Stand Still, Sermon
STAND STILL: OR, A bridle for the Times, &c.
EXOD. 14.13.
[Stand still:]
STand,] This word in the mouth of a Souldier is a word of Command. And so shall we find it in the mouth of Moses here in my Text: A Word of Command directed by this man of warre, this truely valiant and noble Generall, to the Hoast of Israel at the Red-Sea, orde…g them what to doe in that great strait whereinto God had then brought them. State, Consistite, Stand, Stand-still. A word in the signification of it large, and comprehensive:Stand still. Importing four things Here (as I conceive) importing these foure things, which I shall expresse unto you in foure words. Stand-still, First, not Murmuring: Secondly, not Wavering: Thirdly, not Flying: Fourthly, not Fighting. Not murmuring, hold your Tongues still: not wavering, hold your Hearts still: not flying, hold your Feet still: not fighting, hold your Hands still. With an eye to all, and every of these (as I conceive) Moses here speaketh to the people, both counselling and charging them to Stand-still.
First, Holding their Tongues still, not Murmuring. This at the present they did.I. …ot Murmur…ng. Their hearts being filled with the wind of inordinate feare, their tongues began to walke, and Runne. Even as Asaph saith of foolish and wicked men, Psal. 73. …sal. 73.9.They set their mouth against the heaven, and their tongue walketh through the earth; so was it here, These mutinous Israelites in that distempered Passion of theirs, they began to set their mouth against the heaven, murmuring against God himselfe; and their Tongue walked through the earth, running Riot against Moses and others, whom they looked at as the chiefe Instruments of their present woe. In reference to this distemper, and misbehaviour of theirs, Moses here biddeth them Stand still, hold their tongues still. So the latter part of the verse following may seeme to explaine it; where Moses mindeth them of holding their peace, and (as the old Translation readeth it) chargeth them so to doe. The Lord shall fight for you, therefore hold you your peace; that is, cease to murmur against God, and me.
Secondly, Keeping their Tongues still, he would have them also to keepe their hearts still;2. …ot Waver…g. that forbearing to murmur, they should not give way to wavering. Stand still, not doubting, not wavering. So lunius here expounds the Phrase; Consistite, Stand still, that is (saith he) Ne commoveamini, ac fluctuetis animo, Be yee not inordinately moved, or stirred, be not wavering-minded, but Spe firm… ope… Domini expectate, quietly, and confidently wait upon your God for his salvation, his deliverance. Standing, it is a waiting Posture. Davids Courtiers advising the King their Master to make choice of a Damosell that might wait upon him in his decrepit age, Let there bee sought for my Lord the King (say they) a young virgin, …ing. 1.2.and let her [stand] before the King. And so the Queene of Sheba speaking of Solomons attendants, happy (saith shee) are thy men, and happy are thy servants, 1 King 10.….which [stand] continually before thee. By way of allusion whereunto, Gods Ministers who are servants to him in ordinary, having a more constant and immediate attendance upon him in regard of their office, they are said to stand before him. The Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, (saith Hezekiah to the Levites) Blesse yee the Lord all yee servants of the Lord, 2 Chr. 29.11. Ps. 134. Ps. 135.2.which by night stand in the House of the Lord, (saith David speaking of the same Priests and Levites,) standing, it is a waiting posture, and a posture of Confidence, in both which respects this gesture is sometimes used in Prayer, not without our Saviours owne allowance; when yee stand Praying, (saith he) forgive &c. A gesture not unsuitable to the action of Prayer,Mar. 11.85. wherein the soule is to waite upon God, and that with an holy confidence, both of them imported and signified by this posture. And thus would Moses here in the Text have the Israelites to waite upon their God, to waite upon him, and that with an holy affiance and confidence, not doubting, not wavering, and therefore he saith unto them, stand still.
Thirdly, Holding their Tongues and their Hearts still,3. Not Flying. he would have them also to hold their Feet still, stand, i.e. not Flying. So the word is commonly used, standing put in opposition to Flying. the Prophet Nahum speaking of Ninevebs flying before their Enemies, They shall flie away, (saith he) stand, stand shall they crie, 2 Nah. ….but none shall looke backe. This were the Israelites at this time ready to do; Their hearts failing them, they were ready to flie before their Enemies. In reference hereunto Moses speakes unto them as a resolute Commander to his faint-hearted Souldiers, bidding them stand, not flying from the Enemy, much lesse flying to him. This some of them had in their thoughts to do, and they were even readie to doe it, to returne and yeeld up themselves to the merciemercy of the Enemie, taking such quarter as he would afford them. In reference hereunto also Moses bids them stand, stand still, not flying from the Enemy, much lesse flying to him.
Fourthly, In the fourth and last place, holding their Tongues and Hearts and Feet still,4. …ot Fighting, he bids them also hold their Hands still, not Murmuring, not Wavering, not Flying, he tels them they should not need to fight neither. So Master Calvin here construeth the phrase, Verbo standi vult quietos manere. Bidding them stand still (saith he) he wils them to rest themselves quiet, as if he had said, there shall be no need for any of you to stirre a hand, to move a fingar in this service; stand you still, God will doe the worke for you, and without you. And this exposition the verse following seemeth to countenance, where Moses tels them, The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your Peace, ye shall be silent, ceasing, as from speaking, so from doing any thing in this businesse; so that phrase is sometimes used, being applied to actions as well as words. Keep not …ilence O God, (saith the Psalmist) Hold not thy Peace, and be not still, Psal. 83. …s. 83.1.I hauehave a long time holde… my Peace, (saith the Lord) I hauehave been still, and refrained my selfe, Is. 42. …s. 42, 14.refrained my selfe, viz. from taking vengeance upon mine Enemies; which when God doth forbearing to punish them, then hee is said to hold his peace, and sit still, In a like sense not improperly may Moses be conceived there to speake unto the people, yee shall hold your peace, i.e. yee shall not strike a blow, nor draw a sword, nor lift up a hand, let God alone with the worke, stand yee still.
Put these foure together, and you have (as I conceive) the full latitude of the word, as here it is used. Stand yee still (saith Moses) to the people; not Murmuring; not Wavering; not Flying; not Fighting. Never a one of these but will afford us somewhat for our Instruction. I shall touch upon them severally by way of Illustration, Application.