We are rolling into chapter fifteen of Exodus with our word for today with both the verb and noun forms both used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. שִׁיר sing, singer, to sing along with words. This is the verb form which is used 88 times in the Old Testament. שִׁירָה song, a piece of music that is either played on instruments, sung, or both. This is the noun form which is used 13 times in the Old Testament. We find our word used as part of worship to God. It is used to identify planned and regular worship. As part of their worship King David appointed some of the Levites who served before the ark to give praise with singing. 1 Chronicles 16:9, 23 שִׁ֤ירוּ Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts…שִׁ֤ירוּ Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. We find this tradition continued once Solomon finished constructing the temple. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, וְלַמְשֹֽׁרֲרִ֜ים the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and הַשִּׁ֗יר sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. We also see this reestablished when the wall of the city was repaired under Nehemiah’s leadership. Nehemiah 10:39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and olive oil to the storerooms, where the articles for the sanctuary and for the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים singers are also kept. “We will not neglect the house of our God.”
We also see singing used in worship that is more a spontaneous response to God working in a powerful way. Jeremiah 20:13 שִׁ֚ירוּSing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. This is how it is used in our chapter today. Exodus 15:1-2 Then Moses and the people of Israel יָשִֽׁיר sang this הַשִּׁירָ֤ה song to the Lord, saying, אָשִׁ֤ירָה “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 וְזִמְרָת֙ [this is another word for song or melody] my song, and he has become my salvation.
This is one of the purposes of singing it strengthens us in our relationship with God. He is our strength and our song. The collection of Psalms is written for us for this same purpose they were used in worship for over a thousand years. And into the New Testament church. The references in the New Testament of singing worship are referring to the Psalms. Right after Jesus institutes the Lord’s supper at the end of the Passover meal they sing a psalm in worship. Matthew 26:30 When they had sung a psalm, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
I’ll close with these great psalms of worship. Psalm 68:4 שִׁ֤ירוּ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. Psalm 89:1 אָשִׁ֑ירָה I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 96:1-2 שִׁ֣ירוּ Sing to the Lord a new שִׁ֣יר song; שִׁ֥ירוּ sing to the Lord, all the earth. שִׁ֣ירוּ Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
