The Song of Moses

The Song of Moses Exodus 15:1-21 Introduction • Yahweh led his people to a place of total vulnerability and dependence. • Yahweh spread the waters of the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds), dried the ground, surrounded his people, and lured Pharaoh’s vaunted chariot core into the depths. • Yahweh delivered and destroyed; judged and redeemed. God is both Savior and Judge. • Now, Moses promptly writes a hymn for the ages. Moses’s Song • Structure: 1. Sung by men (v. 1) and women (v. 20) in an antiphonal fashion (compare v. 1 and v. 21) 2. The divisions may revolve around similes (see v. 5, 7. 10); or may be crescendos of praise (see v. 4 as the best example) 3. Frankly, none of what I read struck me as completely convincing. • Personal Praise: Past, Present, and Future. Personal Praise • Moses’s song is deeply personal 1. Begins with a pledge to sing, “I shall sing!” (v. 1); I shall exalt (v. 2) 2. Takes personal possession of God’s blessings: my strength, my song, my salvation, my God, my father’s God (v. 2) 3. Personal aspects are chiefly repeated by the ladies (21) • Moses’s song is directed to a Person 1. With the Pillar, it would have been easier to direct praise. 2. Specific directed “to Yahweh” 3. Notice the “You’s”: Your right hand (6); You overthrow (7), You blew your wind (10); Who is like You? (11) Personal Praise • The song exalts the LORD – “For He has triumphed gloriously”; can also be “For He is highly exalted” • The song marvels at the uniqueness of the LORD – 2x “Who is like you?” • The song is an extended marvel at the unexpected, dramatic, and thorough redemption of God (15:13) Past, Present, and Future • Past Acts of Yahweh worthy of personal praise 1. Yahweh Delivered: become my salvation (2); led/redeemed/guided (13) 2. Yahweh Judged: hurled (4); drowned (4); shattered (6); threw down, consumed, unleashed (8) • Present Acts of Yahweh worthy of personal praise 1. He’s a strength, defense, and warrior (2-3) 2. His very name conveys present sovereignty (18) • Future Acts of Yahweh worthy of personal praise 1. God will strike fear into the heart of Israel’s enemies (14-16) 2. He will guide (13) and establish (17) Conclusions 1. We’re not done singing the Song of Moses – Let’s turn to Revelation 15 2. Praise of this sort comes only from people overwhelmed by the enormity of their salvation.