My Strength... My Song... My Salvation. Exodus 15:1-21 The Israelites had finally realized that the “gods they served on the other side of the flood” were not real. Crossing the Red Sea on dry ground with the water separated on each side was an act of faith in God. Each person trusted His word and walked through the water despite their fears. They believed and obeyed the Lord, and now they worshiped and praised Him. They understood that only God had delivered and saved them from their enemies.
The first six verses of the song of Moses describe what the Lord has done. Then, it shifts from talking about God to speaking directly to Him. The song does not mention Israel, where they had been, or their slavery. There is no mention of their escape or anything to glorify them in any way. Instead, they celebrate the Lord’s great victory over the Egyptians and portray the Lord as a mighty warrior of infinite power and as a God of unparalleled perfection as a person. “The Lord is His name!”
The song of Moses might be the oldest recorded song in the world with the actual words preserved. The "Song of Moses, the servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb" will be sung in heaven. The inspiring message in this song's words is much higher in style and imagery than songs that focus on ourselves and our experiences. When our hearts and voices are raised and directed to the Lord Himself, we are stirred in our spirits to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. This holy song is specifically dedicated to honoring God and celebrating who He is with praise.
When the sun rose over the Red Sea, the song that was raised was one of triumph and marked the beginning of a new day for Israel. This will be sung along with the song of the Lamb at the start of a new day for mankind in the future. The song celebrated God's victory over the Egyptians. It was sung with joy by the people of God, with expressions of relief, praise, and grateful thanks.
Singing together with God's people and experiencing the unity that comes when we join our voices in praise and thanksgiving strengthens our faith in the Lord. A song inspires strength in the body. Faith creates enthusiasm for the things of the Lord. The Lord Himself is the strength our bodies need. That strength gives us confidence as we look into the unknown future. It actually anticipates what the Lord will do through us, even though we won't know until we are in the moment.
“My Father’s God” is worthy of all the worship and honor His people can give Him. He is incomparable in every way to any person and all people combined. The song those delivered people sang provides us with some guidelines for the songs we should sing—expressing words and thoughts that would be acceptable to our Lord. Hymns and spiritual songs that exalt our Lord have a reverent tone and words that are unique in wisdom and majesty when sung from our hearts.
The variety of images specifically testifies to the Lord's triumph over those opposed to God. After the opening part of the song that declares what God has done, it then focuses on singing to God rather than about Him. Emphasizing what the Lord has done places God at the center of everything. God has defended His people and will keep them until the end. Gratitude to God for His salvation should be the natural response of all God’s people as we consider and sing of God's mercies that endure forever.
God wasn't only going to lead them out of Egypt, but He would bring them into the inheritance of the promised land and reign over them forever. The song they sang was for the soul of the nation and for the soul of each member of that nation. The Song of Moses was because of the victory God accomplished through His own power. From beginning to end, it is in praise of God. There is no mention of Moses in the song. It ascribes all praise to the Lord. It exalts the Lord and His power and strength as He blows with His wind.
This is the theme of true praise songs: all glory and honor belong to the Lord alone. These same elements are found in the song of the Lamb that will be sung when the new song is raised in heaven. "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests."
Miriam and the women of Israel once again sang the song of Moses, but in a different way. Instead of singing about the Lord and then to the Lord, they made it personal to themselves. They sang it as a song that positively impacted God’s people. The effect was an exuberant, enthusiastic expression of gratitude that inspired the people to make what had happened a personal testimony they shared. Each woman publicly demonstrated how much it meant to them that God had delivered them from the Egyptians and miraculously brought them through the Red Sea.
It is truly a fact that the Lord is my Strength, my Song, and also my Salvation. Redemption through the blood and salvation by His power are the work of the Lord alone. God's works are great and marvelous. His ways are right and true. His justice is with integrity and righteousness. His salvation is just and eternal. The testimony of those redeemed and saved today by God's grace is the same as that of those who stood on the shore of the Red Sea and sang.
Gratitude for being redeemed and having eternal salvation should always be evident in God's people. Victory over Satan's power and the dominion of sin moves us to praise and thank God. We reflect on God’s mercy and grace toward those of us who are undeserving of even the least of His mercies, and we look forward with great anticipation to living forever with our Lord.
Our spiritual life, with the joys and meaning it provides us now, is a preview of the eternal future when, in our glorified bodies, we will be free from sin's effects. Sin is not tolerated by God and never will be, so by His sovereign authority, justice will be executed by the all-wise, all-knowing Judge.
In kindness and love, God has chosen to dwell with His people and share His life with those who love Him and to whom He has given a divine nature, enabling us to share eternal life with Him. When we came to Him as lost, guilty, and repentant sinners, He could justly forgive our sins by placing them on the sinless Substitute He provided for us. That forgiveness has cleansed us and made us fit to be His people forever. We worship Him and praise Him for His mercy, grace, and salvation. Furthermore, we praise Him for His holiness, righteousness, and absolute justice, which mean nothing more is demanded. He accepts us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What blessed words, “The Lord is my Strength, my Song, and my Salvation” - now and forever!