Testing God's People - Audio
from Hicksville Mennonite Hosted by Jay Mast
In Exodus 15, Israel pauses after the miracle of the Red Sea to sing the first recorded worship song in Scripture—the Song of Moses and Miriam. This sermon explores why praise is the natural and necessary response to God’s saving work. After centuries of oppression and the terror of Pharaoh’s army, God delivers His people with unmatched power, and their immediate reaction is worship. We trace this theme throughout Scripture, especially the Psalms, where God acts and His people respond with praise. Even the Psalms of lament ultimately bend toward worship, showing that prayer—no matter how painful—eventually leads the believer into praise. Joy also naturally ends in praise; as C.S. Lewis observed, delight is incomplete until it is expressed. When we truly enjoy God, we cannot help but speak of His greatness. This sermon examines how praise transforms us, how it reflects spiritual health, and how it fuels our witness to the world. Praise is not God demanding attention like a pagan deity—it is His loving invitation for us to enjoy Him fully. As Israel sang on the shores of the Red Sea, we too are called to delight in the Lord, celebrate His salvation, and let our joy overflow in worship.
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