God’s People Celebrate (Exodus 15:1-21)
Bible Passage: Exodus 13:17-14:31
We have now reached the point in the story where the Israelites have been successfully set free from Egypt and are safely on the other side of the Red Sea. There is still a lot that needs doing, and the people haven’t yet arrived in the Promised Land. Nevertheless, this is a good moment to pause and celebrate what God has done for them so far. In this chapter we see Moses and his sister Miriam leading the people in songs of celebration. It helps us think about the songs we sing and the place of worship in God’s victory.
Songs of the Past – Worship Celebrates Victory: The song that Moses and Miriam sing focusses on the victory that God has just won for the people. It recounts the story and is clear to credit God with the decisive victory. Left to our own devices, it can be easy to forget what God has done for us, but there is something about singing of victories won that shapes our thought life, and keeps the salvation we have received front of mind. For the Israelites, salvation was being delivered from Egypt through the Red Sea. For us, salvation has come through Christ on the cross, defeating the powers of sin, death and the devil. It does us good to sing songs of the cross, as we both remember and celebrate the victory that has been won for us in Christ.
Songs of the Present – Worship Wins Victory: Worship is not only something that looks to the past, but there is a real time element to it, as the songs of God’s people play a part in victory being won over the enemies. Competing narratives are being asserted, and verse 9 highlights the boast of the enemy that the Israelites would be destroyed. As we worship, we declare the truths of God and counter the false narratives that are out there. It has been said that ‘worship is warfare’, and there is truth in this. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers and principalities in the spiritual realm (see Ephesians 6:12). These powers seek to deceive, divide and dehumanise, and the primary weapons at their disposal are accusations and lies. As the truth of God’s word is declared, and the power of his blood is sung about, hearts are realigned back to the truth, and things shift in the spiritual realm. Worship not only remembers God’s victory, but brings something of the power of that victory into the battles that we face as the church today.
Songs of the Future – Worship Declares Victory: The song the Israelites sing moves beyond past and present into the future victories that they believe God will give. In faith, they are believing that God will lead them into the Promised Land and will give them further victories along the way (v13-17). There is something prophetic about this. They are taking the things that God had spoken to them about, and confidently declaring that it will be so. Worship involves celebrating what God has already done, but also declaring what he will do. We have many promises of God, for his ongoing presence, provision and power in our lives, and the glorious new creation to come when Jesus returns, brings justice, wipes away every tear and makes all things right. As we sing about these things in our worship, our faith is stirred and we are prophetically declaring the future reality of what God will do.
Potential Applications:
- The obvious application is to lead into a time of worship. Try to select songs that include themes of God’s past victory, his present power and his future promises.
- You might spend some time declaring different promises that God has made for the future.
- You could offer prayer ministry for those who feel that they are currently in the battle, for the power of God to give them the victory.
