Click here to read PSALM 114 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 114 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalm 114 declares God delivering Israel from Egypt and bringing them across the Jordan into the promised land.
Psalm 114 is the second of six “Hallel” (praise) Psalms (113-118). They were an important part of the Passover meal ceremony. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the meal after two cups of wine had been drunk. Then Psalms 115-118 were sung.
Structure
(Verses 1,2) God brings the house of Jacob out of Egypt with dominion
(Verses 4,5) The Red Sea, Jordan River, and mountains moved by God’s power
(Verses 6,7) The Red Sea, Jordan River, and mountains moved by God’s power
(Verse 8) God brings water to Jacob, so that the earth should tremble
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language.” Both names are used here of Isaac’s second-born son. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel to show a change in this man’s perspective and trust in the Lord. Jacob means “contender,” and refers to a natural five-senses perspective, and thus those born in his physical genealogical line.
Since his birth when he grabbed his twin brother’s heel, “Jacob” contended to get ahead in life (compare his time with Laban and gaining his wives and flocks in Genesis 24—31). In Genesis 32 (after leaving Laban), Jacob finally submits to the Lord and becomes more spiritual in his perspective.
Thus, God changed his name. Genesis 32:28: “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” The name “Israel” means God commands, orders, rules. God is in charge, not Jacob.
Like other names that include El (God) or Jah (Lord), the emphasis is always on what God does, and not man (compare Dani-el, God judges; or Isa-iah, the Lord saves). Psalm 114 opens by showing that God brought spiritually-minded Israel’s people out of Egypt. It was Jacob’s contending “house” that had been entrapped by a people with a strange language.
Verse 3—”The [Red] sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.” This Psalm recounts two of the great miracles in Israel’s history: escape from the bondage of Egypt through the Red Sea, and entrance into the promised land after crossing the Jordan River. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, brought true freedom from bondage, and true entrance into all of God’s spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).
Verse 8—”Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.” God provided water for Israel in the wilderness, but that was only a foreshadowing of the full blessings He would provide in the Messiah. The true rock of supply spiritually is our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 10:4: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
