Psalm 114 - The presence of the Lord

Read: Psalm 114 vs 1-8

There are lots of numbers in the Bible. So for example the animals went into the ark 2 by 2, there were 10 commandments, Jesus called 12 disciples and told them to forgive others ’70 times 7’. One of the less well known, and yet very significant, numbers in the overall story of the Bible is the number 430. This is the number of years during which Israel lived as slaves in the land of Egypt (see Exodus 12:40.

Pause for a moment and count backwards. 430 years ago was 1590. That is an incredibly long time ago and if you are anything like me you will know nothing at all about that time in history, it is just so long ago. But for that length of time this people, God’s people, lived as slaves in a land that was not their home. Through it all however they had a promise, a promise from God Himself that He would bless them and one day lead them to a land of their own (Genesis 12:7).

At any point during those years it must have seemed that God had completely forgotten His promise. Generations were born, generations died, and it would have felt as if Egypt was always going to be home to this people. Yet amazingly these people it seems did not give up on God’s promises. In Exodus 1:21 we read of how the Hebrew midwives in Egypt ‘feared God’ and He saw them and had not forgotten them.

Psalm 114 remembers that time in history when the 430 years came to an end and when ‘Israel came out of Egypt’ (vs 1). What followed were amazing displays of God’s goodness and provision; 

‘the sea looked back and fled, 

the Jordan turned back;

the mountains leaped like rams,

the hills like lambs.’ (vs 3-4)

Psalm 114 remembers these long past events and calls those who now read these words to worship an trust the LORD. We all live with a very ‘close up focus’. Our field of vision is dominated by what happened a few days ago and what we anticipate about the week to come. God however sees a very big picture, with him a thousand years are just like a day (Psalm 90:4). He sees a big picture, today He sees you, He has not forgotten His promises and He can be trusted.

Prayer: Father thank You that You see all of history in one go. Help me to worship and trust You as I go about my life here on earth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.