Chapter 19: A Song of Praise to the Lord

Exodus 14:30-15:21

Q1 - Consider for a moment, the impact Moses had on the scriptures. He is credited for writing the Pentateuch. Originally this was a single volume that was later divided into what are now the first five books of our Bible. By word count, Moses wrote more than any other single author. With this song, he formally introduced the element of singing into worship.

Up to this point in time, what do you envision worship by the Patriarchs was like? How did worship change during Moses's time? How did it change during the time of the kings and during the time of Christ?

A1 - For the patriarchs, their worship of God seemed to consist of offering sacrifices and praying or communing with God. Cain and Abel offered sacrifices (Genesis 4:3–4). Noah built an altar and made burnt offerings after getting off the ark (Genesis 8:20–21). Abram built altars as he traveled through Canaan (Genesis 12:6–8, 13:18). Later, after God renamed him Abraham, he was called upon to offer his son, Isaac, as a test of his faith (Genesis 22). God provided a ram as a substitute offering in exchange for Isaac’s life, much as He has provided Jesus in exchange for our lives.

As He was about to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, God established the celebration of the Passover. With this feast, He introduced formal observances as a form of worship. Later He would establish other feasts and days of remembrance for the Israelites.

With Moses came the Law. For the first time, God presented His people with a formal, written law. He gave very specific instructions on how the various sacrifices were to be made and established the system of priests to serve as intermediaries for the people as they worshipped. The people often gathered in assembly to worship God, although some sacrifices were still made on an individual basis with the priests overseeing the process. While assembled, they also listened to the Word of God being read so they could learn His laws and instructions.

The Ten Commandments constituted the framework for the Law. The fourth of those commandments was to remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8–11). Thus, God’s people were given the seventh day of each week to rest from their work and worship their God.

Moses introduced the element of singing as a means of worship. After safely crossing the Red Sea and escaping the Egyptian army, he paused and wrote a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for their delivery in Exodus 15. Miriam and the women took tambourines in hand and danced as they sang the refrain (Exodus 15:20–21). Moses is also credited with writing Psalm 90 and possibly a few more, according to tradition. Then, shortly before his death, he wrote a final song at God’s instruction (Deuteronomy 31:19–22, 30) and taught it to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 32).

While bringing the ark of the covenant up to Jerusalem, King David and all of Israel celebrated with all their might by singing songs and playing various musical instruments (2 Samuel 6:5). David also danced before the Lord with all his might during this time (2 Samuel 6:14–15). David himself was musically inclined, as he played the harp (1 Samuel 16:23) and also wrote many of the Psalms.

King Solomon built the first temple. Located in Jerusalem, it housed the ark of the covenant and served as a centralized place for God’s people to meet and to worship. However, only the priests could enter beyond the outer courtyard.

During the time of Christ, the Law was still in effect. Jesus worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem and observed the feast days. Not until He died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins would the Law be fulfilled and the New Covenant ushered in. It would be after His death that worship would change.

Jesus established a spiritual kingdom, rather than a physical one. Animal sacrifices were no longer required because He offered Himself once and for all time. Christians began to meet on the first day of the week, as that was the day Jesus arose from the grave (Acts 20:7). They assembled together, during which time they sang, prayed, and encouraged one another. They also observed the Lord’s Supper on Sundays. Worship became less structured and ritualistic, more of a personal communion with God. Jesus became our high priest and serves as the perfect intermediary for all time.

Q2 - Various commentators surmise that Miriam and the women repeated the verse in Exodus 15:21 after each of the segments or stanzas of the song, not just at the end. This would mean that the song’s format is very similar to many of the hymns sung in worship today, where the refrain or chorus is sung after every verse.

Various versions of the Bible and various commentaries differ on how they divide this Song of Moses into stanzas, with some not indicating divisions. Where would you place the breaks for the stanzas or verses and why would you place them there? Briefly outline the main thoughts that Moses presented in this song.

A2 - Read through the Song of Moses and see where you think the breaks belong. Briefly summarize each segment that you identify. This song is a song of praise in which Moses tells both what God has done for His people in the recent past and what He will do in the future for them.

Q3 - What are the physical and mental benefits of singing? How could this Song of Moses have been therapeutic for a group of scared slaves who had just escaped capture or death and now found themselves in a foreign country? How can singing be therapeutic for us today?

A3 - This is a song of praise to their God, of their victory over Pharaoh’s army, and of their deliverance. It also speaks to how events will unfold in their future and how God will bring them to their inheritance. Surely, this song bolstered their spirits and gave them greater confidence as they marched forward into the unknown.

Creating song lyrics and then putting them to music makes the story told by the song much more memorable. Singing can also boost your physical and mental health. The article, “10 Ways That Singing Benefits Your Health,” lists, among others, these benefits of singing: it may help you relieve stress, stimulate your immune response, improve your lung function, develop a sense of belonging and connection, and improve your mental health and your mood. Certainly, these benefits would have been most welcome to the Israelites, just as they are to us today.