Songs of Moses: From Red Sea to Glass Sea
Four songs. One story of redemption. Endless reasons to praise.
When you think of worship music in the Bible, you probably think of David’s prolific Psalms.
But Moses may have written the most overlooked worship album in Scripture.
Four songs. Four moments. One story of redemption stretching from the Red Sea to Sea of Glass. Endless reasons to praise an Almighty God.
1. Exodus 15 — The Song of Salvation
Immediately after crossing the Red Sea, Moses records the very first song in the Bible.
The Red Sea is a beautiful, physical picture of salvation. God supernaturally opened a path for His people to escape slavery, just as He has provided a path through Jesus for us to escape the bondage of sin.
Is there a greater reason to worship? Our God is a warrior—”glorious in power” (15:6), “majestic in holiness” (15:11), and the One who “will reign forever and ever.”
This song is a powerful expression of worship. In verse 21, Miriam grabs a tambourine and leads the camp in joyful dancing, repeating the opening chorus:
“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” — Exodus 15:21
2. Deuteronomy 32 — The Song of Warning
The second song takes a darker, more somber tone. Facing his own imminent death, Moses warns Israel not to repeat the rebellion that disqualified an entire generation from entering the Promised Land.
He speaks plainly of corruption, a “crooked and twisted generation” (32:5), and a people who forgot the Rock of their salvation.
This isn’t a diss track—it’s a dire warning. Moses explains exactly why this heavy song had to be written down and memorized:
“Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children...” — Deuteronomy 32:46
It might not sound like a bedtime lullaby, but given the stakes, maybe it should be.
3. Psalm 90 — The Song of Wisdom
Psalm 90 is the only Psalm written by Moses, and it perfectly reflects Israel’s wilderness wandering.
Here, Moses prays for God to “satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love” (90:14). He has seen the provision of manna, and he knows from decades of experience that only God can satisfy a wandering heart—not the idols that continually distracted his people.
He adds a sense of urgency with a famous reminder to “number our days.”
Life is brief. We may get 70 or 80 years, Moses says, but they are “soon gone, and we fly away” (90:10)—words that echo themes later celebrated in hymns such as “I’ll Fly Away.”
Theologian James Montgomery Boice called this passage “probably the greatest passage in the Bible contrasting the grandeur of God with man’s frailty.”
4. Revelation 15 — The Song of Victory
The final book of the Bible opens a window into eternity, where martyrs who overcame the enemy stand holding harps. What are they singing? “The song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.”
“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” — Revelation 15:3–4
The song of Moses finds its fulfillment in the song of the Lamb. Together they tell one story of redemption—from Egypt to Calvary to the new creation. The old and new covenants join together in one unified chorus, proclaiming the same faithful God who rescues His people from beginning to end.
This ultimate hymn of victory is sung while standing on “a sea of glass mingled with fire,” a beautiful contrast to the Red Sea.
Think about the narrative arc: Moses began the Bible’s hymnal on the banks of the Red Sea with a song of rescue, and his words echo across eternity around a sea of glass at the final exodus.
It's a breathtaking reminder that the victory Jesus secured is final, absolute, and eternal—a victory that spans from beginning to end and is forever worthy of our praise.
Resources for Deeper Study
Sermon: The Song of Moses by Gary Hamrick at Cornerstone Chapel. This message and its study guide are incredible resources for exploring the structural connections between Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Revelation.
Podcast: Shane & Shane’s Psalm 90 Devotional on The Daily Blade Podcast is a fantastic, musical companion for small group or personal reflection.
Muster Seeds are open-source discipleship guides that combine physical training, discussion, and Scripture. Continue the study with the Psalm 90 Muster Seed—a timed workout and discussion guide designed to help you put this passage into practice by reflecting on the 24 hours God gives you each day.
The Suffer Up Podcast releases a new episode each Monday on all platforms.