jewish literature that : As Moses and the race that wandered from Egypt with him sang a song to the Lord by the Red Sea, so shall they sing again in the world to come. In the world to come, all generations will pass before the Lord and will ask Him who should first intone the song of praise, whereupon He will reply: 'In the past it was the generation of Moses that offered up to me a song of praise. Let them do it now once more, and as Moses conducted the song by the Red Sea, so shall he do in the world of the hereafter.' "In other respects, too, it shall be in the world to come as it was at the time of the song by the sea..." (Louis Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, Volume 3) So, Jews believed that this song in Exodus 15:1-21, the song by the sea or the song of Moses, will be sung in the future when the Messiah comes. They also believe that just as Moses taught the children of Israel the song by the sea that one day in the future, at the coming of the Messiah and His redemption, that HE, THE MESSIAH, will teach us A NEW SONG, THE SONG OF THE MESSIAH OR THE SONG OF REDEMPTION. Just as the song of Moses was not sung to Moses but it was sung by Moses to God (read Exodus 15:1) and the people learned the song and then sang along to God, the Messiah will sing to God the new song, the song of the Messiah or the song of redemption and we will learn and sing along to God; as part of our worship and praise to Yahweh for His redemption. The song of redemption, or new song, will be sung after the final redemption and salvation of the people of God, Israel.
We can read in Revelation 15:1-14 about this new song:
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Perhaps we can better understand this scripture if we look at the song of Moses and see why we would be singing it in the day when Messiah, the Lamb of God, returns.
Exodus 15:1-21
Verses 1-12: Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
These verses make a reference to the miraculous destruction of Pharaoh and His army, the most powerful kingdom on earth at that time. So do verses 4, 5, 8, 10 and 12. Verse 9 speaks of the “bloodthirsty pursuit of Pharaoh” in his eager anticipation of wiping out the people of God by whatever means necessary, but Yahweh by His strong right arm, the Great Warrior of Heaven, defeats this mass army who is the enemy of Yahweh and His people. Likewise, Messiah Yeshua will defeat all the enemies of His Father at His return and will save the remnant of His people by His strong and outstretched hand.
Verse 13: Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
After the recalling to mind about the destruction of the mighty enemy, not by the might of the people, but by the supernatural Almighty God, Moses now leaves this behind and praises Yahweh for leading His people to Canaan, the promised land. Likewise, Yeshua will conduct a greater exodus in that day where He will gather all of His children from the four corners of the earth where they had been scattered. He will lead them as a shepherd leads his sheep. He will restore them to the promised land of Israel.
Verses 14-16: The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
In these verses Moses and the people now turn their thanks to Yahweh for His providential care in coming out of Egypt and their journey through the wilderness and how the other nations were fearful when they heard of them and their Elohim. Likewise, at the coming of Yeshua every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord! Every nation will submit and come up to Jerusalem to worship and bow down before the King of the whole earth.
Verse 17-21: Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
After praising God for not just bringing them to His own domain but He “planted” them there, settling them there permanently, to remain and thrive. The song praises Yahweh for bringing them to the land and the building of the temple, God's abode among the people, which Elohim created with His own hands. Likewise, Yeshua will establish His throne and His people forever. There will be no need for the sun or a physical temple because the glory of Elohim and the lamb will be its light and Elohim will dwell with His people.
They had been transformed from a people of slavery to a redeemed people headed for their promised land. Surely, this is what our Messiah Yeshua will be doing for us when He returns and we will sing a similar song of redemption as is recorded in Revelation.
The new song, the Jews believe, will be taken from Isaiah 9:2-7 and the entire chapter of Isaiah 26. It shows us that in the future God will yet do remarkable miracles for His people. Now, let's examine the scriptures where the new song is believed to be represented:
Isaiah 9:2-7
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah Chapter 26
Isa 26:1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Isa 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isa 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isa 26:5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. Isa 26:6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. Isa 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Isa 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isa 26:10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. Isa 26:11 LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. Isa 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isa 26:13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. Isa 26:14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. Isa 26:15 Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth. Isa 26:16 LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. Isa 26:17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. Isa 26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Isa 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. Isa 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Please notice the similarity between the song of Moses and the song of the redeemed in Messiah Yeshua. First, the song of Moses was sung beside the Red Sea and the Song of Lamb will be sung beside the Crystal River. Second, the song of Moses was sung upon coming out of Egypt and the song of the Lamb will be sung after the greater exodus. Third, the song of Moses described how God sustained them through the wilderness journey and the song of the Lamb describes how we will be brought back to Him after being scattered where He has sustained the remnant of His people. Fourth, the song of Moses was the first song recorded in scripture and the song of the Lamb will be the last song sung. Fifth, Messiah Yeshua will teach us the song of the Lamb, just as Moses taught the children of Israel the song of Moses, and we will sing it along with the Lamb to the Father. The song of the Lamb brings out that in the final judgment the Father is revealed in His Messiah as King of the world just as has been prophesied by His prophets.
We await the coming of the King, the heir of David, the Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Who is the ONE: YESHUA!
Let us eagerly await this time when our Messiah Yeshua will return and destroy those who stand against Him and bring salvation to the remnant of His children, Israel.
Shalom,
Leisa
Bibliography
2. Bridges of Peace Israel Teaching Letter, Volume 770317, March 2017 "Our Hearts in Unison with His"
3. http://thetorah.com/song-at-the-sea-what-does-it-celebrate/
HalleluYAH Amen looking forward to that day!!!