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.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 15:1-9
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.