“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”
My Notes
What Does Revelation 15:3 Mean?
In Revelation, the victorious sing two songs that become one: the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. The Old Testament deliverance (Exodus) and the New Testament redemption (the cross) are woven into a single hymn. The continuity of God's saving action spans the entire Bible.
The lyrics praise God's works as great and marvellous, his ways as just and true. He is the King of saints — the sovereign over all who are holy.
The rhetorical question — "who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?" — expects a universal answer: everyone will. Every nation will come and worship. The exclusive worship that seemed impossible in a world of competing religions will become reality.
"For thou only art holy" makes a singular claim: holiness belongs to God alone. Every other claim to holiness is derivative. His is original.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean that the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are sung together?
- 2.How does hearing 'just and true are thy ways' from people who survived tribulation change its weight?
- 3.What does 'thou only art holy' mean for your understanding of holiness?
- 4.How does the promise that 'all nations shall worship' shape your view of the future?
Devotional
The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Old Testament and New Testament. Exodus and Calvary. Two moments of deliverance separated by centuries, joined in a single song.
Great and marvellous are thy works. The people singing this have just come through the worst tribulation in history. They have overcome. And their song is not about themselves. It is about God's works.
Just and true are thy ways. In a world that constantly questions God's justice — where suffering seems random and evil seems to win — the victorious declare from the other side: his ways are just. His ways are true. The questions find their answers in the presence of the one who was questioned.
All nations shall come and worship before thee. The scope is total. Not some nations. All. The worship that seems impossible now will become inevitable then.
Thou only art holy. Only. Every other holiness is borrowed, reflected, gifted. God's holiness is original. It belongs to him alone. And one day, every voice will acknowledge it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God,.... Not that in Deu 32:1 but that in Exo 15:1 and the sense is,…
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God - A song of thanksgiving and praise, such as Moses taught the Hebrew…
They sing the song of Moses - That which Moses sang, Exo 15:1, when he and the Israelites, by the miraculous power of…
Here we have the preparation of matters for the pouring out of the seven vials, which was committed to seven angels; and…
the song of Moses Exodus 15 the song of God's redeemed people, delivered from their enemies, and confident of coming,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture