The Gospel Rocks

OPENING PRAYER:

Gracious Lord, You are my hope and my salvation. By Your Spirit, enlighten Your Word to me.

READ: Exodus 15:1–21

The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.

2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense[a]; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy.

7 “In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’ 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

12 “You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. 13 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. 15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people[c] of Canaan will melt away; 16 terror and dread will fall on them.

By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, Lord, until the people you bought[d] pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

18 “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[e] went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.” Exodus 15:1–21

REFLECT:

What worship songs help you focus on Jesus? Why not listen to a song before reading today?

There are not many worship songs around today that contain the lyrics like those in today’s reading. This song is more akin to a heavy rock or blues song! The words retell stories of death, destruction, and terror. The honesty in such a song should be refreshing for songwriters and those who gather to sing songs today. God wants us to retell his story, not simply to edit out the trials, the battles and the challenges, replacing them with love ballads.

Moses and Miriam retell the story of their deliverance with vivid details of its horrors, and of the amazing care and triumph of their God. Underpinning this narrative is God’s love for his people as he watches over them and defends them (v 6).

As God’s people reflected on his deliverance, they reminded each other of how God was their strength (v 2). Like the Israelites, we also need to reflect on God’s story and sing songs that speak of his truth, songs to help us remember and celebrate what he has done for us. We also cannot save ourselves; we need a savior. God has sent Jesus to be our strength and defender (v 2).

APPLY:

‘Father God, thank you that we can sing of your faithfulness and your goodness to us. You are our strength and our defender. You alone can deliver us. Amen.’

CLOSING PRAYER:

Father, it is good to bless Your name; to remember Your mercies each morning, and Your lovingkindness each night.

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