Exodus 15:19-21

¹⁹ When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

²⁰ Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. ²¹ And Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Miriam was a prophet, a musician, and a poet. When her baby brother, Moses, floated in his little basket in the Nile, she was his protector. When she approached Pharoah’s daughter and offered to find a nurse among the Hebrews for the little lost (and found) child, she was an agent of God. Miriam was a strong woman.

And when God sealed a victory for the fleeing Hebrews over the pursuing Egyptians, Miriam led the praise of God in song.

In my youth group years, this biblical passage was set to music and we sang along.

I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously
The horse and rider has been thrown into the sea.
The Lord, my God, my strength my song
Has now become my victory.
The Lord is God and I will praise Him
My fathers’ God and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is God and I will praise him,
My fathers’ God and I will exalt Him.

Thanks, Miriam, for a strong song.

Prayer

God of might and wonder, let the words flow from our tongues as we praise you for your glorious deeds. And let us behold your power each day. Amen.