THE SEA FLED FROM GOD’S PRESENCE
Key verse: 7
NIV
Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt,(A)
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah(B) became God’s sanctuary,(C)
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled,(D)
the Jordan turned back;(E)
4 the mountains leaped(F) like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?(G)
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Tremble at the Presence of the Lord
114 When (A)Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from (B)a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his (C)sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
3 (D)The sea looked and fled;
(E)Jordan turned back.
4 (F)The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 What (G)ails you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?
7 (H)Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns (I)the rock into (J)a pool of water,
(K)the flint into a spring of water.
Cross references
- Psalm 114:1 : Ex. 12:37
- Psalm 114:1 : Ps. 81:5; [Gen. 42:23]
- Psalm 114:2 : Ps. 78:68, 69; [Ex. 15:17; 25:8]
- Psalm 114:3 : See Ps. 77:16
- Psalm 114:3 : See Josh. 3:13-16
- Psalm 114:4 : [Ps. 18:7; 29:6; Ex. 19:18]
- Psalm 114:5 : [Hab. 3:8]
- Psalm 114:7 : Ps. 96:9
- Psalm 114:8 : Num. 20:11; See Ps. 78:15
- Psalm 114:8 : See Ps. 107:35
- Psalm 114:8 : Deut. 8:15
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
This Psalm looks like a simple song, perhaps one that was taught to children to help them think about what God did for Israel in the Exodus, when he parted the Red Sea so Israel could cross over on dry land. God did this so that he could have a people who remembered his deeds, and they would keep themselves holy so he could dwell among them (1-2). God will also dwell with us if we remember his saving work in Jesus and give him praise.
Imagine if we saw the sea turn and flee, the mountains leap away, and a spring of water coming from a rock. How would we feel? We would ask, “Who could do this?” (3-6) Then we would realize the power of God and tremble. According to the Psalmist, it was the very majesty of God’s presence that caused the seas to shrink back. It is good for us to tremble sometimes at the sense of God’s presence. We should pray for everyone on earth to tremble at the power of God (7).
Prayer: Lord, help me be awed and tremble at the majesty of your presence, so I can have a right heart. May you dwell in my heart when I remember your salvation in Jesus.
One Word: Tremble at the presence of the Lord.
