114:1 When Israel left Egypt, when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind, 114:2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his kingdom.
The author is unknown. Psalms 113–118 form the Egyptian Hallel songs. Hallel means “Praise God.” These songs were sung during the Jewish festivals and on holy days. Psalm 113-114 were sung before the meal on Passover. Psalms 115-118 were sung after the meal. Jesus sang these songs on Passover with His disciples.
Since the Passover celebrated the Exodus from Egypt, then these songs were appropriate for the Passover. After Israel left Egypt, then Judah became the tribe in which the sanctuary (or temple) was located. The sacrificial lambs at the temple all pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Millennial Kingdom, King Messiah will rule from Jerusalem.
114:3 The sea looked and fled; the Jordan River turned back.
God divided the Red Sea at the beginning of the Exodus. He divided the Jordan River at the end of the Exodus. Both Jewish generations were able to physically observe the power of God.
114:4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
The damming of the Jordan River, the collapse of Jericho’s walls, or other great miracles may have caused earthquakes in Canaan.
114:5 Why do you flee, O sea? Why do you turn back, O Jordan River?
The Red Sea and the Jordan River were turned back by the omnipotence of God. Israel had no excuse. If God could overturn the seas and rivers, then Israel could trust in the power of Jehovah.
114:6 Why do you skip like rams, O mountains, like lambs, O hills?
God is omnipotent. He caused the earthquakes.
114:7 Tremble, O earth, before the Lord— before the God of Jacob, 8 who turned a rock into a pool of water, a hard rock into springs of water!
Notice that these three questions are not answered. Instead, the earth was commanded to tremble before Jehovah. There is no such thing as Mother Nature. Mother Nature needs to tremble, because God is sovereign over everything that happens on the earth.
God is omnipotent. He brought water from a rock. No pagan idol or god could repeat this miracle. Therefore, Jehovah is the true God over all of creation. The earth and everyone in it needs to tremble.