Praise and Thanks to God
Opening Prayer
Find and play a familiar song of praise that focuses on God. Allow the music to shift the focus from your needs to God’s character.
Read Exodus 15:1–18
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
shattered the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Praising God isn’t always easy, especially when life is tough. Will you choose to praise God today?The parting of the Red Sea is a dramatic moment in the Bible that has inspired generations.
Today we make epic films to tell the story. For Moses and the people it led to a song of praise, focusing on what God had done for them. This miraculous event is frequently referred to throughout the Bible, with the psalmist retelling it (Psa. 106) and Nehemiah saying to God, “You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day” (Neh. 9:10).
Remembering what God has done for us changes our perspective on life’s difficulties. Sometimes we need to speak or sing to ourselves, like the psalmist, “Why, my soul, are you downcast?… Put your hope in God” (Psa. 42:5). Like David, we might find that God turns our wailing into dancing (Psa. 30:11).
What are your songs of victory? How do you remind yourself about God’s promises, his character and his love for you? Music touches our hearts and emotions in ways that mere words cannot. A list of songs that focus on God’s greatness can serve as weapons against discouragement and unbelief.
Apply
Choose from the psalms mentioned or write your own song of praise to God and declaration of what he has done.
Closing prayer
“The Lord is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the Lord—he is my God” (Exod. 15:2a, CEV).
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.