Exodus 15:1
Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Israel stood helpless with the sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them when God opened a way through the waters and then turned those same waters back to destroy their pursuers. The verse is a vow to sing to the Lord because He alone triumphed in that deliverance, bringing His people safely through while overthrowing their enemies. Moses led the whole host in singing it together under the Spirit of God, with Miriam leading the women, in the first and earliest song of grateful praise recorded in Scripture. Christ directed that the deliverance be set to song so its lessons would be fixed in memory, taught to children, and kept in remembrance through the wilderness and in after generations. Sung together it lifted minds above trial, calmed the restless spirit, strengthened faith, taught unity, and joined human hearts with heaven in thanksgiving, though Israel soon after showed no lasting gratitude for such mercy.
Red Sea Deliverance
Israel stood helpless with the sea ahead and the mighty Egyptian army pressing behind, a vast throng of bondmen with women and children and cattle facing terrible peril in a single night. God opened a path for them through the waters, then let the piled-up waters rush together to overwhelm the pursuers in the very moment of their expected triumph. Morning revealed their foes cast upon the shore, Israel brought safely through while the pursuing army was destroyed.
The verse is a vow to sing to the Lord because He triumphed gloriously, throwing the horse and his rider into the sea. That triumph meant safely bringing Israel through and casting Pharaoh's horsemen and army into the sea, with horses and riders swallowed and engulfed by its waters. The song credits Jehovah alone with the deliverance and gives Him all the glory for the victory, declaring He had become Israel's strength and salvation.
Moses led the whole host of Israel together in this united anthem of thanksgiving under the Spirit of God, and Moses himself joined in the singing. Miriam, the sister of Moses as prophetess, led the women in music, while the people's voices rang out over the waters in glorious triumph. It is an inspired song of lofty eloquence and grateful praise, the first song in the Bible and the earliest song recorded from human lips. It was a glorious outburst of thanksgiving that linked a great event of human history with song.
God in providence had brought Israel into that place before the sea to manifest His power in their deliverance. He did so to humble the pride of their oppressors, and to test the faith of His people and strengthen their trust in Him.
Purpose Through Song
Christ, Israel's invisible leader, directed Moses to put the account of God's deliverance at the sea into song so the people could teach it to their children and keep God's mighty acts in remembrance. That song of triumph at deliverance from Pharaoh's army was sung by the whole host of Israel together, and it served to fix precious lessons and experiences of God in their minds and memories by means of song as they journeyed through the wilderness. It cheered Israel during the wilderness wandering, and songs like it were sung as Hebrew children journeyed to the feasts. Its united singing lifted thoughts from the trials and difficulties of the way, soothed and calmed the restless, turbulent spirit, implanted principles of truth in the memory, strengthened faith, taught order and unity through concert of action, and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another.
The song is the earliest song recorded from human lips, a glorious outburst of thanksgiving sung by the hosts of Israel at the Red Sea, linking a great event of human history with song. It shows human hearts in sympathy with heaven responding to God's goodness with notes of praise, for the melody of praise is the atmosphere of heaven, and when heaven comes in touch with earth there is music and song with thanksgiving. The people's voices rang out over the waters in glorious triumph, praising the Lord for bringing them through the Red Sea and drowning Pharaoh's army. Yet their later conduct at Marah and Elim showed no lasting gratitude or strengthened faith in response to God's mercy and care.