Charles Spurgeon wrote about the role of musical worship in the life of the believer: “Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace we learn to sing, and in glory we continue to sing.” When we collectively raise our voices and celebrate who the Lord is and all He has done, we are merely practicing for our eternal employment.

Exodus 15 is a sacred song of triumph, sung by Moses and the Israelites after God delivered them from Egypt. Having crossed the Red Sea on dry ground and escaped Pharaoh’s pursuing army, the Israelites could not contain their praise!

This hymn likely became a regular part of their corporate worship, its use of rhyme and repetition giving it a liturgical feel. The lines are brief, rhythmic, and parallel. They paint pictures and build to a climax, eliciting a variety of emotions in the worshiper. The song begins by describing God as Israel’s “strength,” “defense,” and “salvation” (v. 2), the Hebrew word for “salvation” carrying both physical and spiritual connotations.

God is described as a “warrior” (v. 3). Then, His mighty acts on Israel’s behalf are detailed (vv. 4–10). They describe the rescue at the Red Sea— the walls of water (v. 8), the empty boasting of the enemy (v. 9), and the drowning of the Egyptian army (vv. 4–5, 10, 12). Other intermittent lines declare God’s character—powerful (v. 6) and great (v. 7), “majestic in holiness” and “awesome in glory” (v. 11).

The song reaches its climax in verse 13 where the tone takes a turn. God’s heart is revealed, and His motive declared. His unfailing (hesed) love is the reason He redeems. The hymn finishes by looking to the future (vv. 14–17)—a future in which God continues to guide and protect His people, a future in which He “reigns for ever and ever” (v. 18).