Psalm 114
God's Power Demonstrated in Israel's Exodus from Egypt
*No author's name is mentioned. We could call Psalm 114 an orphan Psalm.
*Psalm 114, is a "Hallel" Psalm. "Hallel" is a Hebrew word that means "praise".
*Psalm 114, is about Israel's exodus from the Egypt.
*Psalm 114, talks about God's response to Israel's captivity in Egypt, in order to honor His promises to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant(Genesis 28:13-17), given to Jacob(Psalm 114:1,7).
*Psalm 114, celebrates God for delivering His people from bondage and leading them to the promised land.
*Psalm 114, makes references to several of the wilderness miracles, including the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River(Exodus 14:16, Joshua 3:17) and the water from the rock (Exodus 17:6).
*The psalmist talks about God's gracious works with joy and triumph.
*Psalm 114 outline:
- God inhabits Israel in verses 1-2
- God's power displayed in verses 3-6
- God is the God of Israel in verse 7
- God's provision in verse 8
Verse 1, is talking about the miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The name Jacob was used when speaking of him as the father of the 12 son's. The name Israel was Jacob's name, when his 12 son's became the 12 tribes of Israel:
- Reuben
- Simeon
- Levi
- Judah
- Dan
- Naphtali
- Gad
- Asher
- Issachar
- Zebulun
- Joseph
- Benjamin
Verses 3-6:
In verse 5, God parted the Red Sea(Exodus 14:15-31). Forty years later, God parted the Jordan River in order for the people of Israel to enter the promised land(Joshua 3:1-17). The Red Sea and the Jordan River, bowed at the presence of God. Verse 4, refers to the shaking and quaking of Mount Sinai when God gave Moses the 10 commandments(Exodus 19:15-20:). In verses 5-6, creation bows at the presence of God.
Verse 7:
The Lord God is ruler over mankind and nature. The Lord God is so powerful that even the earth trembles in His presence.
Verse 8:
The Lord God provided for the people of Israel.
*The word "Rock", is symbolic of the Lord.
