1 When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.3 The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs.5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.
As I read this Psalm, I couldn’t help but close my eyes and imagine God walking the earth, admiring his creation. The sea and the Jordan parted at his command. The mountains and hills rejoiced and leaped to have him near. As God led his people away from Egypt and captivity, the Israelites were not the only ones rejoicing. The earth provided for them as they traveled through the wilderness.
Nature itself responds to the presence of our great LORD. Jesus referenced this in Luke 19–(39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”)
God is mightier and much more vast than my mind can fathom. The title over this Psalm in the ESV version is, “Tremble at the Presence of the Lord.” I think I forget sometimes at God’s greatness, power, and majesty. He is to be reverenced. Only by the Holy Spirit can we even remotely comprehend how he can be Father and friend and that he loves us dearly.
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11) NIV
While I know this psalm has to do with the exodus from Egypt, I really sensed God telling me: Remember! There was a period of time I was greatly depressed because I let someone else’s words and actions impact me. I had given their opinion of my worth and value too much weight and believed their words over God’s! He healed the shame and rejection but there was still a residue. It has only been recently I had the revelation that if God didn’t want me, he didn’t have to create me! That may seem obvious to many, but I had never thought of it before. He helped me let go of that last shred of rejection that had me in bondage.
How can we not respond to such love? Like the mountains and hills, I am “leaping” because the God who created everything knows me and loves me. He sent his Son to walk on this earth he created, to sacrifice himself for my sins, all because of his great love.
Lord, thank you for using your Word to speak to me to remind me you love me, provide for me, and not take lightly your strength and power. Forgive me for the times I take for granted just how awesome you are. All of creation reacts to your presence. I, too, feel your presence and my heart leaps for joy. I am forever grateful for the work you’ve done in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
Cindy (gardnlady)
Sixty-six books in a year 