Exodus 15 opens with the people singing songs of praise to God. They repeat the events that occurred as God saved the people form the pursuit of the Egyptians. After all of the people sing their hymn of praise Miriam, Moses’ sister, leads the women in a dance of praise.

The people travel for three days and come to a place where the water is bitter (Marah). The people ask what they will drink. Moses talks to God who tells him to put w piece of wood in the water and it becomes sweet.

The Lord offers and agreement with the people that if they obey him He will not bring the plagues he brought on the Egyptians on them.

As Exodus 16 attests it doesn’t take long for the Israelites to forget what God has done for them. They are out in the wilderness and are complaining. They say they would have rather died in the land of Egypt. They talk about how good they had it, being able to eat their fill. They have totally forgotten what it was really like in Egypt and how they cried out to God to deliver them.

Moses points out that their complaints are not against Aaron and him, but against God. God, though, has heard their complaints and gives them food. In the evening quails come into the camp and in the morning the wilderness is covered with a white flaky substance. The people ask, “What is it?” This is the Hebrew word “manna,” so that becomes its name. Moses tells the people it is the bread God has given them.

God gives them specific instructions on how to collect the manna. If they follow the rules the manna remains fresh, if they don’t it goes bad and gets worms. In keeping with the fact that God rested on the seventh day God establishes a sabbath day where the people do not collect manna. They are able to gather twice as much food the day before.

God gives the people only what they need, not necessarily what they want. If they collect too much or too little food, they end up with just enough, no more no less. Even in giving us our heart’s desires, God gives us what we need to continue on. We may want more or something different but God knows what is good for us and gives that. We can decide whether we will complain like the people of Israel or whether we will be grateful for God’s provision for us.

Psalm 15 is a teaching psalm. It encourages us to do what is right in God’s sight. It gives us some examples of that right living. It acknowledges that those who obey God’s commands will dwell with the Lord.

Psalm 16 is a psalm of faithfulness. The writer acknowledges that it is only through God that we have everything good. The writer chooses to be faithful to God even though others may worship other gods. The writer pledges to be faithful and offers praise to God.