Sunday, March 1, 2015 pm
JUDAH, His Sanctuary
Psalm 114
Psalm 114 is a continuation of the Hallel psalms (113-118).
These psalms became part of the annual Passover observance which
Jews observe in commemoration of their exodus out of Egypt.
The psalms are also incorporated into other Jewish observances
throughout the year. In our
last psalm we discussed the term “Hallelujah” in praising the LORD.
This psalm appeals directly to the deliverance of Israel out of
Egypt and into the Promised Land.
A
study of the institution of the Passover feast has a direct correlation
to the events discussed in this text.
We will remind ourselves of these events as we examine this short
psalm.
We
don’t know who penned this psalm, nor when it was written.
Some make it very late – after returning from Babylonian
captivity, but such is mere speculation.
Because of the distinction between Israel and Judah it was
probably written at some point after the kingdom divided (though even
that is debated). The
mention of both Israel and Judah in vs. 2 shows them united as they were
when they left Egypt.
This psalm describes the power of God to deliver and preserve His
people.
a.
This Passover feast was
instituted per the LORD’s instructions as Israel prepared to leave Egypt
for good (Exodus 12). It was a
memorial to be kept throughout their generations to commemorate the
exodus.
After the tenth plague (death of the firstborn – Ex. 12:29-30), Israel
left Egypt in haste (12:31-42).
They left with great treasure and ready to leave their slavery
(though their memories were VERY short lived).
They came to the Red Sea where the LORD parted the waters and they
crossed on dry ground while the Egyptian army was destroyed in the
waters (Exodus 14).
b.
From a people of a
strange language
– even though they dwelt in Egypt for some 400 years, it was never their
real home. They were always
foreigners which is what caused Pharaoh who did not know Joseph to
persecute Israel even trying to extinguish them.
Of course Egypt had its own language, but this could also be
descriptive of a people that did not know the language of YHWH, the one
TRUE God.
IN THIS, we are reminded that here we are strangers and pilgrims – 1
Peter 2:11, Heb. 11:13, living in a world that is contrary to Him so
often. We are in the world,
but we are not OF the world – John 17:11-16.
God can deliver us from “a people of a strange language” – 2
Peter 2:6-9, Col. 1:13.
c.
Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion
– While YHWH rules all the earth, His people are SPECIAL to Him!
Israel was God’s chosen people as promised to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. When delivered from Egyptian bondage, He declared Himself
specifically through them.
That is demonstrated by what He did to deliver them (the 10
plagues, special births, and the events the psalmist specifically
mentions in the coming verses).
He gave them the Promised Land and was continually with them,
even when they were not with Him.
In time, Judah would provide the lineage that bring David to the throne
and eventually Jesus our Savior. –
God dwelt among His people.
d.
LESSON for us: When we
leave the world of sin and bondage and turn to our Lord, He becomes our
Master. We become His
people! 1 Peter 2:9 – you
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people… Titus 2:4
speaks of us being His own special people zealous for good works.
Romans 2:28-29 also describes us as spiritual Israel.
THERE IS also something to be said about us being in this world and
striving to not let it influence us!
1 John 2:15-17, 5:18-21 – we keep ourselves from the wicked one.
a.
The Red Sea
– Exodus 14 records the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea.
Exodus 14:21-22 describes that awesome scene.
Moses described it as the salvation of the LORD (Ex. 14:13-14)
b.
The Jordan divided
- Some 40 years later (due to their rebellion), they are ready to
finally enter the Promised Land and just as the LORD parted the waters
of the Red Sea by the hands of Moses, so here He parts the waters of the
Jordan river – Joshua 3:11-17 describes this.
This time, priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stood in the
waters and immediately rose in a heap upstream and the waters leading to
the Dead Sea were cut off.
Israel crossed on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan.
c.
The mountains skipped, little hills – probably a reference to Mt. Sinai as recorded in
Exodus 19. It was an awesome
scene as the people saw the mountain covered with clouds and they heard
thundering and lightening.
The voice of God thundered and He spoke the 10 commandments to them.
d.
LESSON: 3 major events
in the history of Israel in the wilderness.
They established the might and majesty of God.
His ability to accomplish these feats demonstrates His ability to
deliver His people.
a.
This is not a rebuke,
but a question of the forces of nature (the Red Sea, Jordan River, and
Mt. Sinai, etc.) and their typical power and flow.
Another way of saying this is the psalmist asks them (as if they
could answer) what caused them on the occasions mentioned to respond
contrary to nature?
b.
There are many passages
that show how nature itself declares the glory of God – Rom. 1:20, Psa.
19:1-4, Psa. 8:1-5, etc. See
also Job 38-39 where the LORD questions Job.
a.
Here we find the answer
to the previous questions?
It is the Lord (Adonai), the God of Jacob who caused these things.
b.
He controls nature
(having power over it) and all things – Gen. 1 – the creation; 2 Peter
3:5-7 – He speaks nature into existence and sustains it by the same
word.
c.
NOTHING can stand up to
His presence (unless He wills it) – the message for us (and them) is
that God is in control, even in our lives.
It may seem that in this life and world that God has lost control
– but He is still over all.
He WILL win! Heb. 13:6
reminds us, “So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear. What can man do to me?””
1 John 4:4, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
d.
Vs. 8 – gives us yet
another example of God’s power over nature as he sustains Israel in the
wilderness. He turned the
rock into a pool of water – TWICE! Meribah which means “contend” was
what Moses called places where God provided water for Israel (Ex.
17:1-7, Num. 20:10-11, etc.).
On other occasions He also provided water for the people in the
wilderness.
This event also demonstrates something else about God’s power:
Water is essential to our survival.
God provided that which Israel needed to survive.
He can do the same for us.
He can sustain us physically giving us all that we need.
Jesus emphasized that in Matt. 6:28-33 where He tells us not to
worry – He knows our needs and can provide them.
But even more than this He sustains us spiritually.
There are several references to spiritual water
i.
Jesus in John 4:10-15
offered the Samaritan woman at the well living waters with which one
would never thirst again.
ii.
“And Jesus said to
them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
iii.
“On the last day,
that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If
anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as
the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living
water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in
Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus
was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37–39)
iv.
1 Cor. 10:4 also makes
reference to events of our text in vs. 8.
“and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 10:4)
v.
The point here is that
just as water is essential to sustain our physical bodies.
So the living waters of Jesus are essential to sustain us
spiritually. We must drink
of His word – Matt. 5:6 (hungering and thirsting after righteousness).
And just as God could bring water out of a rock, He can give us
what we need.
In
this psalm we are again reminded of how awesome God truly is.
Considering His power and majesty, will humbly bow before Him?
Will we trust Him?
Will we remember Him as we partake of the memorial He provided to remind
us of what He did (cf. 1 Cor. 5:7-8,
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new
lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover,
was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”)