Exodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Who is like the Lord among the gods is glorious in holiness, awe-inspiring in the praises sung to Him, and a worker of wonders. It belongs to Israel's song of grateful triumph after the Lord alone delivered them through the sea and destroyed Pharaoh's army, the earliest song from human lips recorded in the Bible, ringing out over the waters on the morning they saw their enemies dead on the shore. The wonders it celebrates are the mighty deliverance at the sea and power over nature, opening the sea for helpless bondmen with women, children and cattle and then overwhelming the Egyptian army in the moment of its expected triumph under Christ's leadership. The holiness it calls glorious is the crowning glory of Christ's attributes calling for adoration, and by seeking Him and beholding Him in faith and prayer people may become like Him. Praise is the atmosphere of heaven, so the united singing of the song fixed its precious lessons in the minds of the whole host for the wilderness journey and preserved the history of God's deliverance so His people could remember His power and goodness and teach them to their children.
Words and Red Sea Setting
No one among the gods is like the Lord, who is glorious in holiness, awe-inspiring in the praises sung to him, and a worker of wonders, with no supposed god comparing with him in majesty and power. His holiness is glorious and his wondrous acts inspire awe and wonder-filled praise. The declaration belongs to Israel's song of grateful triumph after Jehovah alone delivered them through the sea and overwhelmed and destroyed Pharaoh's Egyptian army. Sung as grateful response to deliverance through the sea, it celebrates what he alone brought about by his mighty works.
It is the earliest song from human lips recorded in the Bible, a glorious outburst of thanksgiving sung by the hosts of Israel for the Lord triumphing gloriously. Its words rang out over the waters in praise of God's mighty deliverance. It was sung by Moses under the Spirit of God with all the people on the morning they saw their enemies dead on the shore after one night brought complete deliverance from terrible peril. Moses and the children of Israel sang the inspired song together in lofty eloquence and grateful praise, with Miriam leading the women in music and Moses joining her in the singing. That united singing by the whole host together was part of Miriam's God-inspired song celebrating the Lord's majesty and power.
The wonders it celebrates are his mighty deliverance of Israel and his power over nature, by which he defeated their enemies at the sea. That power was shown in opening the sea for helpless bondmen, women, children and cattle and then overwhelming the Egyptian army in the moment of its expected triumph. The opening of a path through the Red Sea and deliverance from Pharaoh's pursuing army by mighty signs and wonders shows the power praised in the verse. The setting shows that Israel's deliverance was an act of God's power and care under Christ's leadership. The deliverance was purposely brought about by shutting Israel in the mountain fastnesses before the sea to manifest God's power, humble the pride of their oppressors, test Israel's faith when commanded to advance, and strengthen their trust in him.
Holiness, Praise and Remembrance
The holiness called glorious in the verse is the crowning glory of Christ's attributes and calls for adoration. The angels worship Him as holy. By seeking Christ and beholding Him in faith and prayer, studying God's character in Him, people may become like Him.
Praise is the atmosphere of heaven, so that when heaven comes in touch with earth there is music and song. Human hearts in sympathy with heaven respond to God's goodness in notes of praise, and events of human history are linked with song. The united singing of this song of triumph by the whole host at deliverance from Pharaoh's army was used to fix precious lessons in their minds for the wilderness journey. It lifted their thoughts from the trials and difficulties of the way, soothed and calmed the restless, turbulent spirit, implanted principles of truth in the memory, and strengthened faith, while singing together in concert of action taught order and unity and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another.
The song in which the verse appears preserves the history of God's deliverance, so that His people can remember His power and goodness and teach them to their children. It expresses gratitude and triumph over God's deliverance. That gratitude stands in contrast with Israel's failure to show gratitude for His care at Elim.