Songs of the Sea
15: 1-21
The miracle at the Red Sea, ADONAI’s greatest act of redemption during the Dispensation of the Torah (to see link click Da – The Dispensation of the Torah) is described not only in narrative prose (13:17 to 14:31), but also in lyric poetry (15:1-21). Therefore, this is one of the most beautifully written sections of Exodus. And it is fitting indeed that the Song of Miriam (15:20-21) is set apart from the Song of Moses (15:1-19), and is considered by many scholars to be one of the oldest poems, if not the oldest, in the Bible.275
These two songs are the first recorded psalms or hymns of the nation of Isra’el. They sing praises to YHVH because He brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of death and darkness into the Land of life and light. These are the first of many psalms or songs that praise God’s splendor at the exodus. For example, Psalm 106:8-12 proclaims:
Yet He saved them for His name’s sake,
to make His mighty power known.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
He led them through the depths as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of the foe;
from the hand of the enemy He redeemed them.
The waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them survived.
Then they believed His promises
and sang His praise.
The lost cannot praise Him because they don’t have the ability. Only a redeemed people, conscious of their deliverance can really praise God, their Deliverer.276
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