While doing my research for today’s post I learned that this psalm is the second of the six psalms in a collection called the Egyptian Hallel (Psalm 113-118), since each one begins with Hallelujah (except Psalm 114) and these psalms are related in some way to Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. 

¹ When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, ² Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.” (114:1-2)

Today’s psalm of praise is an invitation to exalt God for Israel’s redemption story, and for the Lord’s presence residing with them in a new sanctuary which would always be with them in their pilgrimage to the promised land.

The Egyptian Hallel was sung at the three great Jewish pilgrimage festivals.  For example, at the Passover Psalms 113-114 were read before the meal and Psalms 115-118 were sung afterward. It was so interesting for me to find out that these words were sung by Jesus and his disciples during the Lord’s Supper! Right before giving up His life for the rescue of His people!   

“Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, ⁸ who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.” (114:7-8)

In Matthew 27:50-51 it was recorded that after Jesus’ death on the cross the earth trembled: “⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud [agonized] voice, and gave up His spirit [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan]. ⁵¹ And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was ^[l]torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart.”

Nature again was shaken at the presence of the Almighty! God through the voluntary sacrifice of Jesus, in his death and resurrection was making a Way (John 3:16) for His people to be delivered once and for all from bondage: the bondage of sin and to have a new relationship of love with the Living God!

“Today Psalm 114 calls us to rejoice and tremble in the Presence of God in Jesus Christ.  Think of all the allusions to the Presence in the story of Jesus.  Was it accidental that the angel told a worried Joseph that “his” son would be called “Immanuel, that is, God with us?”  Was John just spilling words when he said that the Word who was God and became flesh actually “dwelt among us?”  (Stan Mast- cepreaching.org)

Thank you Heavenly Father, that through Jesus Christ You made a Way of eternal Salvation for Your people, and now we have become  “the Temple of the living God (2 Cor. 6:16).”  Your Holy Presence dwells in us, something so great to fathom! We are now Your “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to You Lord, that [we] may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 emphasis mine).”  What a privilege and responsibility this is! May we be always worthy of your calling, and always willing to be Your light in the midst of this dark world! In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen!

Mari