Exodus 15:1-16: a reflection

1Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea. 2The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3The LORD is a man of war. The LORD is his name. 4He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea. 5The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone. 6Your right hand, LORD, is glorious in power. Your right hand, LORD, dashes the enemy in pieces. 7In the greatness of your excellency, you overthrow those who rise up against you. You send out your wrath. It consumes them as stubble. 8With the blast of your nostrils, the waters were piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, ‘I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. My desire will be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword. My hand will destroy them.’ 10You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like you, LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12You stretched out your right hand. The earth swallowed them. 13“You, in your loving kindness, have led the people that you have redeemed. You have guided them in your strength to your holy habitation. 14The peoples have heard. They tremble. Pangs have taken hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. 15Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed. Trembling takes hold of the mighty men of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of your arm they are as still as a stone, until your people pass over, LORD, until the people you have purchased pass over.

After God delivers Israel through the Red Sea, drowning the army that pursued them, the people respond in the most natural way to such a deliverance: they sing. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously. The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. The deliverance called forth praise; having seen what God had done, saving them from their enemies, the people burst into song, celebrating and remembering God's salvation in praise. The response to God's deliverance was worship, a song of praise to the God who had saved them.

Notice the response to God's deliverance: a song of praise. The people did not merely feel relief, or move on; they sang, celebrating what God had done, praising him for his triumph and salvation. The deliverance called forth worship; having been saved, they lifted their voices to praise the God who saved them, making a song of his salvation. Their praise both celebrated the deliverance and remembered it, giving God the glory for what he had done. The natural response to God's saving work was not to take it in silence, but to praise him for it, to sing to the LORD who had triumphed gloriously and become their salvation.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's deliverances in our lives call for our praise, a response of worship and song. When God delivers us, saves us, does great things for us, we can take it in silence, feel a passing relief, and move on; but Israel responded to God's deliverance with a song of praise, celebrating and remembering what he had done. God's saving works are meant to call forth our praise. When God delivers you and does great things for you, do not take it in silence and move on; respond with praise, celebrating and remembering his salvation, as Israel sang to the LORD after the Red Sea. Respond to God's deliverances with praise and song, celebrating and remembering his salvation rather than taking it in silence, as Israel sang, I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; for God's saving works call for our worship, and the natural response to his deliverance is to praise him and remember what he has done.

Lord, after you deliver Israel through the Red Sea, drowning the army that pursued them, the people respond in the most natural way to such a deliverance: they sing. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the LORD is my strength and song; he has become my salvation. The deliverance called forth praise; having seen what you had done, saving them from their enemies, the people burst into song, celebrating and remembering your salvation. Show me the response to your deliverance: a song of praise. The people did not merely feel relief, or move on; they sang, celebrating what you had done, praising you for your triumph and salvation. The deliverance called forth worship; having been saved, they lifted their voices to praise you, making a song of your salvation. Their praise both celebrated the deliverance and remembered it, giving you the glory. The natural response to your saving work was not to take it in silence, but to praise you for it. Take that to my heart, for your deliverances in my life call for my praise, a response of worship and song. When you deliver me, save me, do great things for me, I can take it in silence, feel a passing relief, and move on; but Israel responded to your deliverance with a song of praise. Your saving works are meant to call forth my praise. When you deliver me and do great things for me, keep me from taking it in silence and moving on; help me respond with praise, Lord, celebrating and remembering your salvation, as Israel sang to you after the Red Sea.