Psalms 114

Psalms 114THEME: God leads His dear children alongThis is another of the Hallel psalms (which begin or conclude with a Hallelujah). Psalms 113-118 were called the Egyptian Hallel psalms, and they were used at the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles and Dedication. Apparently they were sung during the time the Passover was being celebrated. Some Bible scholars think three of them were sung at the beginning and three at the end. Others think they were sung intermittently during the Passover feast. The psalm before us is a call to praise the wonderful God at whom we have been looking in Psalms 112 and 113. In Psalms 113, for instance, He is the Creator, He is the Redeemer, and He will be the Redeemer of creation. Because of this, we are to praise God. The Hallel psalms are for the purpose of praising God. Notice that this psalm looks back to the time Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage.

Psalms 114:1

When Abraham first went into the Land of Promise, he was a stranger. God told him that his people would go down to the land of Egypt where they would become a nation. Israel began as a nation in Egypt, and anti-Semitism was born in Egypt. The Bible tells of their sufferings, their hardships, their persecutions, and their troubles in Egypt. Then God remembered His covenant with them, heard their cry, looked upon the children of Israel, and had respect unto them. God delivered them from Egypt, and this psalm begins with the wilderness march.

Psalms 114:2

God is speaking now of the whole nation being a tabernacle. God’s original intention was that Israel would be a nation of priestsnot just one tribewhich means they were to be priests for the world. I think that that is what will happen in the Millennium when Israel will serve in the earthly temple.

Psalms 114:3

The children of Israel not only crossed the Red Sea, they also crossed the Jordan River (Jos_3:13-17).

Psalms 114:5

The God of creation (whom we saw in Psalms 113 with His omnipotent power) rolled back the Red Sea, and He also held back the waters of Jordan. These were miracles, and I don’t think they can be explained on any other basis. When the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea they had been delivered from Egypt by bloodblood on the doorposts. When they crossed over Jordan they were separated from the wilderness and brought into the Promised Land. These are the two stages of redemption, and they illustrate the two stages of our redemption. The Lord Jesus, on the cross, has delivered us from the penalty of sinthat is for the past.

He delivers us from the power of sin in the presentprovided we meet His conditionsand He will deliver us from the presence of sin, which has not yet been realized. The crossing of the Red Sea and the crossing of the Jordan picture the two stages of redemption.

Psalms 114:7

You can see how appropriate the reading of this beautiful little psalm would be at the celebration of the Passover. It is a call to remembrance of God’s mercy and power on behalf of His people.