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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2015 May 26







Image 1: Crossing of the Red Sea (1481-1482)
Cosimo Rosselli (1439-1507)
Italian Renaissance Style
Cappella Sistina, Vatican, Rome, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art

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Image 2: Moses Draws Water from the Rock (1642)
Francois Perrier (1590-1650)
French Academic Baroque Classicism Style
Capitoline Museums, Rome, Italy
Image Source: Wikimedia

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Image 3: The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (1866)
Gustave Dore (1832-1883)
Romanticism Style
Dore's English Bible (1866)
Image Source: King James Bible Online

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Image 4: Moses Striking the Rock (1630)
Pieter de Grebber (c. 1600 - 1652/1653
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
MUba Eugene Leroy, Tourcoing, France
Image Source: Wikipedia

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Image 5: Joshua Passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant (1800)
Benjamin West (1738-1820)
Neoclassical Style
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Image Source: Wikipedia


     Explanation: In Psalm 114 the Psalmist describes how the God brought Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land by his wonders. The Psalm lists events thematically; the paintings which illustrate them, however, are in chronological order.
     The first painting depicts the Exodus from Egypt, mentioned in the first part of the Psalm.
     The second painting depicts one of two episodes in which the LORD provided water from a rock for Israel. The treasures which are depicted in the painting mark it as a representation of the first of these miraculous provisions of water (Exodus 17), because, at the time of the incident, Israel had departed form Egypt only a few weeks before (about a month-and-a-half) and quite possibly still had the treasures they took from Egypt readily available to unload when they found a suitable place to stay -- the availability of water being a chief consideration. This seems to be the implication of the artist's depiction of the treasures.
     The third painting depicts Israel receiving the law at Sinai. It was on this occasion that "the whole mount quaked greatly, as mentioned in Exodus 19:18". In the Psalm below (verses 4 & 6) this is described as the "mountains" and the "little hills" skipping like "rams" and "little lambs."
     The fourth painting depicts the second miraculous provision of water (about 39 years after the Exodus). This interpretation of the painting is obvious from the proximity (and participation) of Aaron (Numbers 20), who was mentioned as a key participant in this incident, but was not mentioned in the prior incident.
     The fifth painting depicts the crossing of the Jordan 40 years after the Exodus as a prelude to conquering the Promised Land.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Hallel Psalms: The Egyptian Hallel -- Psalms 113-118: Psalm 113. Psalm 114. Psalm 115. Psalm 116. Psalm 117. Psalm 118. The Great Hallel [Group of Psalms] -- Psalms 118-136: Psalm 118. Psalm 119. Psalm 120. Psalm 121. Psalm 122. Psalm 123. Psalm 124. Psalm 125. Psalm 126. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 129. Psalm 130. Psalm 131. Psalm 132. Psalm 133. Psalm 134. Psalm 135. Psalm 136. The Great Hallel [Single Psalm] -- Psalm 136. An Individual Hallel -- Psalm 145. The Concluding Hallel -- Psalms 146-150: Psalm 146. Psalm 147. Psalm 148. Psalm 149. Psalm 150. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 114 - #1. Psalm 114 - #2. Psalm 114 - #3. Psalm 114 - #4. Psalm 114 - #5. Psalm 114 - #6. Psalm 114 - #7. Psalm 114 - #8.Psalm 114 - #9. Psalm 114 - #10. Psalm 114 - #11. Psalm 114 - #12. Psalm 114 - #13. ]

     When Israel left Egypt the sea saw it and fled. Likewise, later, the Jordan river was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs (1-4). What ailed the sea, the Jordan, and the hills that they behaved in such a manner (5-6)? It was The LORD made the earth to tremble at his presence. It was he who turned the rock into a pool of water and into a fountain of waters (7-8).


THE PSALTER:

BOOK FIVE OF FIVE:

Psalms 107-150.


Psalm 114

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.



* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]





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