I Will Sing Series

Exodus 15:1-21

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “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 my song; 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, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O 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 firm 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, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. 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 upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, O 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, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. 18 The LORD will reign for ever and ever.” 19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.”

Christ followers who don’t put their hearts into worship are like roosters who won’t crow at sunrise. They’re simply not doing what God programmed them to do!

When Moses and the children of Israel had church on the shores of the Red Sea (we could call it CHURCH ON THE BEACH) there certainly was a lot of passion in their worship! They did what they were divinely programmed to do. Their worship was exemplary.

The worship leader didn’t have to say, "Come on folks, sing like you mean it!" The audio technicians didn’t have to turn up the volume to provide artificial excitement. Their worship was a natural response to the great deliverance of God!

Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf: “I have but one passion; it is He, He only.”

Let’s face it - some folks let their worship get boring, and boring worship certainly doesn’t energize Christ followers for re-entry into the world on Monday. Neither does it attract the unchurched. Most importantly, it doesn’t glorify God - which is the primary purpose of worship.

What ignited this passion for worship and praise to God on the banks of the Red Sea? Was it simply the fresh surroundings? Should we have church at the beach next Sunday? (Put your hands down - we’re not voting.)

Honestly, nothing in scripture says we have to gather together in a building. Acts 17:24 says, "The Lord of heaven and earth...does not live in temples built by hands." The word just says we should gather together. "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25 NIV). It might be a good idea for us to have church in some different surroundings some Sunday. Nothing wrong with that. Kind of creative.