151 Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord , and said , " I will sing to the Lord , for He is highly exalted ; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea . 2 " The Lord is my strength and song , And He has become my salvation ; This is my God , and I will praise Him; My father's God , and I will extol Him. 3 " The Lord is a warrior ; The Lord is His name . 4 " Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea ; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red e Sea . 5 "The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone . 6 " Your right hand , O Lord , is majestic in power , Your right hand , O Lord , shatters the enemy . 7 "And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger , and it consumes them as chaff . 8 " At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a heap ; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea . 9 " The enemy said , 'I will pursue , I will overtake , I will divide the spoil ; My desire shall be gratified against them; I will draw out my sword , my hand will destroy them.' 10 " You blew with Your wind , the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters . 11 " Who is like You among the gods , O Lord ? Who is like You, majestic in holiness , Awesome in praises , working wonders ? 12 " You stretched out Your right hand , The earth swallowed them. 13 "In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed ; In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation . 14 " The peoples have heard , they tremble ; Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia . 15 "Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed ; The leaders of Moab , trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away . 16 " Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone ; Until Your people pass over , O Lord , Until the people pass over whom You have purchased . 17 " You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance , The place , O Lord , which You have made for Your dwelling , The sanctuary , O Lord , which Your hands have established . 18 " The Lord shall reign forever and ever ." 19 For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea , and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea . 20 Miriam the prophetess , Aaron's sister , took the timbrel in her hand , and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing . 21 Miriam answered them, " Sing to the Lord , for He is highly exalted ; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 15:1-21
Commentary on Exodus 15:1-21
(Read Exodus 15:1-21)
This song is the most ancient we know of. It is a holy song, to the honour of God, to exalt his name, and celebrate his praise, and his only, not in the least to magnify any man. Holiness to the Lord is in every part of it. It may be considered as typical, and prophetical of the final destruction of the enemies of the church. Happy the people whose God is the Lord. They have work to do, temptations to grapple with, and afflictions to bear, and are weak in themselves; but his grace is their strength. They are often in sorrow, but in him they have comfort; he is their song. Sin, and death, and hell threaten them, but he is, and will be their salvation. The Lord is a God of almighty power, and woe to those that strive with their Maker! He is a God of matchless perfection; he is glorious in holiness; his holiness is his glory. His holiness appears in the hatred of sin, and his wrath against obstinate sinners. It appears in the deliverance of Israel, and his faithfulness to his own promise. He is fearful in praises; that which is matter of praise to the servants of God, is very dreadful to his enemies. He is doing wonders, things out of the common course of nature; wondrous to those in whose favour they are wrought, who are so unworthy, that they had no reason to expect them. There were wonders of power and wonders of grace; in both, God was to be humbly adored.