Power of Praise

The Lord is my strength…Exodus 15:2

Thus begins the second stanza of the Song of Moses as recorded in Exodus 15:1 thru 19. When the people finished the Song of Moses Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron took the timbrel and the women sang the Song of Miriam, and they danced, Exodus 20:20-21. The joy of the people came because they had just witnessed the mighty arm of God against Pharaoh and his chariots of war. Verse 22: So, Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the wilderness of Shur. However, three days later they were complaining. 

People are strange. When we see the hand of God in our favor, we sing His praises. But when we are hard pressed, we whine. Oh, how we let our circumstances dictate our relationship with God. When our stomach is full, our heart sings God’s praises. Then…something bad happens.

This is when we turn to the Psalms, the songs of praise from the Bible. There we find over a hundred verses about praising God. Many include singing, I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High, Psalm 9:2. Again and again, David speaks to our heart: He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God…Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust…Psalm 40:3-4. Sing out the honor of His name. Make His praise glorious, Psalm 66:2. Reminds us of Church…singing the praises of God with those who love God.

You are my God, and I will praise you. You are my God; I will exalt you. Psalm 118:28. Which brings us back to the Song of Moses, Exodus 15:2: The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him. My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord shall reign forever and ever. Exodus 15:18, the concluding stanza of the Song of Moses.

When the church sings the praises of God, the church is made strong in the Lord, for the Lord is worshipped in His church and one of these days “all the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth.” Psalm 134:4. Until that day, we shall sing of what is in our hearts, praise and awe!