Psalms 114:1-8: a reflection

1When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language, 2Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back. 4The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. 5What was it, you sea, that you fled? You Jordan, that you turned back? 6You mountains, that you skipped like rams? You little hills, like lambs? 7Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters.

This psalm remembers the exodus in vivid, almost startling images: when Israel came out of Egypt, the sea saw it and fled, the Jordan turned back, the mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. And then it calls the whole earth to respond to the presence of God: Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. The sea and the mountains, the very creation, responded to God's presence with awe and trembling; and the psalm summons the earth, and us, to the same reverence before the God whose presence even the sea and the hills could not stand unmoved. The presence of God calls forth a living reverence, before which even creation trembles.

Notice the response of creation to God's presence, and the call to us: tremble at the presence of the Lord. The sea fled, the Jordan turned back, the mountains skipped, at the presence of God; the very creation responded with awe. And the psalm calls the earth to tremble at his presence, summoning a reverence that matches the response of creation. If the sea and the mountains cannot stand unmoved before God's presence, how much more should we respond with reverence and awe. The living response of creation to God's presence is a rebuke to a dull, unmoved reverence in us. God's presence is meant to call forth a living awe, a trembling reverence, not a casual indifference. Even the earth is summoned to tremble before him.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's presence calls forth a living reverence in us, as even creation trembles before him. We can grow dull and casual toward God's presence, unmoved, our reverence faint or absent; but the psalm shows the sea and the mountains responding to God's presence with awe, and calls the earth to tremble before him. If creation responds so, how much more should we. God's presence is meant to call forth a living reverence in us, not a dull indifference. Do not grow dull and casual toward God's presence, unmoved where even the sea and mountains tremble; let his presence call forth a living reverence in you. Let God's presence call forth a living reverence in you, as the sea fled and the mountains skipped at his presence and the psalm summons the earth to tremble before him; for the presence of God is meant to move us to awe and reverence, and if even creation responds so to his presence, we do well to respond with a living reverence rather than a dull indifference.

Lord, this psalm remembers the exodus in vivid, almost startling images: when Israel came out of Egypt, the sea saw it and fled, the Jordan turned back, the mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. And then it calls the whole earth to respond to your presence: tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. The sea and the mountains, the very creation, responded to your presence with awe and trembling; and the psalm summons the earth, and me, to the same reverence. Show me the response of creation to your presence, and the call to me: tremble at the presence of the Lord. The sea fled, the Jordan turned back, the mountains skipped, at your presence; the very creation responded with awe. And the psalm calls the earth to tremble at your presence. If the sea and the mountains cannot stand unmoved before your presence, how much more should I respond with reverence and awe. The living response of creation to your presence is a rebuke to a dull, unmoved reverence in me. Your presence is meant to call forth a living awe, not a casual indifference. Take that to my heart, for your presence calls forth a living reverence in me, as even creation trembles before you. I can grow dull and casual toward your presence, unmoved, my reverence faint or absent; but the psalm shows the sea and the mountains responding to your presence with awe. If creation responds so, how much more should I. Keep me from growing dull and casual toward your presence, unmoved where even the sea and mountains tremble; let your presence call forth a living reverence in me, Lord, as the sea fled and the mountains skipped at your presence.