The Song of Moses in Praise of Yahweh

Introduction

Philip Ryken, in his commentary on Exodus provides the following historical account: “In 1792 a group of settlers traveled to Africa. There were more than a thousand of them, all of African descent. Some had worked as slaves on American plantations. Others had served as soldiers in the British army and then moved north to live in Canada. Together they planned to resettle what is now Sierra Leone, on land purchased as a Province of Freedom. The settlers were all professing Christians. When they reached Africa, they marched ashore singing a hymn by William Hammond (1719-1783), the song "Awake, and Sing the Song":

Awake, and sing the song Of Moses and the Lamb!

Wake every heart and every tongue,

To praise the Saviour's Name....

Sing on your heavenly way!

Ye ransomed sinners, sing!

Sing on, rejoicing every day In Christ, the eternal King!

It was an appropriate hymn to sing. The settlers had been released from captivity, they had crossed the sea, and now they were entering the promised land. So they sang of the prophet Moses, who brought Israel out of Egypt. They also sang to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who had set them free to serve God in a new land. God had done such a great thing for them that it called forth a song of praise.”[1]

Background

The Song of Moses, also known as the “Song of the Sea” was “...probably was the earliest-authored portion of the book of Exodus. Moses apparently composed it immediately after the deliverance that it describes (15:1), and Miriam, Moses’ sister, taught it forthwith to the women of Israel (15:20–21). Later, in the process of writing the entire book of Exodus, Moses incorporated it into the narrative at this point, following his practice, already established in the composition of Genesis, of including songs and poems that had become well known and popular among the Israelites at places in the narrative where such literary pieces naturally “belong.””[2] Miriam’s taking of the song for the women in verse 20 would indicate the song become very popular and spread quickly. Jewish scholar Nahum Sarna adds that we may have: “be the oldest piece of sustained poetry in the Hebrew Bible: a paean of praise to God, the biblical way of expressing gratitude. It is not an epic narrative but a spontaneous, lyrical outpouring of emotion on the part of the people who experienced the great events of the Exodus.”[3]

Exposition

We will examine this song of Moses, this magnificent piece of poetry in praise of Yahweh, the same way we examine the various psalms. In this case, we can break our text up into 4 parts:

The exaltation of Yahweh our Savior (vs. 1 - 5)

Poetic praise of Yahweh’s mighty acts for Israel (vs. 6 - 12)

Yahweh’s promise to lead His people to their inheritance (vs. 13 - 18)

Miriam spread’s the song around Israel (vs. 19 - 21)

The exaltation of Yahweh our Savior (vs. 1 - 5)

Verses 1 - 5: Having just witnessed Yahweh’s mighty hand of salvation, His great deliverance of Israel and elimination of Egypt, Moses breaks out in joyous praise. He can’t help but to sing to the LORD of hosts who has decisively demonstrated his absolute sovereignty and superiority in the earth. He defeated all the gods of Egypt, demonstrating there is none like Him in heaven and earth. The God of Israel has routed Egypt, destroying their army in the red sea. In doing so he made certain they would never trouble his people, at least that generation, again. Israel was never to be re-enslaved in Egypt. The LORD’s salvation was permanent. The LORD was the strength of and for His people who had none. God alone was the source of salvation for them and no one but Him is to receive praise. Moses was the mediator, the vessel that Yahweh used. Yet he took no credit nor sought any glory for himself. Israel obeyed the word of the LORD and their firstborn sons were saved. Yet they did not pat themselves on the back. All glory belongs to God and all must go to Him. For Moses there is no other god who will receive his loyalty. His God is Yahweh, the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses will lift us His name in praise for all to hear. The God of Israel is not like the weak, passive gods of Egypt and others. This God fights for His people and hates evil. Yahweh is for His glory’s sake and the good of His people. He shall infallibly bring about His will. He is a conqueror. He will bring victory to His people. His name is Yahweh and He destroyed the army of Egypt in the sea. In doing so, the LORD was not battling weak or unskilled men. He didn’t defeat a ragtag force. These were the finest men of the finest army on earth at the time. Yet they were not match for the LORD of hosts.

Poetic praise of Yahweh’s mighty acts for Israel

Verses 6 - 12: Moses switched from the third to the second person, directly addressing his praise to Yahweh. Astute readers will notice the description of the LORD’s salvation doesn’t match the prior chapter. Its not supposed to. This is poetic praise language. Moses is speaking of God’s mighty power and strength in saving Israel and bringing glory to Himself. This is not to say there is any contradiction, only Moses is using imagery in bringing forth his praise to God.

The right hand often represents the power of God, as in this case. With His wonderful, splendid power Yahweh decimated the power of Egypt. In a demonstration of His awesome kingship and rule, He brought Egypt low and made them nothing. In His fierce anger the LORD burned them us like chaff. This was both an act of love and justice and upholds His majesty rather than diminishing it.[4] Here the parting of the red sea is attributed to Yahweh blowing His nose, showing this was no big thing for Him to do. The water stood up at attention at the command of their creator. There is no way to honestly read this text and presuppose the author meant a shallow river of water. If we let the text speak for itself, the message is clear that a miraculous event took place. This is the nature of salvation. It is accomplished by God, impossible to men. The Egyptian army mistook this as an opportunity to carry out their wicked intentions. Moses describes their hearts as looking forward to destroying some of Israel, re-enslaving the rest, and getting back their plunder. They were going to be able to have their way with God’s people, or so they thought. In truth Yahweh ceased having the winds hold the water. He commanded they push the water back into place, utterly destroying these haughty soldiers. Moses then turns to consider who in heaven and earth is like Yahweh.

Is there anything or anyone like Israel’s God? Can any compare to Yahweh? The answer is to both questions is no. Yahweh alone is the holy, transcendent, unrivaled in majesty, and unmatched in power. He is worthy of praise. He works signs and wonders none can imagine. They are good because He performs them and inspire reverence to Him for doing them. He stretched out His hand and made His enemies nothing, sending them into destruction in the depths of the earth.[5]

Yahweh’s promise to lead His people to their inheritance (vs. 13 - 18)

Moses now turns to the impact of Yahweh’s deeds on Israel and the nations. The LORD redeeming and leading of His people is in accordance to His covenant made with their fathers. Yahweh has promised to lead His people to Himself. So certain is this that Moses can sing of it as already done. So it is with believers today. The Father, in His love and grace, redeemed us through Christ and brings us to Himself. We will be with Him. It shall be forever. Its certainty is such that Christ could tell his disciples they shall be with him (John 14:3) and Paul could speak of it in the past tense (Rom. 8:30).The Lord will, and did, guide His people to Him. He will and did bring His people first to His mountain to receive this law and enter relationship with Him, and give them the land promised. Joshua confirms for us that the peoples in Canaan heard what of Yahweh’s mighty acts in Egypt for Israel and trembled at the possibility of dealing with Israel and her God (Jos 2:9). Even while they are journeying the peoples of the land will tremble because of Israel until she passes by. Moses ends by declaring the eternal and universal reign of the LORD over all creations.

Miriam spread’s the song around Israel (vs. 19 - 21)

Moses restates Yahweh’s destruction of the Egyptian army and the salvation of Israel. Miriam, who is called a prophetess and apparently had a leadership role (Micah 6:4), than takes up the task of leading the women and promoting this song all throughout the people.

Practical Application

When God acts, He is worthy of praise. When God saves, He is to be exalted. When the LORD redeems, He is owed adulation. All this means we as believers are to be constantly praising the LORD. We are to be people of praise. Why? Everyday the LORD draws men and women from every tribe, creed, nation, and tongue to Himself. Everyday, we are being conformed to the image of the Son. Everyday we see and receive new mercies. Everyday we are in the secure hand of God and He is acting in and through us for His glory and our good. This song of Moses shows us praise is fitting for the upright (Ps. 33:1). At the same time we see the need to offer proper praise.

The Song of Moses has specific content. It describes God is certain ways and talks specifically about Yahweh has done. This is a model for us even to this day. Biblical praise isn’t generic, nor is it needlessly repetitive. Read through the Psalter, especially the psalms of praise. They all detail something about the nature or actions of God. The psalm of Moses details God’s glory, shows us we can relate to Him personally (v. 2), confirms that He keeps His covenant, makes clear His enemies will be defeated, declares His uniqueness, and makes clear salvation is of the LORD.[6] All these things are elements we can and should incorporate in our prayers and praise. Indeed we call all have our own songs for the same God that delivered Israel delivered us and will also bring us to Him just like them. Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Gospel Application

This Song of Moses makes clear that salvation is of the LORD. The people couldn’t save themselves. They were facing death and re-enslavement but for the hand of Yahweh. It is the same with everyone today. Even as everyone in the exodus generation was born into slavery so all humanity is born into sin, facing the judgment of God, death and separation from Him. The really bad news is there is nothing we can do about it. The really good news is someone else already has. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. He died on the cross so that all who trust in Him shall be saved. All who He receives shall have their own song to sing. If you have been listening and realized you can’t sing this song or any like it, I call you to repent and believe the gospel. Cry out to God, acknowledging and confessing your sin. Believe on the Lord Jesus, that he lived, died, and was resurrected on the third day. Confess him as savior and Lord, placing you trust in him alone, and not your works, and you shall be saved. Don’t delay. The testimony of this song is that we will all deal with God one way or the other. I am here to tell you a relationship as son or daughter, as own of His people, is far better than the alternative. Repent and believe the gospel today.

Bibliography

[1] Philip Graham Ryken, Exodus: Saved for God's Glory, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 401.

[2] Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, pp. 346–347). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[3] Sarna, N. M. (1991). Exodus (p. 75). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.

[4] Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 352). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

[5] ibid. Pg 355

[6] Adapted from Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Exodus, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, Tony Merida, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2014), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 90.