PRAISE YE THE LORD. (Part 11)
Psalm 114. Verses 1-8 read:
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? Thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
Having discussed Psalms 146 to 150, we want to turn our attention to other scriptures that provide insight into the subject of praise. Today’s text throws light on the role praise played in securing victories for the nation Israel whilst on its journey from Egypt to Caanan, the promised land. The Hebrew name Judah means praise. Having come out of the land of their slavery under cruel taskmasters, Israel was faced with the risk of travelling the lonely and dreary wilderness to the promised land. In such situations, men seek for security. Scripture says that Israel made Judah or praise its sanctuary. This was the wisest and safest decision to take in the circumstance.
To dwell in the place of praise is to dwell in the habitation of God because God inhabits the praise of his people. Refer to Psalm 22 verse 3. As a result of this decision, the dominion of God was established over Israel. They seemed vulnerable as they sojourned. However, you dare not touch them because God was with them. Scripture goes ahead to narrate how formidable oppositions were dismissed before them because praise had set the banner of victory all around them. Our text says that:
- The Red Sea saw the power of praise and fled. The sea had to open up for the children of God to walk on dry ground. The sea opened up for God, its Creator to transport his children through.
- The River Jordan was driven back. The river was at its peak season, where it overflows its banks at the time Israel got there. At the presence of God, which was activated by praise, the flowing river was cut off for Israel to walk on dry ground. By the power of praise, every sweeping situation will be cut off.
- The mountains skipped like rams and the little hills like lambs before them. All manner of oppositions, great or small, had to give way for Israel’s passage.
This is what the power of praise can do. Praise is a means of spiritual warfare that either surmounts or removes barriers. When praise goes ahead of you, obstacles give way, and you are positioned to make mockery of those obstacles. In conclusion, the psalmist calls on the earth to tremble at the presence of the Lord, even at the presence of the God of Jacob, whom we serve. He is able to cause hard rocks to discharge water. When praise goes ahead of us, breakthroughs abound on our earthly sojourn. May we always allow praise to lead the way into our victories.
SHALOM 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏