Purpose and Praise

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him. Exodus 15:2 NASB

Praise – If we read the praises of the Lord in the Psalms, we are likely to find the verb zamar. In fact, the word “psalm” is derived from this verb (mizmor) and is often found in the titles of David’s songs. But this is not the word found on the lips of Moses. Instead, Moses uses the verb nawa(h). It’s a bit odd in this context. It is typically found in the prophets for a description where the flock rests in safety and provision. In other words, it is about pastures. Only in this verse, Exodus 15:2, does it appear in a verb form that allows us to translate it as “praise” or “beautify.” We might ask, “How does Moses connect a word about pastures with the idea of praising YHVH?” Consider the circumstances.

Moses’ song of praise occurs after the children of Israel have just been rescued by crossing the sea of reeds. They are at last out of Egypt and on their way to the Promised Land. The Promised Land is a place of milk and honey, of fertility, of freedom and, in particular, of space. In fact, in Hebrew, the idea of a broad expanse is associated with safety. So Moses praises God for demonstrating His sovereignty over the taskmasters of Egypt, for rescuing His people from extinction and for directing them toward the open pastures that await them in Canaan.

But there is another connection between pastures and praise. Terrence Fretheim’s comment about purpose helps us to see it. “Praise occurs when the creature fulfills the task for which it was created.”[1] Israel is now fulfilling the task for which it was created. It is embarking on the journey that will lead to Sinai where YHVH will announce that purpose—to be a royal priesthood as intercessors between YHVH and all the nations. Praise is inherent in the deliverance from Egypt because it is the fulfillment of God’s intention for Israel. As we read the rest of Moses’ song, we see just how deeply purpose is the foundation of Moses’ declaration. But that isn’t the limit of our analysis. Purpose underlies YHVH’s use of the sea, the wind, the opposing nations, the inhabitants of Canaan, the enemy’s pursuit, the congealed water. Each and every time the purpose of God was demonstrated, praise was written into the event. In fact, as we have mentioned before, Moses’ song also contains eschatological purpose.[2] The purposes of YHVH do not end with the last notes of this song because the last notes have not sounded, and will not sound until the resurrection from the dead. It is almost as if the notes are written on the staff of the music.[3] Perhaps your purpose isn’t just the “notes” that you declare but the lines upon which the notes are written. Perhaps your “doing” unfolds something deeper than the individual tones. Perhaps it also reveals how God writes your life according to His purposes. Baruch HaShem.

Topical Index: purpose, praise, Exodus 15:2

[1]Terrence Fretheim, God and World in the Old Testament: A Relational Theology of Creation, p. 258.

[2] https://skipmoen.com/not-yet/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_(music)