At the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt and their entrance into the Promised Land, Israel was one holy kingdom (Exod 19:5–6).
The separate references to the land of Judah and Israel indicate that the psalm was composed after the kingdom was divided (1 Kgs 12:16–17; cp. 1 Sam 11:8; 1 Kgs 1:35), and probably after the Exile. The land of Judah became God’s sanctuary because the people worshiped God; his Tabernacle and later his Temple were located there.
ⓘThis lyrical celebration of the Lord’s power in...
This lyrical celebration of the Lord’s power in nature recalls Israel’s beginning as a nation at the Exodus (114:1–2) and upon their entry to the Promised Land (114:3–6). It promotes reverence for the God of Jacob (114:7–8).
1When Israel departed from Egypt,the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,2Judah became God’s sanctuary,Israel His dominion.ⓘhurried out of their way! The waters divided...
hurried out of their way! The waters divided for Israel to escape Egypt (77:17–18; Exod 14).
The Jordan River turned away when Israel arrived to cross over (see Josh 3).
skipped like rams: God’s presence caused the mountains to quake (Exod 19:16–20).
3The sea observed and fled;the Jordan turned back;4the mountains skipped like rams,the hills like lambs.5Why was it, O sea, that you fled,O Jordan, that you turned back,6O mountains, that you skipped like rams,O hills, like lambs?7Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,at the presence of the God of Jacob,8who turned the rock into a pool,the flint into a fountain of water!