August 03, 2017

The Singing Continues

Exodus 15:1-21

Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.”

—  Exodus 15:1

In Exodus 1 we see some of the radical effects of sin. God’s people became slaves in Egypt. Their lives became “bitter with harsh labor,” and “the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly” (Exo­dus 1:14). But God set his peo­ple free from slavery on the night of the first Passover, redeeming them from oppression (see Exodus 12-13).

Exodus 15 records a glorious song in which the Israelites praise God for their deliverance. This is a song about God’s ­miraculous deeds! At least a dozen times in the first 12 ­verses alone God’s name is mentioned! God, the Creator and Redeemer of this world, will accomplish his goal to redeem his people and restore the world he has made for his glory. The song closes with these words: “The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”

Just as all the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, the Bible teaches us that we are all slaves to sin. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yet today we have a reason to sing! Jesus Christ has delivered us from sin by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.

We too should praise God for his deliverance. If we confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, then one day we will sing, along with all who have been redeemed, “the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3). What a day that will be!

Lord, we will sing to you, for you are highly exalted. You are our strength and our defense; you are our salvation. Praise be to your name. Amen.

About the author — John Van Schepen

Dr. John Van Schepen is a retired pastor who served churches in Washington, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oregon and California. He and his wife, Willie, have been blessed with five children and several grandchildren.

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