The High View
“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders (Exodus 15:11)?”
This is a question that Moses asked as he recounted how God had brought all of the Israelites out of the land of, and slavery to, the Egyptians.
The chapter starts like this: Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.” (Exodus 15:1-3)
God’s Win
God had fought and won the battle for Israel. They were singing praises to His name, knowing it was His victory, not theirs! They sang high and holy praise to Him for what He had done for them.
This morning I stand convicted that I love to acknowledge that God has blessed me in a myriad of ways. I see what He has done for me recently in a couple of difficult circumstances. My circumstances did not come close to the slavery the Israelites were brought out of, but nonetheless, took some time, energy, and prayer in order to respond appropriately. This morning I am at peace.
High and Holy Praise
He is due some high and holy praise, not just because I feel relieved, but because He lifted a burden only He could lift. Who am I that He should remove my difficulties, that He should consider me at all?
I am His child. That is not my doing, but His. He has granted me repentance, salvation, and security in knowing that no one can snatch me out of His hand (John 10:28-29). If He never took another hard thing from me, He would have done enough to be worthy of high and holy praise.
I want to acknowledge His greatness. I want to see His majesty and His generosity as clearly as I can with my mind. I want to love Him for who He is, not who I want Him to be.
That day in Egypt when God parted the Red Sea and led Israel to safety and freedom from the oppressive slavery they had lived under for 400 years, Israel sang praises to God.
Not so for Egypt. God executed His justice on Egypt which is equally worthy of praise. Even when we are the ones receiving judgment, He is worthy of praise.
Almighty, Most Holy God
The God of Moses, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is the God of love. He is the God of grace, mercy and forgiveness. He is the God of perfect justice and perfect wrath. He is the Almighty, the Most Holy, and Most High God.
Do you and I live and worship with this high view of God? Are we singing praises to His name…even if we are the “Egypt,” receiving His correction rather than His approval?