Psalm 153 from Beyond Psalm 150
The shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117. It weighs in at a mere two verses, serving as a reminder that our efforts to praise God need not be long or wordy. Sometimes succinct is better. Miriam’s song of praise to God, only one verse long, is a reminder that less can be more.
Miriam responds to Moses’s praise of God’s amazing rescue with a psalm of her own: The Song of Miriam. Moses’s older sister picks up her tambourine and leads the women in dancing before Yahweh. In doing so, this prophetess stands as the Bible’s first worship leader.
Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.
Exodus 15:21 (WEB)
He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.
Reflections on The Song of Miriam
We should praise God to the best of our abilities and according to how he has equipped us. The quantity of our worship doesn’t matter, only that it comes from our heart.
Does our praise to God sometimes feel like it’s less than the efforts of others? Remember that none of us can fully praise God to the extent that he is worthy. Therefore, it’s foolish to compare our worship to that of others.
Without considering other people’s actions, what can we do today to praise God for who he is and what he has done? May our acts of worship focus on God, without giving thought to what others do or say.
Explore the other psalms—sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament—scattered throughout the Bible in Peter’s book Beyond Psalm 150.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.