Praise with Music

September 5, 2021 Background Scripture: Exodus 14:1 – 15:21 Lesson Passage: Exodus 15:11 – 21 There is a hymn book in the middle of the Bible. It contains the words of one hundred fifty exalted songs of praise. These songs were written for Israel to use to sing praises to God. However, this is not Israel’s complete collection of hymns. There are other songs of praise found in other books of the Bible. Exodus 15 is one such song. Unlike many of the songs in the Psalter, the song in our lesson for today also includes the background narrative to help the reader appreciate and understand the words and emotions of this song. The Background Scripture in Exodus 14 provides the explanation for the song, music, and dancing that is described in Exodus 15. The people of Israel were leaving Egypt at Pharoah’s insistence. God had plagued Egypt with ten plagues. The tenth and final plague was all Pharoah was willing to take. He called Moses and Aaron to him at night and insisted that Israel had to leave Egypt immediately. After four hundred thirty years, the descendants of Jacob were leaving Egypt. Most of those years they lived in bondage to the Egyptians. The Egyptians subjected them to inhumane treatment. However, after the tenth plague, Pharoah was glad to see them leave. There is no record that there was any praising going on among the people of Israel at that point in time. After Israel left Egypt, God did several things that are detailed in Chapter 14. God led Israel in a manner that gave the appearance of them being confused. God hardened the heart of Pharoah so he would regret sending Israel away from Egypt—not for humanitarian reasons but because they were Egypt’s slaves. With a hardened heart, Pharoah took all his chariots and men of war and pursued after Israel. God instructed Moses to lift his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea and divide it. God sent a wind to divide the waters and dry up the bed of the sea for Israel to cross over to the other side. God allowed Pharoah and his host to follow Israel into the dry seabed. Finally, God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea that the waters would return to their full strength while the Egyptians were in the dry seabed. With those actions, God had used the waters of the Red Sea to drown Pharoah and his host. The children of Israel saw the bodies of the slain Egyptians on the seashore. Before crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel had seen the host of the Egyptians pursuing them. This caused them to be in great distress and fear. After crossing the Red Sea, Israel saw the bodies of the dead Egyptians on the seashore. This caused Israel to experience reverent fear and awe of God. Chapter 15 is their response in song to God’s salvation. Miriam, Moses’ sister, took a timbrel and led the other women in playing timbrels and dancing. Miriam called for them to again sing the song of praise for God’s deliverance. Israel had much to praise God for after being delivered from over four hundred years of Egyptian bondage. Not only were they delivered, but their slave masters were also destroyed. They were free indeed without fear of being captured and re-enslaved. This was worth celebrating at the highest level. Yes, they would sing, but such a celebration demanded more. Therefore, they also added the music of the timbrels along with singing of God's great deliverance. Robert C. Hudson August 12, 2021