Exodus 15:1-21

7. The Song of Redemption

CHAPTER 15:1-21

1. Jehovah acknowledged and praised (Exodus 15:1)

2. The victory celebrated as His victory (Exodus 15:3)

3. His holiness praised (Exodus 15:11)

4. His enemies tremble (Exodus 15:14)

5. Thou shalt bring them in (Exodus 15:17)

6. The judgment and salvation (Exodus 15:19)

7. The women's chorus (Exodus 15:20)

This is a great chapter. It is the first song in the Bible. In Egypt was no singing for Israel but only weeping and groaning. Nor did they sing in Babylon (Psalms 137:2). There is to be a future song for Israel in connection with their coming great deliverance (Isaiah 12). Moses sang this song. It is his first song; his last song is that great prophetic outburst recorded by him in Deuteronomy 32. The song of Moses, the servant of God, is mentioned in Revelation 15:3. This whole song breathes the spirit of praise and worship. The destructive criticism has not left this song unchallenged. They object to it on account of the prophetic utterance in verses 17 and 18, as if this were impossible to say at that time, thus ruling out the inspiration by the Holy Spirit. A closer study of this song will be very profitable. Note the expression “Jehovah is a man of war.” This foreshadows His incarnation and His coming as the mighty King, who conquers his enemies (Psalms 45:3; Psalms 46:8; Isaiah 63:1, Revelation 19:11). The whole song is prophetic. What Jehovah has done in the judgment of His enemies and the complete deliverance of His people that He will do again. It is interesting to compare this outburst of praise in which Miriam* (Mary) and the women joined with the song of praise of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1), the praise of the mother of our Lord, Mary, in Luke 1:46, and Zechariah's words in Luke 1:68. The whole atmosphere of Exodus 15:1 is that of praise and adoration, joy and victory; such is yet in store for the earth and for Israel, when that goal is reached, of which Exodus 15:18 speaks, “Jehovah shall reign forever and ever. (* Miriam is significantly called “Aaron's sister,” not Moses'. She could not rank with Moses. Leadership did not belong to her. She was subordinate to Moses, as Aaron was.)

Exodus 12 foreshadows our deliverance from the guilt of sins (Romans 1-5:11). Chapter 13 teaches God's claim on those He has delivered, which is separation unto Himself Chapter 14 tells in type of our deliverance from the power of sin. The song of redemption contained in chapter 15 points us to the beautiful ending of Romans 8, the song which every delivered believer can sing (Romans 8:31).