April 8, 2026

A Walk down Memory Lane #

Psalm 114:1-8

Introduction

Spurgeon describes this Psalm as the highest in poetical value. As such, inanimate objects, such as the sea, river and mountains are described with living reactions to God’s presence. That is one of the reasons it is so poetical.

It is good to look back, and see what God has done. We have a great advantage, because we have so much historical evidence of what God has done for the nation of Israel, and for the church! God is alive and well. They didn’t have as much to look back too, but what they did have, they did look back to, and glorified God. We have much more reason to glorify God.

I. Deliverance from Sin (1) #

A. Unity “house of Jacob” #

i. House that entered #

• It was Jacob’s house, and his twelve children

• 400 years had passed

ii. Israel still remained united #

• United in name – “house of Jacob”

  • “God of Jacob” is mentioned over and over…

• United in Language

  • They refused to adapt the Egyptian culture, and language.

B. Exit “When Israel went out of Egypt” #

i. Forsaking Slavery #

• Israel had been enslaved in Egypt.

  • They went for a little bit, and ended up in bondage… that is what the world and sin will do.

  • It pulls you in, and keeps you, until you cannot leave!

    • That is why we stand so strong against worldliness

ii. Following God #

• Getting out of Egypt, was the first step, then following God!
• After Salvation a believer should follow God!

II. Dwelling with God (2) #

A. God’s continual presence #

i. Sanctuary – a sacred place #

Ex. 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

• God didn’t leave Israel. He was a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, when he led them out of Egypt!
• God doesn’t leave the believer!

Heb. 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

• God didn’t just save you from eternal damnation, he dwells with you!

Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

B. God’s dominating presence #

i. Dominion – territory under a government #

• God desired for Israel to be a Theocracy – lead, and governed by God

  • Israel desired, and begged for a king, and God allowed it (permissive will).

ii. God has every right to rule over us! #

1Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

• • You don’t belong to yourself… you have been bought and paid for!

    • We say, “my house”… but in reality, if you haven’t made the final payment, it isn’t yours. It belongs to the bank! Miss a couple of payments, and you will quickly learn that.
    • We were not able to purchase our salvation, we are incapable of purchasing salvation, therefore we belong to God, who paid for our salvation!

III. Dominion of God (4-8) #

A. Previous Dominion (4-6) #

i. Sea #

a) In the deliverance of Israel #

• • The great Red Sea opened, and Israel crossed over on dry ground.

Ex. 14:15 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

ii. The River (Jordan) (Joshua 3:14-17) #

a) This was commemorative of the Red Sea #

• • God used this event, as yet another miracle in their life, that reminded them of God’s power over the Red Sea, and over the Jordan River!

iii. Mountain (Ex 19:17-19) #

a) God caused the Mountain to quake #

• • WE should be reminded, that if God parted the Red Sea (and He did), the Jordan River, and the caused the mountain to quake, there is nothing too big for our God!
  • He is there for us!

B. Precept of Dominion (7-8) #

i. This is a command – “Tremble, thou earth” #

• Not one of us can make the earth shake… but God Can
• Not one of us can part the Sea, or even a river, but God can!

ii. Jesus being God, had this power! #

Matt. 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!