INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 114
Psalm 114 is the second in a series of "Egyptian Hallel" Psalms, seven, as we know, are part of the Jewish Passover Festival. This was Israel's "central act of redemption" under the OLD COVENANT. The Israelites remembered how God rescued them when they were slaves in Egypt, and He made them HIS OWN PEOPLE.
"Then Moses and the Israelites sand this song to the Lord: "I will sing to to the Lord for He is highly exalted. Both horse and rider He has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my defense, He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him. My father's God and I will exalt Him." Exodus 15:1&2 (NIV)
We remember how Jesus sang these songs at the Last Supper with His disciples and under the NEW COVENANT at His death and resurrection - "our central act of redemption", we have been called to remember and to celebrate how Jesus has SET US FREE.
"For I received from the Lord what I first passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said: "This is my body which is for youy; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, after supper, He took the cup saying, "This cup is the New Covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes."
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NIV)
"This SONG OF CLIMAX is ONE AND INDIVISABLE. True poetry has reached it's climax, no human mind has been able to equal it; much less excel, the grandeur of this Psalm." Charles Spurgeon
GOD BROUGHT ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT - Read Psalm 114:1&2
"When Israel went forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of a foreign language. Judah became God's sanctuary and Israel, His dominion." Psalm 114:1&2 (NASB)
The Israelites had been in a foreign country for over 400 years. It was never really their home for they "spoke a different language". They were also treated cruelly, like slaves - often beaten because they didn't understand their orders. The emphasis in this passage is that "Israel did not belong in Egypt."
But we know it was God's plan to set them free - to deliver them from these cruel people. The "language of the world" is often difficult for Christians - God's children "who are compelled to hear it in their everyday lives." It is a blessing when we can fellowship with other Christians.
"The leading TRIBE OF JUDAH represented the whole nation that became God's dwelling place - HIS SANCTUARY. These godly people in His Tabernacle represented GOD'S PRESENCE."
David Guzik
When they were seperated as a "Tribe of Priests", their motto was: "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD". Judah was the Lord's "holy people" set apart for His special use. Now, they led the way in the wilderness, SPIRITUALLY and as a ROYAL TRIBE. The nation of Israel were also under GOD'S DOMINION - HE WAS THEIR KING! He wanted them to honour Him as their "Lord and Master - Adonai", not merely their helper or mascot.
"The people were a SHRINE OF DEITY, their camp was ONE GREAT TEMPLE." Charles Spurgeon
When the Lord is present in our Church and in our lives, we need to "accept him as we rule obediently", It is an "honourable priviledge" to be a CHILD OF GOD - ONE OF HIS PEOPLE.
THE PARTING OF SEAS AND THE SKIPPING OF MOUNTAINS - Read Psalm 114:3-6; Exodus 14, 16:19-20; Joshua 3&4
As in other places of Poetry, the Psalmist describes nature as responding to God in "fear and reverance". In Psalm 114:3 he mentions the PARTING OF THE RED SEA AND THE JORDAN RIVER as the BEGINNING AND END of ISRAEL'S JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND.
"The Red Sea looked and ran away; the Jordan River turned back." Psalm 114:3 (NCV)
"When the waters divided they simply responded to the AWESOME PRESENCE OF GOD - a BEAUTIFUL POWERFUL PICTURE." David Guzik
"The poet does not sing of natural laws......but to Him the PRESENCE OF GOD with His people is EVERYTHING. In his lofty song he tells how the river was driven back because THE LORD WAS THERE." Charles Spurgeon
In Exodus 14 we read how the people crossed the Red Se with "a wall of water on the right and another on the left". This was the DAY OF DELIVERANCE FOR THE ISRAELITES. Then again in Joshua 3, we read how the Jordan River parted to let the Israelites pass over into the Promised Land.
"The Lord did this so all the people would know that HE HAS GREAT POWER and so you would always RESPECT THE LORD YOUR GOD." Joshua 4:24 (NCV)
In Psalm 114:4 we read how the mountains and hills "skip like rams and lambs" with strength and joy. They "spring in God's presence" and "tremble in fear and adoration". This probably has something to do with the manifestation of earthquakes, again in GOD'S PRESENCE. Their "skipping" may also be becaus they are HAPPY with the LORD'S DELIVERANCE AND SALVATION.
"On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. The Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, as they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mt Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and the voice of God answered him." Exodus 16:16-19 (NIV)
"Nature recognized His presence and obeyed His will. The sea fled. Jordan was driven back, mountains and hills were moved." G.Campbell Morgan
"God knows we know the answers to the Psalmist's questions and He wants us tio TREMBLE at HIS GREATNESS, when we are assured of HIS PRESENCE IN CREATION." David Guzik
The God of Jacob is exalted as having dominion over RIVERS, SEAS, MOUNTAINS, HILLS and all creation. God has come nearer to us when he assumed the NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST. As we repent of our sins, we receive forgiveness and ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR. We feel the MIGHTY AWE of BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON IN OUR MIDST.
WATER FROM THE ROCK - Read Psalm 114:7&8; Exodus 17
"Tremble earth at the PRESENCE OF THE LORD and at the PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF JACOB." Psalm 114:7 (NLT)
"Let the believer feel that God is near and we will serve the Lord will fear, joy and trembling. The Lord is most reverend when HE IS MOST LOVED." Charles Spurgeon
Not only do the seas, rivers, mountains and hills respect HIS OMNIPOTENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE, but now God give His people water from the rocks to show HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION.
"The Lord answered Moses: "Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there beside at the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink."
So Moses did this in sight of the elders of Israel. And he called this place Masseh and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested the Lord saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?" Exodus 17:5-7
The Israelites not only complained in the wilderness about being hungry, now they were thirsty. Yet again, God was compassionate and caring, meeting their needs. The believer feels GOD IS NEAR not only because "MOUNTAINS MOVE", but "ROCKS YIELD WATER".
"He turns the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water." Psalm 118:8
CONCLUSION - GOD MEETS OUR PERSONAL NEEDS
Psalm 114 ends, as Psalm 113 does, with a declaration of GOD'S LOVE, COMPASSION AND PROVISION. He CARES FOR OUR PERSONAL NEEDS! When we are thirsty, down, attacked and tempted - GOD CARES!
We need to remember that with Israel's deliverance came A VICTORY and we too have A VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH, IN JESUS CHRIST!
"But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to hold Him." Acts 2:24 (NIV)
"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we dead in transgression... IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED." Ephesians 2:4&5 (NIV)
We can therefore join with the Israelites and the Psalmist with their "Hallelu Psaises". We too have been led out of bondage and guided to the PROMISED LAND, when one day we will have "Heavenly manna" and "water from the rock."
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