Psalms 114: God's Power and Israel's Deliverance
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
Psalms 114 is a powerful hymn celebrating God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. It's a song filled with awe and wonder at God's miraculous power displayed in the Exodus. This psalm forms part of the Hallel psalms (Psalms 113—118), a collection of songs traditionally sung during major Jewish celebrations like Passover. The frequent use of the term "halelu-yah," meaning "praise the Lord," is a hallmark of these psalms, and a call to worship for all who hear. Because of its focus on the Exodus, this group is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel."
Remembering the Exodus
The psalm opens by recalling the pivotal moment when Israel left Egypt (Exodus 12:41). The text specifically mentions Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes, whom God renamed "Israel" (Genesis 32:28). From Jacob's descendants came the tribe of Judah, which eventually became the seat of government and the line of Israel's kings (Genesis 49:10). Psalms 114:1-2 declares that God made Judah His sanctuary and Israel His dominion, establishing His kingship and ruling from His temple in Zion, Jerusalem. This highlights God’s special relationship with Israel, His chosen people, and how He uses them to demonstrate His power and glory.
Miracles as Testimonies
The central verses of Psalms 114 (Psalms 114:3-6) vividly depict the miraculous events that accompanied the Exodus. The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), God's earth-shaking presence on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18), and the crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:13) are all invoked. The psalm uses personification, describing the sea and mountains as if they were alive, retreating from the Lord's presence. This highlights God's sovereignty over all creation. These were not mere coincidences, but undeniable signs of the Lord's active intervention on behalf of His people. The psalmist uses rhetorical questions, asking why the water and land reacted in such a way. The implied answer is clear: they did so because of God's command and power.
A Rock That Yielded Water
The psalm concludes by reiterating God's power and influence, recalling yet another miracle from Israel's desert wanderings. When the people were thirsty, God miraculously provided water from a rock (Exodus 17:6). Psalms 114:7-8 emphasizes that even the earth trembled at the presence of the God of Jacob, who could bring forth a drinking pool from a solid rock. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to provide for His people in even the most desperate circumstances.
A Call to Awe and Reverence
Psalms 114 is more than just a historical recounting; it's a call to acknowledge God's awesome power and respond with reverence. If creation itself trembles at God's presence, how much more should humanity, weak and sinful, stand in awe of our Creator? The psalm invites us to reflect on the "holy dread and awe" that should fill our hearts when we consider the magnitude of God's might and His unwavering love for His people. This psalm reminds us that God is not a distant, detached deity, but a powerful and present God who actively intervenes in the lives of those who trust in Him.
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
Psalms 114 is a powerful hymn celebrating God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. It's a song filled with awe and wonder at God's miraculous power displayed in the Exodus. This psalm forms part of the Hallel psalms (Psalms 113—118), a collection of songs traditionally sung during major Jewish celebrations like Passover. The frequent use of the term "halelu-yah," meaning "praise the Lord," is a hallmark of these psalms, and a call to worship for all who hear. Because of its focus on the Exodus, this group is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel."
Remembering the Exodus
The psalm opens by recalling the pivotal moment when Israel left Egypt (Exodus 12:41). The text specifically mentions Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes, whom God renamed "Israel" (Genesis 32:28). From Jacob's descendants came the tribe of Judah, which eventually became the seat of government and the line of Israel's kings (Genesis 49:10). Psalms 114:1-2 declares that God made Judah His sanctuary and Israel His dominion, establishing His kingship and ruling from His temple in Zion, Jerusalem. This highlights God’s special relationship with Israel, His chosen people, and how He uses them to demonstrate His power and glory.
Miracles as Testimonies
The central verses of Psalms 114 (Psalms 114:3-6) vividly depict the miraculous events that accompanied the Exodus. The parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), God's earth-shaking presence on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18), and the crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:13) are all invoked. The psalm uses personification, describing the sea and mountains as if they were alive, retreating from the Lord's presence. This highlights God's sovereignty over all creation. These were not mere coincidences, but undeniable signs of the Lord's active intervention on behalf of His people. The psalmist uses rhetorical questions, asking why the water and land reacted in such a way. The implied answer is clear: they did so because of God's command and power.
A Rock That Yielded Water
The psalm concludes by reiterating God's power and influence, recalling yet another miracle from Israel's desert wanderings. When the people were thirsty, God miraculously provided water from a rock (Exodus 17:6). Psalms 114:7-8 emphasizes that even the earth trembled at the presence of the God of Jacob, who could bring forth a drinking pool from a solid rock. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to provide for His people in even the most desperate circumstances.
A Call to Awe and Reverence
Psalms 114 is more than just a historical recounting; it's a call to acknowledge God's awesome power and respond with reverence. If creation itself trembles at God's presence, how much more should humanity, weak and sinful, stand in awe of our Creator? The psalm invites us to reflect on the "holy dread and awe" that should fill our hearts when we consider the magnitude of God's might and His unwavering love for His people. This psalm reminds us that God is not a distant, detached deity, but a powerful and present God who actively intervenes in the lives of those who trust in Him.