Psalm 114
1When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language, 2Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back. 4The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. 5What was it, you sea, that you fled? You Jordan, that you turned back? 6You mountains, that you skipped like rams? You little hills, like lambs? 7Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters.
Introduction
Psalms 114
The deliverance of Israel out of Egypt gave birth to their church and nation, which were then founded, then formed; that work of wonder ought therefore to be had in everlasting remembrance. God gloried in it, in the preface to the ten commandments, and Hos 11:1, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." In this psalm it is celebrated in lively strains of praise; it was fitly therefore made a part of the great Hallelujah, or song of praise, which the Jews were wont to sing at the close of the passover-supper. It must never be forgotten, I. That they were brought out of slavery (Psa 114:1). II. That God set up his tabernacle among them (Psa 114:2). III. That the sea and Jordan were divided before them (Psa 114:3, Psa 114:5). IV. That the earth shook at the giving of the law, when God came down on Mount Sinai (Psa 114:4, Psa 114:6, Psa 114:7). V. That God gave them water out of the rock (Psa 114:8). In singing this psalm we must acknowledge God's power and goodness in what he did for Israel, applying it to the much greater work of wonder, our redemption by Christ, and encouraging ourselves and others to trust in God in the greatest straits.
Cross-references: Hos 11:1 · Ps 114:1 · Ps 114:2 · Ps 114:3 · Ps 114:5 · Ps 114:4 · Ps 114:6 · Ps 114:7 · Ps 114:8