Psalm 106:9
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.
He rebuked the Red Sea
The phrase "He rebuked the Red Sea" highlights God's sovereign power over nature. The Hebrew word for "rebuked" is "גָּעַר" (ga'ar), which implies a strong reprimand or command. This word is often used in the context of divine authority, where God exercises His will over creation. The Red Sea, a formidable natural barrier, symbolizes insurmountable obstacles in human life. God's rebuke demonstrates His ability to control and command the elements, reminding believers of His omnipotence and the assurance that no challenge is too great for Him to overcome.

and it dried up
The phrase "and it dried up" signifies the miraculous intervention of God. The Hebrew root "יָבַשׁ" (yabash) means to become dry or to wither. This transformation of the Red Sea from a vast body of water to dry land is a testament to God's miraculous provision for His people. Historically, this event is pivotal in the Exodus narrative, symbolizing deliverance and the fulfillment of God's promises. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to make a way where there seems to be none.

He led them through the depths
"He led them through the depths" emphasizes God's guidance and protection. The Hebrew word "תְּהוֹם" (tehom) refers to the deep or abyss, often associated with chaos and danger. By leading His people through the depths, God demonstrates His role as a shepherd and protector, guiding His people safely through perilous circumstances. This imagery reassures believers of God's constant presence and His ability to lead them through life's challenges, no matter how daunting they may seem.

as through a desert
The phrase "as through a desert" contrasts the chaotic depths of the sea with the barrenness of a desert. The Hebrew word "מִדְבָּר" (midbar) refers to a wilderness or uninhabited land. This comparison highlights the ease and safety with which God led the Israelites, transforming a potentially treacherous journey into a secure passage. It underscores God's power to transform and provide, turning what could be a place of desolation into a path of deliverance. This serves as an encouragement to trust in God's provision and guidance, even in the most unlikely circumstances.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The central figure in this verse, demonstrating His power and authority over nature.

2. The Red Sea
A significant body of water that God miraculously parted to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian pursuit.

3. The Israelites
God's chosen people, whom He led out of slavery in Egypt and through the Red Sea.

4. Egyptians
The oppressors of the Israelites, who pursued them to the Red Sea.

5. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, through whom God performed the miracle of parting the Red Sea.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Creation
The parting of the Red Sea illustrates God's absolute control over the natural world. He can alter the course of nature to fulfill His purposes and deliver His people.

Deliverance and Salvation
Just as God delivered the Israelites from their enemies, He offers spiritual deliverance to us through Jesus Christ. This event foreshadows the ultimate salvation found in Christ.

Faith in God's Promises
The Israelites had to trust in God's promise of deliverance as they faced the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of the Red Sea. We, too, are called to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible.

God's Faithfulness in Trials
The crossing of the Red Sea serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness during times of trial. He is present with us and will lead us through our own "seas" of difficulty.

The Importance of Obedience
Moses' obedience in following God's command to stretch out his hand over the sea was crucial to the miracle. Our obedience to God's instructions can lead to His miraculous work in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the parting of the Red Sea demonstrate God's power and authority over creation?

2. In what ways does the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt parallel the salvation offered through Jesus Christ?

3. What are some "Red Sea" moments in your life where you have seen God make a way where there seemed to be none?

4. How can the account of the Red Sea crossing encourage you to trust in God's promises during difficult times?

5. What steps of obedience is God calling you to take today, and how might they lead to His work in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 14
This chapter provides the detailed account of the parting of the Red Sea, where God commands Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground.

Psalm 77:16-20
This passage poetically recounts the parting of the Red Sea, emphasizing God's power and the awe-inspiring nature of the event.

Isaiah 51:10
This verse recalls the drying up of the sea as a demonstration of God's might and His ability to make a way for His people.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Paul refers to the crossing of the Red Sea as a form of baptism for the Israelites, symbolizing their deliverance and new identity as God's people.
Israel At the Red SeaPsalm 106:9
Israel At the Red SeaCharles Haddon Spurgeon Psalm 106:9
The Nevertheless of God's MercyS. Conway Psalm 106:1-48
People
Aaron, Abiram, Baalpeor, Dathan, Ham, Phinehas, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Causeth, Deep, Deeps, Depths, Desert, Dried, Dry, Led, Rebuked, Rebuketh, Red, Suph, Thus, Waste, Waters, Wilderness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 106:9

     8129   guidance, examples

Psalm 106:7-11

     4819   dryness

Psalm 106:7-12

     7223   exodus, significance

Psalm 106:7-15

     8763   forgetting

Library
June the Twelfth Waiting for the Spectacular
"The waves covered their enemies.... Then believed they His words." --PSALM cvi. 1-12. Their faith was born in a great emergency. A spectacular deliverance was needed to implant their trust in the Lord. They found no witness in the quiet daily providence; the unobtrusive miracle of daily mercy did not awake their song. They dwelt upon the "special" blessing, when all the time the really special blessing was to be found in the sleepless care which watched over them in their ordinary and commonplace
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Israel at the Red Sea
"A few more rolling years at most, Will land me on fair Canaan's coast.' And then I shall have no more warfare, no more fighting, no more disturbance; but I shall be at peace." "Not quite as thou desirest," says God. "Oh! thou little one; I have more to teach thee ere thou art prepared for my palace." Then he commences to lead us about, and bring us into straits and perils. The sins which we thought had utterly left us are hunting us behind, while impassible floods block up the way. Even trembling
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Why are Men Saved?
"The hand that made us is Divine." If we listen to the rippling of the freshet at the mountain side, to the tumbling of the avalanche, to the lowing of the cattle, to the singing of the birds, to every voice and sound of nature, we shall hear this answer to the question, "God is our maker; he hath made us, and not we ourselves." The next question, as to design--Why were these things made?--is not so easy to answer, apart from Scripture; but when we look at Scripture we discover this fact--that as
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Sin: Its Spring-Head, Stream, and Sea
It may help us to escape out of the meshes of our natural depravity, if we look back and see the causes of our fathers' sins. To confess our personal sin will tend to keep us humble; and in view of the Lord's mercy, which has spared and pardoned us, a sense of our guilt will make us grateful. The less we think of ourselves the more we shall think of him whose "mercy endureth for ever"; and if we see where our fathers' sins began, and how they grew, and what they came to, we may hope that the Spirit
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Waters of Meribah
'Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3. And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! 4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fourteenth Day. The Holy one of God.
Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.'--Luke i. 35. 'We have believed and know that Thou art the Holy One of God.'--John vi. 69. 'The holy one of the Lord'--only once (Ps. cvi. 16) the expression is found in the Old Testament. It is spoken of Aaron, in whom holiness, as far as it could then be revealed, had found its most complete embodiment. The title waited for its fulfilment in Him who alone, in His own person, could perfectly show forth
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Man's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Our Status.
"And he believed in the Lord: and he counted it to him for righteousness." --Gen. xv. 6. The right touches a man's status. So long as the law has not proven him guilty, has not convicted and sentenced him, his legal status is that of a free and law-abiding citizen. But as soon as his guilt is proven in court and the jury has convicted him, he passes from that into the status of the bound and law-breaking citizen. The same applies to our relation to God. Our status before God is that either of the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for Churches.
Text: Philippians 1, 3-11. 3 I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, 5 for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Elucidations.
I. (Deadly Sins, cap. ix., p. 356.) To maintain a modern and wholly uncatholic system of Penitence, the schoolmen invented a technical scheme of sins mortal and sins venial, which must not be read into the Fathers, who had no such technicalities in mind. By "deadly sins" they meant all such as St. John recognizes (1 John v. 16-17) and none other; that is to say sins of surprise and infirmity, sins having in them no malice or wilful disobedience, such as an impatient word, or a momentary neglect of
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion

Rest for the Weary
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. W hich shall we admire most -- the majesty, or the grace, conspicuous in this invitation? How soon would the greatest earthly monarch be impoverished, and his treasures utterly exhausted, if all, that are poor and miserable, had encouragement to apply freely to him, with a promise of relief, fully answerable to their wants and wishes! But the riches of Christ are unsearchable and inexhaustible. If millions and millions
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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