Psalm 114

 Summary: (Kel) Recalling how the sea fled and the mountains trembled when Israel was delivered from Egypt, the psalmist interrogates the mountains and the sea concerning their reaction, and calls the earth to tremble at the presence of the LORD who brought water from the rock.

Key verses: 

    114:2 Judah became his sanctuary,
    Israel his kingdom.

    114:7 Tremble, O earth, before the Lord—
    before the God of Jacob,
    114:8 who turned a rock into a pool of water,
    a hard rock into springs of water!

(Kel) The psalmist now calls the earth (or land) to tremble before the God of Jacob. The questions paved the way for this imperative; and the revelation of God’s works not only gives reason to tremble but also provides the answer to the questions in the last section: the sovereign Lord God of creation was present and supernaturally taking care of his people. Something new was unfolding from the exodus to the occupation of the land: the kingdom of God was breaking in on the old order, and supernatural events had to accompany and demonstrate the divine plan. The new order was not simply a good plan that Israel developed; the LORD was actively present, and that should cause the whole world to tremble. The imperative “tremble” addressed to the earth is also figurative (personification); it calls for the earth to quake and shift before the LORD.

Reflection: The Creator-God took on a nation to become His people. His name is now associated with theirs v.7. Their very existence demonstrates something about Him. Therefore, the earth should tremble when they see Him and His nation. 

In the NT, we are also God's people. God saved us and intervened in our lives. We are shown to be His people. 

What did God do to you because you are His? Do we see our lives differently than how God sees us?

Audrey