Story is a powerful medium, and the entire Bible is a narrative. A meta-narrative spans all of life. Our micro-stories are nested in God’s redemptive macro-story. In Psalm 114, the psalmist takes God’s people back to their story. He’s reminding them of their identity. He’s reminding them of his power, protection, and provision.
“When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.” Psalm 114:1-2
The story of Israel’s exodus is marked by a repeated statement: “Let my people go, that they may serve me” (Exodus 9:13). This admonition is repeated numerous times. Pharoah, assaulted by plagues, was being forced to let the people of Israel go.
“The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.” Psalm 114:3
Not only is Pharoah subject to God’s providential, sovereign rule and reign, but also nature itself is governed by the Creator. One simple sentence brings back memories to remind the people of God’s rescue at the Red Sea. In one act, Israel was rescued and the enemy was ruined. This single-sentence story inspired trust to the readers of this psalm.
“The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.” Psalm 114:4
Another verse tells the story of the giving of the law. As powerful as God is to hold back the waters, so he is to give his people the law to guide them. Ultimately, the law is a tutor to lead us to Christ. And in another single sentence, the people are pointed to God’s faithfulness and power. Here, the psalmist reminds the people that Sinai shook as God descended to give the law to Moses.
“What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?” Psalm 114:5-6
As a display of confident trust in God, the psalmist leads the reader to celebrate God’s power over all that exists. If you are facing loss or brokenness of any kind, here’s a good place to hammer a stake in the ground. Remind yourself that the sea parted for the Israelites. Remind yourself that the mountains and hills shudder as God descends to give the law. He is omnipotent.
Our God is over all things. All things—not some things. He is sovereign over all things. As Paul reminds us, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).
The psalmist questions the sea, mountains, and hills. He doesn’t expect an answer from them. He already knows the answer.
“Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob…” Psalm 114:7
The sea, mountains, and hills—indeed, the whole of the earth—tremble at the very presence of God. Yes, we should also tremble in reverent awe at his presence. And yet, we also should rejoice at his presence.
The God who overwhelmed Pharoah, the Red Sea, the mountains, and the hills is with us. God is with us. To seal the lesson of this narrative, the psalmist tells one more story with one more sentence. God is with us, and he provides for us. He even struck a rock to provide water for his people.
He rescued his people, ruined their enemies, and provided for their need. Power. Protection. Provision.
“…who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.” Psalm 114:8
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