Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. Pharoah's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharoah's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy." (Exodus 15:1-6)(NLT)
The passage above is the first part of the Song of Moses and Miriam sung in celebration after Israel's victory over Pharoah. Throughout Scripture, songs have a central role in the worship of God. Songs will always be a fundamental ingredient of worship, for Colossians 3:16 says we are to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in [our] hearts to God.
Some view songs such as the song of Moses and Miriam as spontaneous outbursts of worship. Others see them as models for worship that were inspired by the Holy Spirit, carefully composed, and preserved for future generations of believers. Perhaps they are a mixture of both. The point is, songs provide an important way to worship God. They offer glimpses of God's character and celebrate what he has done in the world.
The song of Moses and Miriam celebrates how God saved the Israelites from Pharoah and his army and looks with confidence at how God will conquer other enemies en route to the promised land. Likewise, the song of Deborah and Barak (Judges 5) praises God for saving Israel from the Canaanites. Biblical songs are our models to praise God for his salvation, love, faithfulness, power and grace. He is to be the central focus.