Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 114
114:1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
114:2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
114:3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.
114:4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
114:5 Why is it, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
114:6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?
114:7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
114:8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.
Reflections
The Psalmist here is recalling the days in which God had delivered His people. His prayer is that the faithfulness of god would never be forgotten and that God’s people would remain faithful to Him. Israel had a habit of falling into the temptations of this world and being lured into temporary pleasures, thus forsaking the commands to love and obey God fully.
When God first delivered Israel from the hands of Pharaoh, it marked the beginning of an everlasting covenant that God would choose them to be His people. He intended to use the nation of Israel as a means to be a light in a dark world and to be set apart so that all can see that there is a true and living God. They were to be different from the rest of the world and not indulge in things that would cause them to sin and fall away from Him.
The story of Israel is a redemptive one. There are many instances when sin enters in, punishment follows and then God’s Grace rescues. However, it is all driven by a repentant heart and a Gracious God who longs to see His children live under His loving and protective hand.
The same truth applies to us today. We too are called to be set apart and live differently. Our actions, words, thoughts and the reason why we live is very different from the worlds. Our hope is set on Christ and we are to be a shinning light to those around us.
The dating of this psalm is much later than the subject of it’s content. The Psalm was written well after the nation of Israel split into north and south kingdoms (Israel to the north and Judah to the south). But the psalmist is recollecting one of the oldest and most sacred events in the history of God’s people; the deliverance. A careful reading will provide one with a few points the parallel the exodus. The sea fled so the people can cross it. The Jordan stopped running so it could be crossed. The rock sprung forth water with the tap of Moses’ staff. The earth and the mountains trembled with the presence of the Lord.
These recollections are not just mere stories passed down by each generation. They are the stories that gave Israel an identity. They were God’s people and they knew that they were His people because of all the miracles that were performed on their behalf. Thus, it is vital to retain these stories of God’s greatness.
Likewise, as we progress through our Christian journey God will be performing works in our lives. Some will encounter physical healing. Some will encounter divine appointments. Some will encounter other manifestations of the Lord in their lives. It is important to remember these events and allow them to shape the person that God is calling you to become. In addition, we must always have a testimony ready on our lips. We must be willing to share our experiences with the Lord at any point.
[Featured image: Receding Waves at Carlin Park Jupiter Florida, by captainkimo.com]