Psalms

Psalms 114: Tremble before the rescuing LORD

Begin in prayer

Before we hear of waters fleeing and mountains skipping, let us remember whose presence made them move. Ask the Lord to bring us to Jesus and teach us reverent dependence on His saving power.

Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”

Zechariah 2:13

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the earth trembles before the Lord whose presence rescues and provides for His people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Israel leaves Egypt and its foreign language, and Judah becomes God's sanctuary while Israel is His dominion. The sea flees and the Jordan is driven back. Mountains skip like rams and little hills like lambs. Questions ask the waters and hills why they moved in this extraordinary way. The answer calls the earth to tremble before the Lord, the God of Jacob who turned rock and flint into springs of water.

As you read Psalms 114, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The Lord's presence rescues His people, makes the earth tremble and gives water from the rock.

God's rescued people become His sanctuary and dominion, a people among whom He dwells and over whom He rules. The sea and Jordan give the journey two great crossings, as God brings Israel out of Egypt and into the land. Mountains and hills skipping like animals picture the earth shaken before Him. Asking the waters and hills what happened makes the hearer wait for the reason behind these wonders. The final summons names that reason, the presence of the Lord, the God of Jacob. Hard rock becoming a spring shows the same power providing what His people could never draw from stone themselves. First Corinthians 10 verse 4 identifies the spiritual rock that accompanied Israel as Christ. Reverence answers the God whose presence commands the earth and supplies the people He has rescued.

How does Psalm 114 show us that the Lord's presence rescues His people, makes the earth tremble and gives water from the rock?

God rescues a people to dwell among them and rule over them.

Israel comes out from Egypt, and Judah becomes God's sanctuary. Israel is called His dominion, the people under His rule. Rescue therefore brings a people into belonging to the God who acts for them.

God's presence commands the waters and shakes the earth.

The fleeing sea and retreating Jordan cannot bar His people's way. Mountains and hills move in pictures of skipping rams and lambs. The questions lead to the Lord's presence as the reason earth must tremble.

God turns hard rock into water for His people's need.

Rock and flint become a pool and spring before the God of Jacob. The stone that cannot supply life by itself yields water at His command. His provision gives the rescued people reason for reverent dependence.

Memorise

When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language; Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

Psalm 114:1-2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I treating the presence of the Lord Jesus as something small?

The earth is told to tremble before “the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool of water.” The rescued people live beneath His rule. Neither deep waters nor dry stone can prevent Him from caring for them.

We have treated His holy presence lightly and stand guilty before Him. Jesus bore the judgment His people deserved and died to bring them near to God. He rose from death. His once for all sacrifice is sufficient for their forgiveness, providing everything needed for peace with the God before whom earth trembles.

Turn from careless rebellion and trust Jesus. Everyone who comes to Him receives forgiveness and life. Ask Him to teach you reverence when you read His Word and bring Him your needs. The living Lord has completed the rescue of everyone trusting Him, giving believers reason for thankful dependence before His mighty presence.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the earth trembles before the Lord whose presence rescues and provides for His people. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for rescuing His people and ask for reverence before His presence and trust in His provision. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.

John 6:19

Lord God of Jacob, Your presence commands the sea and brings water from hard rock. Please forgive our careless treatment of Your holiness and lead us to Jesus for pardon. Thank You for the complete sacrifice that brings His people near. Give our children reverent hearts, and help Your church trust Your care when the way ahead seems closed. Amen.