Psalms 114

Chapter Overview

What happens in Psalms 114

A short, powerful psalm celebrating the Exodus from Egypt. When Israel left, the sea fled, the mountains skipped, and the earth trembled before the God of Jacob.

Scripture

When Israel Left Egypt

Study note

When Israel came out of Egypt, Judah became God's sanctuary and Israel his domain. The sea saw them and fled. The Jordan River turned back. The mountains skipped like rams.

1 When Israel walked out of Egypt, when Jacob's family left a nation that spoke a strange language, When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

2 Judah became the place where God lived, and Israel became the land he ruled. Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.

3 The sea took one look and ran away. The Jordan River stopped in its tracks and backed up. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains jumped like rams, and the hills bounced like little lambs. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.

Tremble Before God

Study note

The psalmist asks the sea and mountains why they fled and skipped. Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool of water and flint into a flowing spring.

5 What got into you, sea, that you ran off? Jordan, why did you back up and retreat? What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6 Mountains, why did you jump like rams? Hills, why did you bounce like little lambs? Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?

7 Shake, earth, because the Lord is here! Tremble at the presence of the God of Jacob, Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8 who turned solid rock into a sparkling pool of water and hard stone into flowing springs. Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Key Themes

Themes in Psalms 114

The exodus as God's defining act of deliveranceThe sea and mountains responding to God's presenceAll creation trembles before the LordGod turns rock into water

Apply This Today

Living Psalms 114

When God led Israel out of Egypt, the sea fled and mountains jumped. Nothing in creation can resist his purposes. If God can split the sea and turn rock into springs, He can open a way through whatever obstacle you face. The same power that freed Israel is available to you.

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