If you ask anyone to describe Moses, they’d likely describe him as the inspired drafter of the first five books of the Bible. Or, they’d say that Moses was the intrepid leader who guided the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
You’re less likely to hear Moses described as a songwriter, yet that too was one of the prophet’s many roles in biblical history.
Moses wrote three songs as recorded in the Old Testament. The most well-known of these songs is aptly called, “The Song of Moses,” and appears in Deuteronomy 32. The other two songs appear in Exodus 15 and Psalm 90. Let’s briefly explore the meaning of these songs below.
The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32
Among other things, the Book of Deuteronomy retells the story of Israel. Deuteronomy also records Moses’ farewell address to the people of Israel.
More specifically, after Moses had finished writing down the first five books of the Old Testament (or, the Pentateuch), he gathered the Israelites and spoke the words of a song that God had commanded him to write (Deuteronomy 31:19; 30).
The purpose of the song was to remind Israel of their history as a chosen people and to instruct them as to their obligations under their covenant with God moving forward.
The importance of Moses’ song of instruction cannot be overstated. Moses knew he would not be entering the Promised Land and lamented that the Israelites would turn away from the Lord after his death (Deuteronomy 32:51-52; 31:27). This fear spurred Moses to impress upon the Israelites the words of his God-breathed song.
Moses begins his song by giving glory to God first, proclaiming the name of the Lord and ascribing “greatness to our God” (Deuteronomy 32:3).
Moses then reminds Israel that the Lord is a God of faithfulness and justice, which stands in sharp contrast to Israel’s faithlessness and ingratitude (Deuteronomy 32:4-6).
Moses issues a stark warning, that if the Israelites deal “corruptly” with the Lord, they will risk losing the honor of being His children (Deuteronomy 32:5).
Moses recounts how God had separated the people of Israel to be His people among the nations and how He had cared for them throughout all of their struggles, generation after generation (Deuteronomy 32:8-14).
In return, Moses predicts that Israel will forget how far it had come throughout the ages and, in its ambivalence toward the God Most High, will turn to false gods and provoke God’s anger (Deuteronomy 32:15-18).
In vivid detail, Moses then describes the Lord’s promised vengeance for Israel’s disobedience (Deuteronomy 32:19-42).
Throughout the Song of Moses, God is described as the Rock whose work is perfect, the Rock of salvation, and the Rock that begot man (Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18).
The people of Israel are described as unmindful people who forget the God who gave them life and who scoff at the salvation offered by God their Rock alone (Deuteronomy 32:15, 18).
Despite the song’s warning of the possible loss of God’s favor, the Song of Moses concludes optimistically, promising that God will remember His devoted servants and will redeem them for their faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:43).
The Songs of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15
Exodus 15 is a song of praise to the Lord God who had delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage. Here, Moses had just led the Israelites out of Egypt when, in a dramatic turn of events, the Egyptians decided to pursue the Israelites and trap them at the edge of the Red Sea.
In one of the Bible’s most awe-inspiring displays of God’s might, the Lord parted the sea through Moses so that His people could pass through it to safety while the sea swallowed up the Egyptian captors who followed (Exodus 14).
In celebration of this escape, Moses wrote a song to the Lord. In it, he praises the Lord for His power and willingness to cast down the enemies of His people (Exodus 15:1-10).
The song goes on to remind the listener/reader that there is only one true God, wonderful and omnipotent above all else (Exodus 15:11). Moses then recounts how God is present among His people, guiding and redeeming them (Exodus 15:13).
Moses’ song in Exodus 15 also puts Israel’s neighboring enemy nations on alert. Neighboring nations are to hear and be afraid upon learning that the Almighty God fights for Israel and will perform miracles to save His people even in the most hopeless-seeming of circumstances (Exodus 15:14-16).
This song ends with a paragraph devoted to Moses’ sister Miriam. There, we’re told that Miriam played the timbrel (similar to a tambourine) and led the Israelite women in a joyous musical accompaniment of Moses’ song. The women sang and praised God for assuring Israel’s victory over the Egyptians (Exodus 15:20-21).
The Song of Moses in Psalm 90
Psalm 90 is unique for several reasons. It stands as the oldest psalm, and it is the only psalm written by Moses.
While Deuteronomy 32 is a song of remembrance and instruction, and Exodus 15 is a song of praise and celebration, Psalm 90 is a song of God’s eternal majesty and a petition for His favor.
In this Psalm, Moses marvels at the eternal nature of God, singing that God existed “before the mountains were brought forth,” and that God will rule the universe “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:1-2).
In contrast to God’s eternal nature, Moses points out man’s fleeting existence. With a verse that echoes the drowning of the Egyptian soldiers during the parting of the Red Sea, Moses writes of the frailty of human life and how it can be swept away (Psalm 90:5).
Acknowledging man’s sinful nature, Moses writes of how he trembles at the power of God’s wrath. Moses warns the listener/reader that God sees all and will cast His light on our deeds and our hidden sins alike (Psalm 90:7-8).
Wisely, Moses thus implores God to teach us to number our days so that we may use the time we do have well (Psalm 90:12).
Moses ends his song by petitioning God to cloak His followers — and their children — in His favor (Psalm 90:16-17).
What Does This Mean?
Moses was a devoted leader who was anguished by the Israelite’s habit of falling away from God any time they were not mid-struggle. Moses’ songs remind us that God will bless the faithful who stay the course and punish the unfaithful who do not repent and return to Him.
Moses himself knew the consequences of disobeying God and understood that it is better to live righteously in God’s light than to sin and shudder in His shadow.
Although Moses knew he would not live to see the Promised Land, his concern for the future welfare of God’s people did not wane.
True to his calling as a leader and prophet, the elderly Moses made one last rallying cry to urge the Israelites to remember their history as a nation and their covenant with God. Moses encouraged God’s followers to learn his songs and pass them down for generations to come.
For further reading:
Why Is There a Prayer by Moses in the Book of Psalms?
Why Did Moses Remove His Shoes in Front of the Burning Bush?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jian Fan
Dolores Smyth is a nationally published faith and parenting writer. She draws inspiration for her writing from everyday life. Connect with her over Twitter @byDoloresSmyth.
