Today’s Holy Nougat builds on our praise song reflections and invites us to think about how and why we relate to God in the various stages of our life journeys.
Exodus 15:2-3 AFV
[2] The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
[3] The Lord is a Man of war; Jehovah is His name.
The Lord, Our Salvation
While preparing for this morning’s reflection, a tiny detail struck me. It might not even reflect the nuance of the original song. However, I noticed that the Children of Israel did not seem to have seen God as their salvation until after being rescued. That led me to ask one of the most important questions in biblical reflection, ‘Why?’
Why has God now become their salvation?
Of course, that’s intertwined with the what – ‘What did God do?’
In one sense, we already have the answers to these questions, because we studied much of Chapter 14, but let’s add some perspective.
This song of Moses could easily have been located in the psalms. It was a community worship ‘hymn’ that chronicled God’s greatness in the midst of trials. With the Exodus being a significant pillar in Jewish history, this song preserves the ‘why’ of its significance. A contemporary Jewish site states, When Jews observe Passover, they are commemorating what is arguably the most important event of all time – the Exodus from Egypt.
This one act transformed their religious belief, their ethics, and even their national identity then, and probably even now. Their song, therefore, acknowledges this shift in ethos. It even forms the basis of the Ten Commandments. The phrase, ‘has become my salvation’ thus declares that turning point, where they now affirm and acknowledge God as their own.
That’s our why.
Verse 3 continues this theme, and succinctly states what God did. We’re told God is a man of war, or, as some transliterations state, a mighty man of war. The phrase is also used in Joshua 17:1; 1 Samuel 16:18; 2 Samuel 17:8; Kings 12:38; 2 Chronicles 8:9 and 13:3; Isaiah 3:2; as well as Ezekiel 39:20. In those instances, the reference was being made to humans. Those were done by the bravest and firecrest warriors of their time, and they were appropriately titled. God is the Man of War of All Time, so the Hebrews’ praise was rightly directed.
Now, I confess, when I read ‘man of war’, what immediately came to mind were the colonial warships from Europe that roamed the Americas when Columbus discovered the New World, as the powers sought to maintain hegemony. God as a ‘man of war’, therefore offered visions of a well-armed military machinery, ready to defend what (or who) is theirs.
I also thought of what is commonly referred to as the Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish, so named because of its apparent similarity to the Portuguese warship, and its venom. It is argued that the man-of-war venom remained potent long after the jellyfish had washed ashore. Isn’t that also the impact of God’s love and God’s warring on our behalf? Ask Saul/Paul, who found himself on his knees before God long after he took part in Stephen’s stoning. Ironically, the man-of-war is not always killing with its venom, but its impact is unforgettable.
Self-Check
Who do we say that He is? Why?
Final Dive (at the moment)
The term used for salvation in this text is similar to that used in Psalm 27. The root is the same, i.e., Y’shua. To say this song is the turning point in our faith is almost understating the facts. Whether they realized it or not, the Trinity was with them, fighting on their behalf. And God is with us too, as God was with them then.
When Psalm 46 echoes sentiments we’ve read in the past several days, this is what we’re being reminded of. We must be still (give no room to fear), because the Lord of hosts (our own man-of-war) is with us in every circumstance. The God of Jacob is our Y’shua (refuge). Selah
Point to Ponder
The hymn invites us to revisit our own turning points, when we discovered Y’shua as our salvation – our what and our why. Might we be moved to praise as we remember Y’shua, our salvation.
