Psalm 114:1-8 NIV
When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.
Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?
Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.
There's a Latin phrase tossed around in theology schools: mysterium tremendum. It's what we feel when we experience God. Psalm 114 attempts to describe the presence of God through references to what the Hebrews experienced during the Exodus from Egypt. The psalm is written at the time when the monarchy of the sons of David was well established in Jerusalem, thus the notation that Judah had become the Lord's sanctuary.
Both the crossing of the Red Sea and the River Jordan are noted. Then there's a reference to mountains and hills moving in response to the approach of the creator. I know of no specific narrative about mountains or hills moving in the Exodus story. However there is a story of the earth opening up and swallowing up opponents to God. The point is that the earth moved in retreat at the presence of God, or was it in praise? The image of leaping rams makes me think of of a herd of caribou running from helicopters in the Alaskan tundra. The mountains and hills are stepping out of the way like we might move aside to make way for the president of the nation to pass by.
All this imagery is trying to express the majesty and immensity, the power and authority of God. The Hebrews witnessed amazing wonders during the Exodus. When they were thirsty God caused water to flow from a rock like a fresh water spring flowing down a mountainside. The grateful people of God celebrate his providing. They celebrate being His chosen.
Rudolf Otto is known for his description of the basic religious experience of God. Forgive me if this seems too much like a dictionary article, but I think it's worth republishing here the Merriam Webster definition of mysterium tremendum.
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Otto was one of the most influential thinkers about religion in the first half of the twentieth century. He is best known for his analysis of the experience that, in his view, underlies all religion. He calls this experience "numinous," and says it has three components. These are often designated with a Latin phrase: mysterium tremendum et fascinans.
As mysterium, the numinous is "wholly other"-- entirely different from anything we experience in ordinary life. It evokes a reaction of silence. But the numinous is also a mysterium tremendum. It provokes terror because it presents itself as overwhelming power. Finally, the numinous presents itself as fascinans, as merciful and gracious.
Outline of Otto's concept of the numinous (based on The Idea of the Holy. Trans. John W. Harvey. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1923; 2nd ed., 1950 [Das Heilige, 1917]):
"Mysterium tremendum et fascinans" (fearful and fascinating mystery):
"Mysterium": Wholly Other, experienced with blank wonder, stupor
"tremendum": awefulness, terror, demonic dread, awe, absolute unapproachability, "wrath" of God, overpoweringness, majesty, might, sense of one's own nothingness in contrast to its power, creature-feeling, sense of objective presence, dependence, energy, urgency, will, vitality
"fascinans": potent charm, attractiveness in spite of fear, terror, etc.
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Which way helps you to get a sense of the holy presence of the creator of the universe? Does Webster make it clear with Rudolf Otto's theology? Or does the worship liturgy of ancient Israel celebrating the wonders of their God bring you understanding? More importantly does any of this description ring true to your experience?
I've never seen the ocean split or a river hold its current so I could cross on dry land. But I have seen God move powerfully and decisively to my prayers. He cleared a path for me more than once in times of great need and confusion. I've never seen the mountains tremble at the presence of Almighty God like the Hebrews did at Mount Sinai. But I have trembled in my own soul when God came near to me. It felt like a waterfall holding me down. My body was filled with electricity and I shook all over. I could barely speak. Incredible peace and blessing filled me at His passing. These experiences are few and far between, but never forgotten.
How do you describe your experience of God? How do you tell others of the mysterious tremendum?
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