A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 114
PSALME. CXIV.
THis Psalm is a praising of God, for the gracious and glorious worke of delivering of his people out of Egypt, and bringing them into Canaan, and that for six reasons. The first whereof is, v. 1. The next, v. 2. The third, v. 3. The fourth, v. 4. The fifth with the special use thereof, v. 5, 6, 7. The sixth, v. 8.
Vers. 1. WHen Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Iacob from a people of strange language.
From the matter of praise here specified; Learn, 1. The Lords most glorious work done for his people, in special the work of redemption, should be oftenest remembred, as the mention-making here and elsewhere of the time when Israel came out of Egypt, sheweth. 2. Redemption is then best esteemed of, when the miserable condition wherein we were, is called to minde, as here Israels Redemption is commended from the state they were in, in Egypt: The house of Iacob went from a people of a strange language. And this is the first reason of commending this work of God.
Vers. 2. Iudah was his sanctuary: and Israel his dominion.
The next reason of commending this glorious work, is the joyning of delivered Israel in a near fellowship with God. Whence learn, 1. People redeemed by God, are no more their own, but are the Lords purchase, redeemed for his service: Iudah was his sanctuary, and Israel was his dominion. 2. The title and interest which God justly doth claime in his people, is that they may be consecrated unto him in holinesse, and subject themselves as his loyal Subjects to his Government: Iudah was his sanctuary, and Israel was his dominion. 3. All the consecration and sanctification of Israel, is comprehended in and floweth from what was to be found in the tribe of Iudah, and that is in Christ Jesus the flower of his tribe: All Israel is his dominion, but Iudah is his sanctuary.
Vers. 3. The Sea saw it, and fled: Iordan was driven back.
The third reason of Gods praise for this work, is from the drying of the red-sea, and of Iordan, that his people might passe out of Egypt, and into Canaan. Whence learn, 1. Gods dealing for his people whom he hath ransomed, doth prove his wonderfull power for them, and love towards them, as the two miracles of the drying of the sea, and of Iordan do commend the redemption of Israel. 2. When God will deliver his people, no opposition can hinder, and when he will possesse them in what he promised, no impediment can withstand him: The Sea saw it, and fled, and Iordan was driven back.
Vers. 4. The mountaines skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
The fourth reason of Gods praise, is the causing mount Horeb and other hills (in their way to Canaan) to tremble and quake, when he put forth his power on them in the sight of his people. Whence learn, 1. There is no power in the earth which God cannot overtop when he pleaseth, though they were like the strongest mountaines: for as he can shake the earth, so can he move and remove any power on earth, as he gave evidence when he made the mountaines by earth-quake to skip like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
Vers. 5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Iordan that thou wast driven back?
6. Ye mountaines that ye skipped like rams: and ye little hills like lambs?
7. Tremble thou earth at the presence of the LORD: at the presence of the God of Iacob:
The fifth reason of Gods praise, is the evidencing of his power, put forth before his people, in so wonderfull and miraculous a manner, as no cause can be given of the works wrought for his people in their coming out from Egypt, their entry into Canaan, and in the wildernesse, except only Gods extraordinary manifestation of his presence amongst his people, and for them: which the Psalmist bringeth forth, by asking the cause of these miracles, & answering the question by the terrible presence of God. Whence learn, 1. The Lord can work so clearly for his people, that the most stupid and brute souls shal be convinced of his respect to his children, as this experience doth shew. 2. If Atheisme, and unbeliefe in men could finde any natural reason, or any pretence of reason, whereby they might obscure the glory of Gods doing for his people, they would not faile to do it, as this interrogation teacheth; What ailed thee, O thou Sea, &c? 3. The more narrowly the works of the Lord are looked unto, the more evidently doth his power and presence appeare in working them, as the answer unto the question, and holding forth the Lords presence twice for the cause of such changes on the creatures do shew. 4. The end and use of Gods power manifested in favour of his people, is first, that all flesh should fear God, and stand in awe of him; and next, that his covenanted people should look upon his terrour, as their bulwarke: Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Iacob.
Vers. 8. Which turned the rock into a standing water: the flint into a fountain of waters.
The sixth reason of Gods praise, in the wo…k of delivery of his people out of Egypt, is his wonderfull provision for their drink in the dry wildernesse, by dissolving the flinty rock into water. Whence learn, 1. Whomsoever the Lord doth redeem, and set upon their way to heaven, he will provide for whatsoever is necessary for their sustentation and comfort in their journey, as his providing of drink for the camp of Israel give…h proof. 2. We being called of God to follow our Redeemer, till we be put in possession of promises, must not stand for any difficulty, or disappearance of meanes for our sustentation and comfort, for God can work his purpose by contrary-like meanes: He turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountaine-of waters.