The God of Jacob and of Judah

Psalm 114:1–8 (ESV): 

When Israel went out from Egypt, 

the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 

 2  Judah became his sanctuary, 

Israel his dominion. 

 3  The sea looked and fled; 

Jordan turned back. 

 4  The mountains skipped like rams, 

the hills like lambs. 

 5  What ails you, O sea, that you flee? 

O Jordan, that you turn back? 

 6  O mountains, that you skip like rams? 

O hills, like lambs? 

 7  Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, 

at the presence of the God of Jacob, 

 8  who turns the rock into a pool of water, 

the flint into a spring of water. 

This psalm refers to the nation of Israel in several ways to emphasise different aspects of their experience. One of these is the ‘house of Jacob’.  This refers to those who entered Egypt during the years that Joseph was second in command in that nation. When he invited his family to come and reside in Goshen with permission of the Pharaoh. Therefore it is appropriate that this psalm links the nation’s escape from Egypt to the people who entered it. For these are the ones from whom all the Israelites have descended from since being there. What once started off in Egypt as a poor, withering family due to famine, had become a vast and prospering people, significant enough to become a nation! Thus demonstrating something of the perfect plan, power and purposes of God, even in their slavery and oppression. Even though the Israelites were downtrodden and ill-treated for generations, they had become numerous, so much so that the current Pharaoh and Egyptians now considered them a threat. So, referring to the people of Israel as the house of Jacob tells a story. It is a reminder of what God has done and can do. For His might and power are always the pervading authority no matter the circumstances! 

The people who left Egypt are also named as Judah, the leading tribe of the nation of Israel. Judah was known for it’s power, strength, and for the fact that the promised Messiah would come from them. This is the tribe that ‘became his sanctuary’, a place of safety, security and the presence of God thereby signifying His holiness and strength. Once the nation arrived at the Promised Land, the holy town of Jerusalem where the temple was built was in Judah, centrally located, just as God is central to the nation of Israel, His chosen people.

We can see that through simply identifying different names for Israel, this psalmist connects the Israelites past to the the future promises of God. It reminds us of God's favour, His work through the trials, and His assurance that wherever His people are, He will be at the centre, providing His holiness and strength, and always fulfilling His promises. Where God's people are, there He is, whatever they are going through, He has a plan, whoever seems to be in power, He is more powerful and He looks over and cares for His own. 

This psalm continues to tells us that at the mere sight of this nation, ‘the sea looked and fled’ and ‘the mountains skipped like rams’. For ‘the presence of the Lord’ is with His people. Do you know that the presence of God is STILL with His people, as magnificent and powerful today as it was then? 

God can and does still do miraculous and incredible things through and for His people. He is still redeeming people from slavery, providing for their needs, helping them escape and endure oppression, causing natural phenomena to protect and guide them. God can and does mighty works today in the lives of those who follow Him, whether it is following Him to another town or nation, through difficulty or into freedom and blessing, you can still see God working today. 

Therefore expect the unexpected, pray big and keep following Him for who knows how you will see God’s might and power displayed next -  He is the God of Jacob, the God of Judah, and the God of those who follow Him. So, you can trust Him with whatever season of life you are in, and in all circumstances.

God has promised in his holiness:

 Psalm 108:1–13 (ESV):  

1  My heart is steadfast, O God! 

I will sing and make melody with all my being! 

 2  Awake, O harp and lyre! 

I will awake the dawn! 

 3  I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; 

I will sing praises to you among the nations. 

 4  For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; 

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 

 5  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! 

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

 6  That your beloved ones may be delivered, 

give salvation by your right hand and answer me! 

 7  God has promised in his holiness: 

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem 

and portion out the Valley of Succoth. 

 8  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; 

Ephraim is my helmet, 

Judah my sceptre. 

 9  Moab is my washbasin; 

upon Edom I cast my shoe; 

over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 

 10  Who will bring me to the fortified city? 

Who will lead me to Edom? 

 11  Have you not rejected us, O God? 

You do not go out, O God, with our armies. 

 12  Oh grant us help against the foe, 

for vain is the salvation of man! 

 13  With God we shall do valiantly; 

it is he who will tread down our foes. 

From verse 5 this psalm is the same as psalm 60. I wonder why this section has been repeated. So, today, we will look at the listed places more closely to try to understand why the judgements and promises upon these places is so significant. But to begin with lets consider that the first few verses as they are an encouragement to exalt God, to worship Him and give thanks to Him. When you recognise His love and faithfulness, you can trust that what ‘God has promised in His holiness’ He will do. That includes the blessings and curses over people and places, as we shall see as we consider the named areas that are spoken of;

Shechem God proclaims will be divided, and the Valley of Succoth portioned out. These places are situated at one extreme to the other in the Promised Land with Succoth on the East and Shechem on the West. Thereby signifying that God will apportion all of the Promised Land and assign every part of it for His purposes. There is no part that cannot and will not be redeemed in God’s hands. What God wills, happens. Shechem was a special place for the Israelites, being the place where Abram received the promise of the Promised Land, many generations before this psalm was written. It was also a place remembered for sin, when Jacob’s daughter was raped by his son, Shechem. Therefore the reputation of the city was divided, being a place known for worship by Abram and Jacob, but also known as a city of man’s sin. Therefore the promise that this place would be physically divided to represent the divided reputation makes sense. God is promising to outwork physically the division that has begun spiritually. The Valley of Succoth  is promised to be portioned out, the other side of the Promised Land. This was where Jacob stayed for a while after marrying both Leah and Rachel. It was a temporary abode, which is why it has this name which means tents or booths. No longer will this land be a place of temporary living. God decided that it would be a permanent living space for the tribe of Gad. The proclamation over these towns shows that God can change the story and the reputation of places. If God can do this for towns, cities and nations - what do you believe He can do in the lives of individuals? Does that alone not make you want to sing His praise and give Him thanks?!

Next this psalm mentions that Gilead and Manasseh are owned by God. Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh inherited the land of Gilead to the East of the Jordan river. They requested to remain there when they arrived at the Promised Land, and their wish was granted. The land of Manasseh in the Promised Land was apportioned to the other half of that tribe. This shows the unity of the nation. Even though they had different areas to inhabit, they are still one nation. The tribe of Manasseh, though split in it’s inheritance was joined through God’s blessing and kingship. Wherever you are, if you are one of God’s people, you remain one of His people. Different tribes, different locations, different people, but one kingdom under Almighty God, therefore lets 'sing praises to you among the nations.'

‘Ephraim is my helmet’. Ephraim was one of the prominent tribes of Israel and this phrase signifies Ephraim's strength, power and security, all of which are ordained by God. Being a place centrally located in the Promised Land, it was a place of safety, especially as it had one of the 6 cities of refuge within it, plus it housed the Tabernacle. Therefore a place of physical and spiritual safety, a place used to resemble the importance of God being the centre. God established the place of worship and meeting with Himself in the central location of the Promised land, amongst a place and tribe which is strong and secure. What a beautiful image that keeping God at the centre brings these attributes!

Judah is God’s sceptre. A sceptre represents power and leadership both in the military and public domain. God promised in the Old Testament that ‘the sceptre shall not depart from Judah’ (Genesis 49:10), so God is reminding people that He always fulfils His promises, even though it may be generations later. God is steadfast and faithful. God will always work to ensure that His will is done, it may not look like it to us, and there may be waiting involved, but what God determines, He will do. God decided that rule and governance belong to this tribe. Years after entering the Promised Land, Israel saw this in part as King David was of this tribe, so showing God’s steadfastness. Jesus also is from the tribe of Judah, beautifully demonstrating that forever the law, rule and authority still belong to Judah. Jesus is reigning in right power now at the right hand of God the Father in the heavenly realms. Jesus now holds the sceptre - he is the one who reigns, leads and has authority. Are you trusting in Him? 'For your steadfast love is great above the heavens'.

‘Moab is my washbasin’. The area of Moab was a neighbouring kingdom of Israel. So this phrase demonstrates that God is the God and king of all nations. Even the ones who do not honour Him like Moab. God determined that Moab would be minimised in prominence and become a place used in service for His purposes, like a washbasin. This phrase is in line with the sense of a servant who brings a wash basin to clean the feet of guests. Moab is less important than the servant as they are merely the bowl in God’s eyes. Therefore, even when Moab rises in power in history, God always ordained for it to be insignificant due to their lack of recognition of Him and His power. Now, Moab does not exist as God has fulfilled His promise over this place. One whose people used to terrorise His nation now no longer exists, such is the judgement of God. If people choose to reject and deny God, this is fair warning that even if they seem to have moments of success and renown, God will keep His promise to diminish them if they refuse to turn and believe in Him. Such is God's love and faithfulness for His people.

‘upon Edom I cast my shoe’. Shoes are dirty, even nowadays, but at a time when the roads were dusty and dirty with no concrete or pavement, imagine how grimy they would be. God saw Edom as a place worthy of only having a dirty, discarded shoe thrown at it! This demonstrates God’s frustration with the actions of the Edomites. They were meant to be a part of Israel as they were descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob, but as generations went by they showed contempt and hatred for the nation of Israel. Some of the ways Edom showed their dishonour for their kin were by; not allowing them safe passage, raiding them, and rejoicing when Israel was brought low. Therefore God’s judgement was that He would throw His shoe at them. This shows His contempt for their actions, His frustration at how they have treated their brothers. Yet this response seems mild in comparison for what they have done. This is because God gives everyone the opportunity to know His anger at sin and the chance to repent. Edom had treated God’s family with dishonour, so He dishonoured them, but not with the full force of His wrath. Instead, God chose to throw His shoe to express His displeasure and give people the opportunity to turn to Him. He is still doing so, giving people the opportunity to receive salvation.

For many generations the Phiistines had been enemies of God’s people. They seemed to be strong, mighty and authoritative, yet God says He will shout in triumph over them. As David brought down one giant Philistine in his youth, so God used him to wipe out the Philistines when he was king. God shouts in triumph over those who make themselves His enemies and the enemies of His people. So, which side are you on?

So, overall, what can we take from God’s promises for the lands and the peoples? 

- God has a plan that will be fulfilled

- God gives people a chance

- God honours those who love and follow Him, and fights on their behalf

So, today, are you someone who God favours? Are you one of His people, with promises over your life that you are obediently waiting to be fulfilled? Or are you one who is rejected by God and waiting for Him to throw His shoe at you? Be mindful how you live. God’s purposes will always be fulfilled. ‘with God we shall do valiantly’. How would you do without Him?