Sovereign King Lesson Plan

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Leader Guide Sunday, November 25, 2018

Sovereign King Sermon Text:​​ Psalm 29 Study Texts:​​ Exodus 15:1-18 Sermon Recap​​: Psalm 29 is a proclamation of God’s awesome power. It is in the form of a hymn and was most likely a favorite song of the Jews. In the Psalm, David compares God’s might and majesty with the great power of a thunderstorm or hurricane. As he did in Psalm 19, David draws on the created realm to show God’s awesome power and might; he draws our attention to see that God is the sovereign King over all things. He is the God over nature, over David’s enemies, over natural disasters, and He is the good and steadfast God over His people. The fact that God is the sovereign King over all is a treasure and deep comfort to the people of God. It serves as a warning to God’s people to walk in the holiness that God demands. God’s sovereign rule also serves as a warning to all who would transgress His commands. Because He is the sovereign King over all, He will have the last word. Sermon Connection:​​ Exodus 15 is one the three “Songs of Moses” recorded in Scripture. It follows God’s deliverance of the Jews after having led them safely through the Red Sea and then destroying Pharoah and his army. God had set His people free from sin and bondage, and Moses leads the people in a song of worship. As we read the song, we notice many similarities with Psalm 29: God is sovereign over the creation; He is the stronghold for His people; and He is the sovereign King over all.

Lesson Plan Lesson Goal: ​To see that God is the sovereign King over all and that His purposes will stand Lesson Points: Point 1: A Song of Worship About God ​(vv. 1-5, 18) Point 2: A Song of Worship to God​​ (vv. 6-17) The Context: ​The Israelites have been freed from slavery and oppression in Egypt and have now moved out into the wilderness. Pharaoh, having changed his mind, led his army after the Jews in order to conquer them and re-enslave them. But God delivered His people once again and brought destruction upon Pharoah and his mighty army by causing the Red Sea to swallow them up. The “Song of Moses” comes directly after this episode and is a celebration of God’s faithful presence and deliverance. 1

Defining Sovereignty​​: Throughout the Bible, God is shown as the One Who is King over all, He rules over creation, and He controls the entire course of nature and history. Another way of saying that God is sovereign is to say “God always, and without fail, accomplishes His purposes.”1 Opening Question: ​In what areas/situations are people typically okay with the idea of sovereignty? In what areas/situations are people typically not okay with the idea of sovereignty? Transition Statement: ​God’s sovereignty is a major biblical theme, and we want to see how Moses and the Jews celebrate it as a true good for the people of God. Point 1 - A Song of Worship About God ​(vv. 1-5, 18) According to v. 1, what is the cause of this song of worship about God? Moses celebrates the fact that God has triumphed over Pharoah by casting both the rider and his horse into the sea. Moses had just come through that very sea, which God had parted for the Jewish people. Yet, when Pharoah and his armies entered the sea in pursuit of the Jews, God closed it upon them and they perished. Thus, Moses’ praise is for God, Who leveraged His sovereign rule over all things for the salvation of His people. What attributes of God does v. 2 highlight? Why should this instill a deep sense of trust in and contentment with God in our hearts? Moses is praising multiple attributes of God in this verse. He is highlighting God’s trustworthiness. Moses does not trust in his own strength, rather he trusts in God’s strength alone because God is trustworthy. He also notes that God is his song which means that God is his deep source of contentment and joy. We sing when we are content and happy, when we are filled with joy. And because God is our contentment and joy, we say that God is our song. Compare vv. 3-5 with Psalm 29:3-5. What similarities do we see? Moses notes that God is a man of war and that YHWH is His Name (this is a reference back to Ex. 3 where God reveals His Name to Moses). Moses is saying that God is, in essence, the sovereign King over all; nothing can stand against God. Not only can nothing stand, those who oppose God find themselves, like Pharaoh, destroyed. Verse 3 speaks of God as being “​a man of war​.” This is also connected with Ex. 14:14 where Moses says, “​The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.​” Why is seeing “God as a Warrior” good news for God’s people? See also Ps. 28:8-9. In the context of Exodus 15, this truth, that ​“The Lord is a man of war...,” ​is tremendous news for the Jewish people. They stood helpless before the greatest army in the world. Pharaoh 1

For more on this see John Frame’s, ​The Doctrine of God,​ Chp. 4, or Wayne Grudem’s, ​Bible Doctrine​, Chp. 8.

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was in furious pursuit with his chariots, weapons, soldiers and horses. Our natural response to such situations is either “fight or flight.” But God is a Man of War; He is the Defender of His people. So in 14:14, He reminds Moses and the people, “I will fight for you.” What a promise for the people of God. As we face hardship and suffering, God is with us as our Defender, our Protector. Our God is a Warrior for His people. **Important Shepherding Note**​: Some may ask, “If God is a Warrior for His people, then why am I suffering?” Such questions are fair and understandable. We must note that in the context of Exodus 15, God moved in a specific way to deliver His people from a specific danger. While this was an act of divine salvation, the salvation was only temporary. While God does still act in this way from time to time, these divine interventions have been the exception throughout biblical history.2 Seeing God as a Warrior for His people is most readily seen in His defeat of sin on the cross, which he offers to each and every one of His people. What is the reason for proclaiming v. 18 in the congregation of the people? Why is important to sing it over, and over, and over again? Verse 18 is a reminder of just Who God is. He is the sovereign King Who reigns over all. The verse provides a fitting conclusion to Moses’ song, for if all the things that Moses has said are true, it is only right to proclaim, “​The LORD will reign forever and ever​.” Those words were true then, and they are true now. The God who delivered the Jews from the Egyptians is the same God Who greets us each morning, Who walks with us through pain and suffering, and the same God Whom we praise week in and week out. Point 2 - A Song of Worship to God​​ (vv. 6-17) Verses 6-10 describe the omnipotence of God.3 Why is this good news for the people of God? How does it help further verify that God is the sovereign King over all? Through Scripture, the right hand is considered the hand of power and authority. In this verse, Moses and the people proclaim that God’s omnipotence is a good thing, for it is used for their salvation. It is a fearful thing to be under the omnipotent power of God without His grace—this is what we see in Pharaoh and his army. These few verses use the human body to picture God’s power, and even the images are telling. The right hand, the nostril, and the breath are not overtly powerful aspects of our humanity. Moses’ point is that God’s sovereignty is never in question when enemies arise; He cannot be overthrown. How do vv. 9-10 echo the message of Ps. 29:3-5? Here again, we see the sovereign control of God’s Lordship. When Pharaoh arose and sought to bring the Jews back into slavery, God only needed to “blow His wind.” In the same way, David rightly says, “​The voice of the Lord is powerful...majestic.”​ His voice and His breath are powerful because they possess authority. His voice and His breath are sovereign. 2 3

This instance is called a Theophany. Omnipotence refers to God’s being all-powerful; possessing all power.

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What does God use to conquer the wicked Egyptians in v. 10? How does this serve as a comfort to the people of God? See also Romans 8:31. He only uses the breath of His mouth, nothing more. When Moses says, “​You blew with Your wind; the sea covered them...”​ we might think of a child blowing the seeds off a dandelion. This is not the picture of power and might that usually comes to mind, but that is the image here. God only needed to blow the water and it demolished the Egyptian army...the greatest army in the known world. Paul’s words from Romans 8:31 should come to mind, “​If God is for us, who can be against us?​” Verses 13-17 speak of how God leads His people. How is this a comfort to the people of God? How is this evidence of God’s Sovereign rule? It is a tremendous promise that God is sovereign and that He rules the world with authority. As Paul rightly asks, who or what could possibly be against us when we are in God? But God’s goodness does not end with His power and might. As a part of His sovereign rule, God is also eternally kind and compassionate; He is a kind and gentle Shepherd to His people. Verses 13-17 note that God leads His people through steadfast love; that He redeems His people; God will bring us to the Promised Land of heaven where He has made a home for us because of Jesus. All of this is established through God’s sovereign rule and mediated to us through Christ Jesus. The Big Picture​​ - God’s Sovereign Rule is for Our Good. It is a tremendously good thing for the Church that God is the sovereign King over all. There is so much in the world, both now and in the past, that stands against the Church. Throughout history, the Church has stood against the culture, been viewed as outcasts and rejects, faced tremendous persecution and hardship, been driven out of cities and countries, and had no formal gathering place or land. How is it that such a people continue to survive and thrive? It is only by and through God’s sovereign rule over all things. God has decreed that His Church will go forward with His gospel; that His Church will establish His glory around the world; and He has decreed that He will be with His Church forevermore. His sovereign rule is one of the Church’s sweetest treasures. Application Questions ● How am I trusting God’s sovereign rule over my life? ● Where am I guilty of opposing God’s rule in my life? ● How am I leading my family to love and treasure God’s sovereign rule over all? ● How does God’s sovereign rule motivate our Growth Group to go boldly with the gospel?

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