NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF –

Every time Jewish believers sit down to eat the Passover Meal, after pouring the second cup of wine to commemorate their escape from Egyptian bondage and the story of the Passover is retold, they then sing this psalm. For them, this celebrates the rebirth of their nation, and a new beginning in their walk with God. The Psalmist wanted God’s people to see what the LORD did for them not only with their eyes, but with their emotions. He also wanted them to acknowledge that when God moves, there is no force of man or nature strong enough to resist Him.

“After the children of Israel fled from Egypt, leaving behind a people whose language they didn’t understand, God ordained that He would build His sanctuary in Judah, and the land of Israel would become His realm. That’s why the Red Sea parted; the Jordan River made a path; Jericho’s mountains shook, making them look like rams jumping, and the hills like little lambs hopping. O sea and river and hills, what caused you to respond this way? I’ll tell you, you trembled at the presence of the Divine Master, yes, the God of Jacob, who filled a lake with water out of a rock, and caused a fountain to spring out of hard flintstone.” Psalm 114:1-8

Reflection: Many years ago, while serving in the military a young American soldier was led to Christ by a comrade on the battlefield in Europe, and immediately began testifying of his conversion to all the men in his unit. After the war ended, he returned to a wealthy suburb in his hometown in the Midwest. He confided to his pastor that he didn’t want to slip back into his old habits and way of life. The minister told him that the best way to prevent that was to openly proclaim his faith to everyone he met. A few days later while waiting for a train at the station, he was spotted by a girl he previously dated. She beamed upon seeing him and asked how he was doing. Without hesitation he told her that the greatest thing in the world happened to him. She wanted to know if it was because he got married. “No, it’s even better. I’ve received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior!” he replied. The girl’s expression froze, and then she mumbled a few polite words and hurried away. A short time later he bumped into an old drinking buddy. His friend was ecstatic, and burst out with excitement that they could now attend some great parties once again. But the young man looked his friend in the eye and said, “Nope, I’ve become a Christian!” At that, his old friend faked a smile and quickly changed the subject. This scene occurred over and over again with acquaintances and old pals. Soon the word got around town and many of his old friends stopped coming to see him. The psalmist presents a similar proposition to his compatriots. He knew that they had been rescued from a land of wickedness and idolatry. He wanted to make sure that they did not allow themselves to drift back and become entangled into a worldly way of living, just as their forefathers were tempted to do in the wilderness. He also wanted to remind them of the power God exerted in saving them from their enslavement so they could live in the Promised Land. Few things will drive off those seeking to pull believers back into a sinful lifestyle than an open and honest confession of faith in a saving God. Even the devil doesn’t want to stick around and hear that kind of testimony.