The Song of Moses and Israel

Looking Deeper into the Song of Moses

First Stanza: Praise to Israel’s Warrior God, Exodus15:1-6

Then Moshe and the people of Isra'el sang this song to ADONAI: "I will sing to ADONAI, for he is highly exalted: the horse and its rider he threw in the sea.  Yah is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God: I will glorify him; my father's God: I will exalt him.  ADONAI is a warrior; ADONAI is his name.   Pharaoh's chariots and his army he hurled into the sea. His elite commanders were drowned in the Sea of Suf.  The deep waters covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, ADONAI, is sublimely powerful; your right hand, ADONAI, shatters the foe. 

Second Stanza: Yahveh’s Fight with the Egyptians, Exodus15:7-11

By your great majesty you bring down your enemies; you send out your wrath to consume them like stubble.  With a blast from your nostrils the waters piled up -the waters stood up like a wall, the depths of the sea became firm ground.  The enemy said, 'I will pursue and overtake, divide the spoil and gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.'   You blew with your wind, the sea covered them, they sank like lead in the mighty waters.  Who is like you, ADONAI, among the mighty? Who is like you, sublime in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?

Third Stanza: Yahveh, Guide and Protector, Exodus 15:12-16

You reached out with your right hand: the earth swallowed them.  In your love, you led the people you redeemed; in your strength, you guided them to your holy abode.  The peoples have heard, and they tremble; anguish takes hold of those living in P'leshet, then the chiefs of Edom are dismayed; trepidation seizes the heads of Mo'av; all those living in Kena'an are melted away.  Terror and dread fall on them; by the might of your arm they are still as stone until your people pass over, ADONAI, till the people you purchased pass over. 

Fourth Stanza: Yahveh the King, Exodus15:17-18

You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain which is your heritage, the place, ADONAI, that you made your abode, the sanctuary, Adonai, which your hands established.  ADONAI will reign forever and ever.  

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

15:1-21 This song is the most ancient we know of. It is a holy song, to the honor of God, to exalt his name, and celebrate his praise, and his only, not in the least to magnify any man. Holiness to the Lord is in every part of it. It may be considered as typical, and prophetical of the final destruction of the enemies of the church. Happy the people whose God is the Lord. They have work to do, temptations to grapple with, and afflictions to bear, and are weak in themselves; but his grace is their strength. They are often in sorrow, but in him they have comfort; he is their song. Sin, and death, and hell threaten them, but he is, and will be their salvation. The Lord is a God of almighty power, and woe to those that strive with their Maker! He is a God of matchless perfection; he is glorious in holiness; his holiness is his glory. His holiness appears in the hatred of sin, and his wrath against obstinate sinners. It appears in the deliverance of Israel, and his faithfulness to his own promise. He is fearful in praises; that which is matter of praise to the servants of God, is very dreadful to his enemies. He is doing wonders, things out of the common course of nature; wondrous to those in whose favour they are wrought, who are so unworthy, that they had no reason to expect them. There were wonders of power and wonders of grace; in both, God was to be humbly adored.

LORD, I sing to you for you are highly exalted. You are my strength and my song; you have become my salvation. You are my God, and I will praise you, my father’s God, and I exalt you. LORD, you are a warrior; the LORD, Jehovah, is your name. You have overthrown my enemies, deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power and shatters the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty you have thrown down those who oppose me. Thank you for the victory in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.  ~Prayers that Avail Much