Psalms 106:10-12

DISCOURSE: 677
THE EFFECTS WHICH NATIONAL MERCIES SHOULD PRODUCE ON US

Psalms 106:10. He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there teas not one of them left. Then believed they his words; they sang his praises.

GRATITUDE for mercies received is a duty universally approved. Every one sees the propriety of acknowledging personal obligations; nor is it less incumbent on us to be thankful for blessings conferred on us in our national capacity. The words before us record the conduct of the Israelites when a signal deliverance had been vouchsafed to them: may we be as devoutly, and more abidingly impressed, while we consider,

I. The mercy vouchsafed unto them—

They had been in a state of extreme danger and distress—
[After their departure from Egypt they encamped by the Red Sea; there they were hemmed in by impassable mountains and morasses. Pharaoh, greatly incensed, followed them with all his hosts, nor doubted but that he should speedily destroy them all. They, to all appearance, had no means either of escape or self-defence, and in this situation expected nothing but instant ruin.]
But God vouchsafed them a most astonishing deliverance—
[He prevented the nearer approach of Pharaoh by interposing a thick cloud between the Israelites and the Egyptians. He made a path across the sea, the waters standing as a wall on either side: he led his people through it as on dry land. Giving up Pharoah to judicial blindness and obduracy, he suffered him, at the head of his army, to follow the hosts of Israel; but, when the Israelites were passed over, he let loose the waves upon their pursuers: thus in an instant were the Egyptian armies overwhelmed, and Israel saw their enemies dead upon the sea-shore. How wonderful was this interposition of the Deity, and how great the obligation conferred by it!]
Nor were they at the time insensible of the kindness manifested to them:

II.

The effects produced by it—

They had shewed themselves an ungrateful and unbelieving people—
But now, for a season, they were greatly changed:

1. They believed God’s word—

[They had had reason enough before to believe the promises made to them: Moses had confirmed his word by many stupendous miracles; but they no sooner came into difficulty than they renewed their murmurs. Now, however, they were forced to confess the power and faithfulness of God, nor did they suppose that they should ever yield to unbelief again.]

2. They sang his praise—

[The salvation afforded them was inexpressibly great, and the hand of God in it was too visible to be overlooked: however therefore they might pity the individuals who perished, they could not but rejoice in their own safety, nor could they refrain from praising him who had wrought their deliverance; the most obdurate could not but feel; the most insensible could not but admire. Happy would it have been for them if they had always continued in this mind; but though, through frailty, they soon relinquished this heavenly temper, the effect, while it lasted, was good and suitable.]

Improvement—
1.

Let us endeavour to get our minds duly impressed with the temporal deliverances vouchsafed to us as a nation—

[We must be blind indeed if we see not the hand of God in the repeated victories which we have lately gained: though they have not been either so miraculous or so complete as that recorded in the text, they demand our most grateful acknowledgments. Had they been as numerous and decisive in favour of our enemies as they have been on our part, we should before this time have seen this land the theatre of war. Let us then praise and adore our God for his interposition on our behalf; nor let us soon forget the wonders he has wrought for us; let us rather turn to him in an humble dependence on his mercy; Let us plead the promises he has made to all penitent and believing people; and let us, in faith and penitence, expect the accomplishment of his word.]

2. Let us take occasion also to bless him for the spiritual deliverance wrought for us as individuals—

[Our danger from the broken law was far greater than from human foes: there was no possible method of escape, if God had not interposed for us; but he has opened a way for us through the death of his own Son, and utterly vanquished all the enemies of our salvation. Let every heart and every tongue unite in his praise; nor let the remembrance of his mercy be ever effaced from our minds, but let his word, whereby he encourages sinners, be our hope; then shall every fresh victory be a pledge of future triumphs, and the final destruction of our enemies be the subject of eternal praise.]