Psalm 114 (Message)
After Israel left Egypt, the clan of Jacob left those barbarians behind;
Judah became holy land for him, Israel the place of holy rule.
Leaving the land of slavery, Israel became God’s holy people and the land the place of holy rule. This was a first step to their being made Holy.
This move from slavery to holiness is not a process we are good at. We lurch between slaveries. People who have encountered the Lord and been freed often develop a path through which others can find their freedom that is upheld legalistically.
The freedom described here is not gained through repeating steps in a plan, but calling out to the Lord for mercy and waiting for Him.
Sea took one look and ran the other way; River Jordan turned around and ran off.
The mountains turned playful and skipped like rams, the hills frolicked like spring lambs.
When the Lord intervenes, then nothing will be an obstacle to Him. Discussing this with someone from Africa he commented that, in the face of corrupt officials, if the Lord wants something to happen it will. It may take longer, but the Lord will fulfil his word.
Tremble, Earth! You’re in the Lord’s presence! in the presence of Jacob’s God.
He turned the rock into a pool of cool water, turned flint into fresh spring water.
The transforming effect is not because of the skill of the people of Israel, it is because the presence of the Lord is there. The earth trembles when the Lord approaches.
The more complete Study of this passage can be found at –Freedom from Legalism