Earth Moves


Psa 114:1  After Israel left Egypt, the clan of Jacob left those barbarians behind; 

Psa 114:2  Judah became holy land for him, Israel the place of holy rule. 

Psa 114:3  Sea took one look and ran the other way; River Jordan turned around and ran 

	off. 

Psa 114:4  The mountains turned playful and skipped like rams, the hills frolicked like 

	spring lambs. 

Psa 114:5  What's wrong with you, Sea, that you ran away? and you, River Jordan, that 

	you turned and ran off? 

Psa 114:6  And mountains, why did you skip like rams? and you, hills, frolic like spring 	

	lambs? 

Psa 114:7  Tremble, Earth! You're in the Lord's presence! in the presence of Jacob's God. 

Psa 114:8  He turned the rock into a pool of cool water, turned flint into fresh spring 

	water. 



	There are well-established principles of natural things with which we have 

become well accustomed from early childhood. Rock is hard, water flows, fire 

consumes, gravitational pull, etc. From the first time we tried to raise up off the 

ground and take off like all those grownups were telling us to, there was an 

awareness instilled that we would surely fall and in falling we could bump into 

something that was quite hard and painful. Some things were very soft and nice, 

though, and lying peacefully on them was most enjoyable. We found that certain 

things appeared to be unchanging through the years such as the mountains and the 

oceans. After getting to close to a flame or touching a hot substance we learned that 

getting burned was something to be avoided at all costs. So many things can pretty 

much be counted on to sound, feel, and react in a very predictable and 

established manner. 

	In reading this Psalm this morning, while it is probably speaking in 

metaphors, there seemed to also be a depiction being given of what takes place in a 

life that has been set free from bondage and brought into a kingdom of 

righteousness. Everything changes. As righteousness is established in life-worship of 

Christ, there is entrance made to a realm where fire no longer consumes, gravity no 

longer holds us down, rock produces water, mountains move, seas are pushed back 

for safe passage, storms cease, sickness leaves, water is a footpath, and anything we 

have become used to in the natural world is subject to change. It's not just that we 

ourselves have changed, but there is a change in our location. We are now in the 

presence of the mountain-moving God of creation and all the old rules no longer 

apply. We've obtained a Name that is above every other name and in that Name is 

release from the dominance of any of these other natural names. Where there is a 

need, they all comply with the will of the Craftsman and conform to His wishes. 

	This is an awesome realm in which to live, but again, the key to abiding in this 

place is the second sentence of verse 7- "You're in the Lord's presence!" As awareness 

and honoring of His presence becomes the central passion of the heart and as there 

is no other desire that is greater than abiding in Him, truly nothing will be 

impossible or too difficult. Those mountains will go dancing out of the way. Those 

little hills will be seen as merely play things before God. At the sound of His word all 

will tremble and take on the form and attributes of His direction and command. 

We'll be able to walk around in a fire and not be burned as long as we're taking that 

walk with the Lord of all. Everything takes on a totally different and new perspective 

as nothing is permanent and will most definitely make a needed change as our 

journey in Him finds need of it. Impressed and overwhelmed with the all-consuming 

reality of His nearness, there will no longer be restraints by the little laws of nature. 




3/30/04