Our God Marches On

I mentioned in our previous discussion that Psalms 113-118 are known as the Egyptian Hallel. These Psalms are sung by Jewish people during the Passover. Psalm 114 is an interesting one. It describes God marching from Egypt to the land of Canaan through the people of Israel. It’s a simple Psalm that exalts God high above His creation.

1. God takes up residence among His people (1-2).

“Israel” and “Jacob” are two ways to describe the people of God. They lived in Egypt as slaves for over 400 years. The Egyptians are described as “people of strange language”. Certainly, the Jewish people came to understand some of the Egyptian language over time. However, they kept their language while living as slaves. As they lived in bondage the foreign tongue of their taskmasters was a constant reminder that they were not at home among the Egyptians.

We can imagine the frustration of living among a people whose language we do not speak. It was probably common for a Hebrew to not understand orders that came from an Egyptian. The language barrier probably led to the Hebrews being abused more frequently. If you don’t understand and order given to you it’s difficult to obey the order.

This would not be the only time the people of God lived amongst a people of another language. Whether it was the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, etc the Hebrews, throughout history, found themselves captured by a people of strange language.

The Christian experiences the same thing. The language of the world is a reminder to us that we do not belong in this world. Profane speech grieves the Christian. We long for a day when foul language is no more.

In verse 2 we see that Judah is God’s sanctuary. Judah is another reference to the people of God. The Hebrew people became the sanctuary of God. There was no Tabernacle. There was no temple. God took up residence among his people. He dwelt with the in the presence of a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire.

He also says that Israel was God’s dominion. The word means kingdom. God created a great kingdom through the nation of Israel.

There is some application for the church from these passages. Christ has taken up residence within His people. Believers are a part of the kingdom of God.

We are the temple of God

We are the body of Christ

We are the kingdom of God

God is within us.

2. Creation cleared the path as God marched through (3-4).

The language is obviously poetic. The sea and the rivers are inanimate. They are personified to communicate a message about God.

The sea refers to the Red Sea. The Jordan refers to the Jordan River. Both were bodies of water that Israel passed through on their way to the Promised Land.

Moses led them through the Red Sea.

Joshua led them through the Jordan River.

When these bodies of water saw God marching through His people toward them, they cleared the path. They split open.

As well, the mountains skipped like rams and the hills like lambs. This could refer to one of two things:

Joy- Imagine young rams and lambs playfully running through a field.

Fear- The skipping may refer to running away. It seems to me the context is fear.

I think this is a reference to the Mount Sinai trembling at the giving of the law in Exodus 19.

Creation shows more wisdom than man. When creation sees God marching its way it submits to Him. Again, this is poetic language. It is meant to show that the Lord is sovereign over creation. Mankind should learn from creation’s response to God.

God would accomplish what He wanted through Israel. They would leave Egypt. They would cross the red Sea. They would cross the Jordan. They would arrive in the Promised Land. To stand between Israel and the promised Land was to stand in the way of God.

God will accomplish what he wants through his church. The gates of hell will not prevail. To stand against God’s church is to stand against God.

3. The Creator is greater than His creation (5-6).

Here the Psalmist uses sarcasm. He mocks creation. He asks a series of four questions. The questions are rhetorical.

What ails you, o sea that you flee back?

What ails you, o Jordan that you turn back?

What ails you, o mountains that you skip like rams?

What ails you, o hills that you skip like lambs?

The sea, the rivers, the mountains, and the hills are supposed to be strong. Compared to humans they are. As God marches toward them, they get out of the way. They are intimidated. This is funny to the Psalmist.

Imagine a small child frightening their father. They get a kick out of that because they have never seen their father scared. The Psalmist could not imagine the mountains jumping out of fear. When he imagines it, he gets a chuckle.

As I thought about creations response to the Creator, I thought of calvary. When Jesus was crucified, the creation responded.

The sky turned dark

The earth trembled

The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom

Creation responded to the presence of God. When God draws near creation responds. When God draws near to us we should respond:

He has drawn near to us through the coming of Christ.

He draws near to us through His Word.

He draws near to us through opportunities of service.

Are we moved? Do we tremble?

Spurgeon said:

God has come nearer to us than ever he did to Sinai, or to Jordan, for he has assumed our nature, and yet the mass of mankind are neither driven back from their sins, nor moved in the paths of obedience

4. God is our powerful provider (7-8).

The earth is commanded to tremble at the presence of the Lord. This shows us that the questions asked in verses 5-6 were not meant as a rebuke to the earth for skipping like rams. They did the proper thing. They feared the Lord.

The Psalm closes in an interesting way. God is described in a tender way. He is the provider. He turns the rock into a place that provides refreshing water. This reminds us of Israel in the wilderness. God provided His people with lifesaving water through a rock.

Water from a rock is mentioned two times in verse 8. There were two times in Israel’s history that the Lord provided water from a rock (exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11).

Two times the waters were split, and they walked across on dry land.

Two times a rock gave them water.

While it is true that we should fear God we should also recognize how tender He is toward us. God cares for us. He provides our needs in the most unlikely of ways.

God marched to Canaan through his people. He provided for them along the way. God is presently marching his people to heaven. If you are saved you will make it there. On the journey you will lack for nothing. God will make sure of it.

If there is a Red Sea in your way He will split it.

I there is a Jordan river in your way he will turn it back.

If there is a mountain or hill in your way, He will flatten it.

If you are thirsty, He will give you drink even if it must be from a rock.

I love the lyrics to Battle Hymn of the Republic:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me: As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free; While God is marching on.

Our God is marching on. He is marching on through His church. He will accomplish His will. Just as he took Israel from Egypt to Canaan he will take you and I from earth to heaven.