Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.
Psalm 114:7-8
Background
Psalm 114 reminds us of God’s power. With a focus on two scriptural events that project a God not limited by natural laws. Or science. Or even our mental limitations.
One, as the Israelites were backed up to the Red Sea. The mighty and well-armed Egyptians were charging. In the moment it looked like a catastrophe…until the sea began to part. A path. Hope emerges.
Two, the Israelites had been camped outside the promised land for 40 years. Moses had just died. It was now time to claim the land. Joshua, a man more known for liking to “linger” in God’s presence than his leadership exploits, instructed the priests to step into the flood waters of the Jordan. It was go time. They did. The water stopped. A path. Hope emerges.
- The sea looked and fled (verse 3)
- The Jordan (river) turned back (verse 4)
And then the psalmist with a rhetorical taunt:
- Why was it sea that you fled? (verse 5)
- Why, Jordan, did you turn back? (verse 5)
The author knew. “Tremble earth at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob”. This was a God who could turn “hard rock into springs of water”.
Reflections
God’s power is way beyond incremental – this scripture paints the picture. He doesn’t just change still water into springs of water. Or hard rock into soft rock. No, the author described a much more transformative power. He changes rock into springs of water. Immovable and lifeless rock into moving and living water.
This power transforms.
And it is in this power that we have hope. Hope that a wayward son or daughter with no hint of kingdom interest is transformed. Hope that a marriage marred by discontent is healed. Hope that a debilitating addiction is erased. Hope that an aching pain from abuse is redeemed. Even hope that a lukewarm nation reverses course and is revived.
Lord, I’m afraid that many times my views have implicitly projected my personal limitations on you. I forget. I get caught up in conventional wisdom. I want to begin living a life daily that projects your power. That recognizes the power of your presence. That lives it hour to hour. Let me not forget. I love you. Amen.
What if we built into our spiritual disciplines a daily reminder of God’s power?
What if we became known as people who looked beyond the obvious and conventional…and consistently claimed hope in the unlikely?
What if... 