Remember How God Came To You!

Devotions

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Reading

NLT Psalm 114:1 When the Israelites escaped from Egypt-- when the family of Jacob left that foreign land-- 2 the land of Judah became God's sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. 3 The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs! 5 What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? 6 Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Israel. 8 He turned the rock into pools of water; yes, springs of water came from solid rock.


Meditation

Literal - What Psalm 114 means
This portion of scripture is a part of the Psalms that is called “The "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-18) has been a significant component of Jewish festival liturgy since the before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. A “Hallel” is a song of praise. This group of psalms is read during Passover.

What happened when the people of Israel left Egypt? Several things happened:
· God led them to the Promised Land, (verse 2).
· God led them through the Red Sea, which became dry for them, (verse 3).
· God led them over the River Jordan. It also became dry for them, (verse 3).
· Mountains and hills like Sinai seemed to jump like animals, (verse 4).
· God gave them water from the rocks in dry places, (verse 8).
What caused the waters to retreat, the mountains to shake, the animals to flee, and the rocks to give forth fresh water to drink? It was the presence of the Lord God of Israel who cleared a path for His chosen people to reach their chosen destiny. It is God in the midst of His people that gives them salvation, hope, and victory.

Christological: The Exodus took place because the Passover lamb had been slain and the people redeemed from the curse of death that fell upon Egypt due to their sins. Jesus is the ultimate Passover lamb. Jesus has said that His presence is in His church now today so just as God walked with Israel through the wilderness so Jesus the Christ is walking with us today to give us salvation, hope, and victory as well.




Moral: We must tell ourselves the grand narrative of God’s acts of redemption so that we will be led to praise. One of our main ethical duties is to “remember” the wonderful grace of God which is found in the history of redemption. To forget will cripple our faith and limit our vision.


Eternal: The presence of the Lord is the main treasure of heaven. Then in that place of eternal peace and rest we will rehearse in praise and joy the wonderful deeds of God in history as we experience the fullness of His presence on every side. We will rejoice in the wonderful deeds of God for all time and never forget His love for us.


Prayer Dear Lord, keep my heart from becoming hard and my memory faint. Allow me to see clearly the wonder of your deeds of redemption, both in the Passover and even more in the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.


Contemplation Remember!


Action: Take time today to remember the redemptive acts of God in Jesus Christ to save you. Preach to yourself the gospel. Look to your own life journey. Where has God’s presence been most real in your life? Remember all that God has done for you and rejoice over it today!