Psalm 114

Bible Passage:  Psalm 114

In 8 verses, this psalm remembers the deliverance of God and the events revolving around it. The psalmist remembered the parting of the red sea and how the people of God walked across safely. He also recalled how Israel crossed river Jordan on dry ground; how the waters stood still and rose in a heap (Joshua 3:16).

The imagery of the mountains and hills skipping like rams and lambs emphasizes the miracle that even mountains which we deemed unmovable can be moved, and in fact, they skipped.

What is the factor behind all these? The psalmist similarly raised the rhetoric questions, asking the waters and the mountains to explain themselves.

The waters and the mountains are two natural phenomenons. Yet we know that God is the Almighty Creator behind all. As massive as we may deem the sea or the mountains to be, God can calm the sea and the waves and He can surely move mountains.

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord! This is the main crux. God dwelt amongst the people of Israel. He was with them.

Exodus 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

And therefore, at the presence of the Lord God, the seas obeyed and the mountains shook. The psalmist affirmed that it was God who made the waters and the earth tremble. Do we have such faith today? Do we have faith in an Almighty God?

Similarly, today, if we have the presence of God in us wherever we go, I am also confident that mountains can be moved and waters stand still. The question is, are we God’s sanctuary? Does God really live in me?

Sharing this hymn which the choir presented before: My God Lives

My God lives in quiet valleys,
He lives beneath the deepest sea;
My God lives above the highest mountain,
He lives even lives within me.

My God moves in splendid wonders,
He moves in earth’s remotest part;
My God moves in lowliest surroundings,
He moves, even moves in my heart.

My God lives in gentle mothers.
He works in strong and mighty men;
My God works in brave, in weak, in lowly,
He works, even works in me then.

My God lives, he lives forever,
He lives and thus gives life to me;
My God lives and moves, and is my being,
He lives, even lives eternally, eternally,
He lives eternally.