The Warrior God
Opening Prayer
Lord, I stand in awe of Your spectacular capability in dealing with Your enemies.
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.
Meditate
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord?” (11). Reflect on Isaiah 40:18,25 and 45:5–7.
Think Further
There’s nothing new about singing in order to celebrate, be it a win at a
football match or a birthday. So, singing to God in worship is a very natural response, as it has always been. God acts, and his people accordingly sing to celebrate what he has done for them. Worship releases emotion and builds faith and confidence. It’s surely important not to equate a merely emotional outpouring with worship, but the two are very closely related for most believers. Poetry and song convey thoughts and feelings so much more effectively than prose. Those who cannot sing (perhaps because they were born profoundly deaf) find other creative ways to respond to God’s acts. “Singing” in sign language can be profoundly moving.
Perhaps the key to this song lies in verses 9–11: “The enemy boasted… But you…” It’s worth reading this song again, noting examples of the consummate ease with which God deals with his opponents. He merely needs to extend a hand, give a good blow, toss his enemies into the sea… The wind, the sea and the earth all serve his will—creation sides with its Creator (J. Alec Motyer, The Message of Exodus, 167). God is equal to any and all challenges. That’s something to remember when we’re up against the wall.
The second part of the song looks to the future—to what God in his steadfast love will yet do for his people (13–18). His power, his word, his breath/Spirit and his love for his people remain the same today as in the days of Moses. God’s Word is still a weapon of our own warfare, mighty to
pull down strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3–5). Is this something you need to lay hold of today?
Apply
The New Testament informs us of being soldiers in the army of God. How does it feel to be fighting under the most powerful commander-in-chief in the universe?
Closing prayer
Warrior God, Lord of Hosts, thank You that there is nothing too hard for You. When I’m feeling trapped in a hard place, remind me of this story.
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