Worshiping the God Who Delivers
Exodus 15:1–10 (NASB95)
1Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. 2“The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him. 3“The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name. 4“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5“The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone. 6“Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. 7“And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff. 8“At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9“The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be gratified against them; I will draw out my sword, my hand will destroy them.’ 10“You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Commentary - Worshiping the God Who Delivers
After the crossing of the Red Sea, Moses and the Israelites broke into song. Exodus 15:1-10 records what is often called the Song of the Sea. What stands out immediately is that this entire song is about God. Moses is never mentioned. The focus is not on the leader, the people, or even the victory itself, but on what God has done. The Israelites sing, “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.” Every line points to God’s power, His faithfulness, and His glory. This sets a clear standard for our worship today. The songs we sing in church should point us to God and give Him the glory. This is why, as your pastor, I do not include secular or patriotic songs in our worship services around holidays such as Independence Day. Worship is a time set apart for God alone. No one and nothing else deserves that privilege. When we evaluate the songs we sing and use for worship, the first question should always be: Do they point us to God? Do they give Him the glory? If so, they are fitting for our worship.
Verse 3 gives us a striking image of God. The Hebrew reads, “The Lord is a warrior.” Some translations say, “The Lord the Warrior.” Many people are comfortable thinking of God as loving, gentle, and compassionate. These are true and central to who He is. But sometimes, the only way to stop evil and increase love is through direct action. In this moment, the Israelites were facing a technologically advanced army of professional soldiers. They had no weapons, no chariots, and no hope of defending themselves. God became what was needed. He fought for His people as a warrior. This was not a contradiction of His love. It was the only thing a God of love could do. He acted to protect, to deliver, and to ensure that evil did not triumph over His people. God’s willingness to fight for Israel is a powerful reminder that His love is not passive. It is active, strong, and willing to do whatever is necessary to save and protect His own.
The Song of the Sea is more than a celebration of a single event. It is a model for Christian worship and a foreshadowing of the Gospel. In Revelation 15:3, the redeemed sing “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” The victory at the Red Sea points forward to the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death. Just as God delivered Israel from Pharaoh, Christ delivers us from the power of sin. Christ is both the Lamb who was slain and the conquering King. He is the one who leads us out of bondage and into new life. The New Testament calls us to worship God for His mighty acts in Christ, echoing the pattern set in the Song of the Sea. Our worship should always be centered on God’s actions, His glory, and His saving power.
For our church today, these verses call us to examine our worship and our faith. Are we giving God the glory He deserves? Are we trusting Him to fight for us when we face challenges that seem overwhelming? Do our songs, prayers, and lives point others to the greatness of God? Let us be a people who worship God alone, who trust Him as both loving Father and mighty Warrior, and who celebrate His victories in our lives. When we gather, let us remember that worship is not about us. It is about the God who saves, delivers, and leads us forward.
Blessings,
Ryan Goodnight