Exodus 15:13, commentary and pictures

In mercy God led out the people He had redeemed and guided them by His strength toward His holy dwelling, and this is sung as triumph and gratitude after He brought Israel through the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh's pursuing army. The deliverance was led by Christ as Israel's unseen leader, guarding them by the cloud, opening a safe path through the sea and bringing them safely through the waters before the sea overwhelmed the Egyptians. The guidance looks forward beyond the sea to bringing them into the land and to the sanctuary and dwelling place God would establish there. The opening of the path required obedient faith, for the people had to advance to the very water in belief in God's word and do all in their power before God divided the sea for their feet. The song was given to preserve this deliverance as a memorial of mercy and power and to teach it to children, and its united singing fixed the lesson in the mind, lifted thoughts from trial, calmed the restless spirit, strengthened faith, and brought the people into order and unity with God and one another, a trust they yet quickly failed at Marah.

Words and Red Sea Setting

Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed celebrates that after redeeming Israel from Egypt, God mercifully led the people through the sea and guided them by His strength toward His holy dwelling. The words present deliverance from Egypt as both redemption and guidance toward God's dwelling, expressing gratitude and faith in God as sole deliverer. It belongs to Israel's song of gratitude and triumph sung after God delivered them through the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh's pursuing army.

It is the closing declaration of the triumphant anthem of thanksgiving sung together by the whole host of Israel, led by Moses under the Spirit of God. Their hearts were turned to Jehovah alone in gratitude and faith because He alone brought complete deliverance in one night from the most terrible peril. The deliverance it celebrates was led by Christ as Israel's unseen leader and guide, protecting them by divine power. The cloud guarded them, God opened a safe path through the sea and brought them safely through the waters, and then after Israel crossed the sea overwhelmed the Egyptian army.

The guidance it praises looks ahead to Israel being brought into the land and to the sanctuary and place God had prepared and would establish there. The deliverance came by providence bringing the weary and terrified Hebrews into the mountain fastnesses before the sea to manifest divine power in their deliverance and humble the pride of their oppressors. God could have saved them in any other way but chose this method to test their faith and strengthen their trust in Him. The guiding required obedient faith, for if the people had held back when bidden to advance God would never have opened the path. By marching down to the very water they showed they believed God's word, doing all that was in their power to do, and then the Mighty One of Israel divided the sea to make a path for their feet.

Song's Purpose and Lessons

The song preserves the history of divine deliverance as a memorial of providential care, mercy, and power, keeping God's dealings with His people in remembrance. It was preserved for the people themselves to teach to their children, so that what God had done would not be forgotten from generation to generation.

The united singing by the whole host at deliverance from Pharaoh's army was a means of education on the wilderness journey to fix precious lessons in their minds. That singing together lifted 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. Singing together in concert of action taught order and unity and brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another. Yet the later complaints at Marah show how quickly they failed to trust the One who in mercy had guided the redeemed people by His strength toward His holy dwelling after leading them safely through the sea.