Exodus 15:17
Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
Sung in Israel's triumph of praise after God delivered them from Egypt, opened the Red Sea, destroyed the Egyptians and shielded them from Pharaoh's pursuing army, this verse belongs to that song of victory. Miriam led it, Moses joined in it, and the whole host of Israel joined in it. It promises that God will bring the people He redeemed into their inheritance in the promised land and plant and establish them there. The mountain of the inheritance and the place made for Him to dwell is His holy sanctuary, founded and established by His own hands as His dwelling place, and Israel was not yet in it but was still to be brought in, so the earth itself is not the sanctuary. In this setting it celebrates His mercy and mighty saving work and His guidance and protection in leading them onward, a song God meant to be preserved to teach their children, to fix truth in memory, strengthen faith, teach order and unity, and draw them closer to Himself and to one another.
Song Setting and Promise
The verse stands in Israel's sacred, inspired song of triumph and praise sung after God brought the people out of Egypt, opened a path through the Red Sea, destroyed the Egyptians, and protected them from Pharaoh's pursuing army. As part of that song after the Red Sea deliverance it belongs to the people's praise for His mighty saving work. It is Miriam's song, led by Miriam and joined in by Moses and by the whole host of Israel.
It promises that God will bring the people He redeemed into their inheritance in the promised land and plant and establish them there. It expresses their confidence and expectation that He would bring them into the land He had promised and establish them and a dwelling place for Himself there. The mountain of the inheritance and the place made for Him to dwell in is His holy sanctuary, founded and established by His own hands as a dwelling place for Himself there.
In this setting the verse celebrates His mercy and mighty saving work and His guidance and protection in leading Israel toward that promised dwelling place and holy habitation.
Sanctuary Doctrine and Use
Exodus 15:17 speaks of Israel as not yet in the sanctuary, for the people were still in the earth and were yet to be brought in and planted in the place God had made for His dwelling. It therefore does not identify the earth itself as the sanctuary, nor does it make the land of Palestine the sanctuary, but it distinguishes the people's location before they were brought there from the place where God's sanctuary would be established.
God directed that the history of the deliverance celebrated in this larger song be preserved in song, so that the people could teach it to their children and remember His dealings with them. As Israel journeyed through the wilderness that song fixed precious lessons in their minds, lifted their thoughts above the trials and difficulties of the way, and soothed and calmed the restless, turbulent spirit. It implanted principles of truth in the memory, strengthened faith, taught order and unity through concerted action, and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another. The triumphant praise of this song stands in contrast to Israel's later failure to acknowledge God's goodness at Elim.