It is hard to describe a sunset; to illustrate the feelings that well up inside of us as colors splash across the horizon. We may be able to name the colors in the rainbow, especially if we have memorized the acrostic, but does that explain why we get so excited to see one? It is more than colors arching across the sky. There is something of promise and hope vibrantly glistening in sunlight, a mixture of gloomy clouds leaking water and prism of light bowing above those clouds. What can we do to touch the glory of being drenched by the mist of a thundering waterfall or dancing in swirling snow or feeling the kiss of the sun’s heat after a long winter? In these moments the poet in us rises to the occasion. We know mere words will not soar to appropriate heights. Poetry and songs are our soul’s attempt at defining the indefinable. So, what do we do when the glory of God bursts into our reality? We sing poetry! But it is more than that. Songs help us to remember the moment. Songs touch us more deeply. And since that is true, we remember.
Exodus 15:1-12 is the first part of a hymn of praise. Yahweh has delivered them from the Egyptians with his mighty hand. How do you describe that? How do you express the feelings of awe and gratitude? Mere words will never do justice to the awesome majesty and power they had witnessed; to the emotions boiling inside. So. They sing a hymn. Poetry rises up from within their souls and bursts out in song. They sing because Yahweh is lifted up. They sing because Yahweh had cast the enemy’s military force into the sea. The phrase “horse and chariot” often refers to the military force. Their souls acknowledge that Yah is their strength and their song; their power and poetry. And since he is their rescuer, they sing out with pride that he is their God and the God of their fathers worthy of their praise. When I was in Little League every time I got on base, my Aunt Jan would shout out for the whole world to hear, “That’s my nephew!” It’s like that. “This is our God! We will exult in him!”
They sing out that Yahweh is a “man of war”. When the translators of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) came to this phrase they changed it to “Yahweh crushes wars”, which really doesn’t fit the song. It’s a song. It’s is poetry. Everyone knows that Yahweh is not a man. But after what just happened their hearts sing out, “Yahweh is a man of war who warred for us!” The most powerful military force was cast into the deep. The military geniuses went down into the depths. For the ancient peoples, the deep and the depths represented scary chaos; the unknown where death lurks, where violence surges up and grabs you by the throat. But it wasn’t the chaotic deep that defeated the Egyptians. It was the right hand of Yahweh. It was the majestic hand of God that shattered the enemy. It is the great majesty of Yahweh that throws down those who rise up. It is his burning anger that consumes them. It is the blast of his nostrils or anger that made the waters stand up and caused the chaotic deep to dance to his tune.
Even in the face of all this glorious majesty, the enemy arrogantly cried out, “I will chase; I will catch; I will divide the plunder; My desire will be sated; I will draw my sword and dispossess them.” The Israelites knew firsthand the arrogance of Egypt and for them it was no stretch to see them all full of haughtiness pursuing the Israelites in spite of the obvious displays of the mighty hand of Yahweh. Their pride was crushed as they sank down into the waters like lead. Ah, who is like Yahweh? No other god even comes close. The Egyptian gods that once seemed so powerful cannot even touch the majestic holiness of Yahweh. They will never measure up to his awesome praises; his working of extraordinary works. All of their gods could not save the Egyptians as they rose up against Yahweh. He stretched out his hand and they were swallowed up by the earth, which probably refers to them going down to Sheol or the grave.
How do you color God? When you fully grasp the implications of the cross, how do you express the staggering emotions that drop you to your knees? Our attempts fall short, don’t they? You see, that is why God gave us songs, hymns and spiritual songs. Mere words cannot adequately color Yahweh; touch the depths of emotions longing to be expressed. So poetry bursts out of us and we sing. And those songs touch us more deeply because they somehow allow us to express more deeply. And because of this, the words and colors of the songs stay with us longer. If I began to sing “Amazing . . .” would you be able to sing out what is so amazing? When we sing hymns we are coloring God. Color away my friends. Walter