Exodus 15:17-21: a reflection

17You will bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, the place, LORD, which you have made for yourself to dwell in: the sanctuary, Lord, which your hands have established. 18The LORD will reign forever and ever.” 19For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea on them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea. 20Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances. 21Miriam answered them, “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.”

The Song of the Sea, sung after God's great deliverance at the Red Sea, rises to a triumphant climax: The LORD will reign forever and ever. And then Miriam, Aaron's sister, takes a tambourine, and all the women follow her with tambourines and dancing, as she leads them in the refrain: Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously. The deliverance is met not with quiet acknowledgment but with exuberant, joyful celebration, song and dance and music, in praise of the God who reigns and has triumphed.

Notice two things: the declaration and the celebration. The song declares that the LORD reigns forever, an eternal reign that is cause for endless praise. And the response to God's saving act is exuberant celebration, Miriam leading the women in song and dance, rejoicing over what God has done. God's deliverance called forth not restraint but joy, expressed freely and exuberantly.

Both speak to us. The LORD reigns forever, and that eternal reign is the ground of a joy nothing can finally take away; whatever happens, our God is King forever. And God's saving acts are worthy of exuberant celebration, of joyful, wholehearted praise, even song and dance, in response to what he has done. When God delivers you, when you consider that he reigns forever and has saved you, do not respond with mere quiet acknowledgment. Celebrate, as Miriam did, with joy and gladness, in praise of the God who reigns and has triumphed. Let your response to his deliverance be exuberant thanksgiving; the God who reigns forever is worthy of joyful, celebrating praise.

Lord, after the great deliverance at the sea, your people sang that you would reign forever and ever, and Miriam led the women in exuberant celebration, song and dance and music, praising you for your triumph. Thank you that you reign forever, the ground of a joy nothing can take away. And teach me to respond to your deliverance with exuberant celebration, not mere quiet acknowledgment. When you save me, when I consider your eternal reign and all you have done, help me celebrate with joy and gladness, in wholehearted praise. Let my response to your saving acts be joyful thanksgiving. You reign forever and have triumphed; you are worthy of exuberant, celebrating praise. Fill my heart with joy in you, my King.