God has done it before, God can do it again

Psalms in Book 5 affirm that God does answer prayer, God’s promises are valid and it includes a long love song for God’s laws. 113-118 are called the Hallel or Egyptian Hallel and come between the acrostic songs of 112,113 & 119. In modern Juwish life, Psalms 113 and 114 ar3 sung before the passover meal and Psalms 115-118 at its conclusion.

Psalm 114 celebrates Israel’s journey to nationhood as she emerged from Egypt. The context, however, reflects the second exodus: at the time of this compilation in Book 5 of the psalms, Israel had once again become a nation, returning from exile in Babylon.

The books of Psalms are roughly themed like this:

Book 1: Psalms 1 – 41: God is beside us.
Book 2: Psalms 42 – 72: God goes before us
Book 3: Psalms 73 – 89: God is all around us.
Book 4: Psalms 90 – 106: God is above us.
Book 5: Psalms 107 – 150: God is among us.

114 When Israel went out from Egypt,
    the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
² Judah became his sanctuary,
    Israel his dominion.

³ The sea looked and fled;
    Jordan turned back.
⁴ The mountains skipped like rams,
    the hills like lambs

⁵ What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
    O Jordan, that you turn back?
⁶ O mountains, that you skip like rams?
    O hills, like lambs?

⁷ Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
    at the presence of the God of Jacob,
⁸ who turns the rock into a pool of water,
    the flint into a spring of water.

Psalm 114 ESVUK

In its historical context, Psalm 114 served the purpose of encouraging the people of Judah to return to the area around Jerusalem. The initial return had already taken place, granting people the freedom to journey back. Now, the challenge was to inspire these individuals, who had never laid eyes on their homeland, to gather what they could carry on a horse, a donkey-drawn cart, or possibly a loaded camel, and embark on a long and hazardous journey. The question remained: Would they succeed?

Reading the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible fills us with hope as it reveals that the return from Babylonian exile of the Judeans was a twofold journey. Psalm 114 alludes to a broader time period, illustrating a continuous trickle of people returning in addition to the two significant events. The use of imagery from the exodus from Egypt not only enriches Psalms 113 to 118, known by Jews as the Halel, or Praise, but also bestows upon it the alternate name of The Egyptian Halel, evoking a sense of positivity and strength.

But in contrast to the Exodus story, this psalm presents a unique and innovative perspective. Moses and Joshua do not make an appearance, and the act of God calling Israel out of Egypt is conspicuously absent. In a departure from the norm, the waters in Psalm 114 retreat or flow in reverse, rather than parting as Moses holds out his staff or when Joshua leads with the ark of the covenant. This unconventional approach is intriguing, especially considering the meticulous structure of Psalm 114.

Structure

If you have read my other blog posts on Psalms, you would be aware of my fascination with structure, stemming from my autistic mind. The structure of Psalm 114 is notably more constrained compared to the majority of Psalms, and markedly distinct from that of the rest of the Hallel.

This psalm is composed of 4 sections, each containing 2 verses of equal length. Each verse is divided into two equal parts, with the subject repeated using different words. Notably, the second word in each part has a different syllable count, with the first part having 1 syllable and the second part having 2. The psalm utilizes the contrast between “rams” (ayil in Hebrew, one word) and “lambs” (ben son, two words). This simple yet deliberate structure lends itself perfectly to musical adaptation.

The repetition of the central section of verses 3 and 4 in verses 5 and 6, transformed into a question, is accompanied by two verses concerning Israel and two concerning God. Despite not being explicitly mentioned until the final verse, the presence of God is implicitly woven throughout the psalm.

Meaning

Having delved into the context and structure of Psalm 114, it reveals a powerful message. Unlike the accounts of Moses, Joshua, or God commanding nature as seen in the historical parts of the Bible, in Psalm 114, nature itself reacts to the presence of God on earth. Seas retreat, rivers run backwards, and rock turns into water in response to God’s presence. The concept of nature acknowledging the presence of God was invoked by Jesus during his last journey to Jerusalem, as the crowds praised him, and he exclaimed, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). The Pharisees, accustomed to using this song every Passover and at other feasts, would have discerned that Jesus was doing more than simply encouraging people to praise him as the Messiah; he was claiming to be God.

Psalm 114 offers a unique perspective on the Exodus, depicting the experience of ordinary individuals who encountered God in the desert, distinct from the leaders Moses and Joshua. This portrayal, found in various psalms, conveys a powerful message to the people in Babylon, encouraging them to take initiative and draw from the historical acts of God to journey from Babylon to Judah. It serves as a reminder of the potential for proactive action, inspiring a sense of hope and empowerment.

Step out in faith, even if you don’t hear from God.

So what does this psalm mean to those of us living in the twenty-first century and not receiving a direct message from God? The message remains the same: step out in faith, even if you don’t hear from God. This is what faith is about most of the time.

I understand and respect those who feel the guidance of God in their lives. If you believe that the Holy Spirit is communicating with you through words, visions, dreams, or any other means, that’s truly a remarkable experience. It’s important to ensure that the direction you’re given aligns with the teachings of the Bible. Seek the counsel of a trusted spiritual advisor, as we are advised to test the spirits to discern their origin, and then make your decision promptly.

Do it.

But for the rest of us, which will be most of us all the time and all of us most of the time, there is no excuse for inaction. If God is saying wait, then wait. Otherwise go ahead with what God has shown you in the past. It is being faithful to carry on doing what you believe God wants, whether you feel it emotionally or logically or not at all. It’s like carrying in working when the boss is not around like you would if the boss was watching. If you have become jaded and bored, step out again. Have a new start. God is a god of fresh starts, there’s no limit to the fresh starts you could have.

Do it.

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< Psalm 113 | Psalm 114 | Psalm 115 >

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For the first time I attempted to use an AI generated image for my writings. I did not use it. I did however use AI to generate the title. I had to edit it to make it fit.