Verse 1
"To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph."
The dedication, sung at the head of every part. Jeduthun — one of the chief Levite singers appointed by David; his name became a way of playing: confession and outpouring.
Verse 14
"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?"
The heart of the chorus and the name of the song. God's way passes through holiness — hidden above human understanding. Facing it, a question whose only answer is worship.
(Words: "in the sanctuary" — in holiness and in the Temple; or: hidden from mortal grasp)
Verse 15
"Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people."
"Doest" is present tense: You work wonders even now. At the Exodus Thy strength was known before all peoples.
Verse 16
"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah."
Redemption came not by nature's course but "with thine arm" — open, felt power. The people bears Joseph's name too — he who sustained Israel through the famine years.
(Words: "Selah" — a word of pause and emphasis in the Psalms)
Verse 17
"The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled."
A moment of meeting: the waters "see" their Creator — and draw back trembling. The doubling "saw thee... saw thee" is itself the trembling.
Verse 18
"The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad."
The heavens join the sea: pouring clouds, a thundering sky, and the lightnings — God's "arrows" — flying between heaven and earth.
(Words: "thine arrows" — the lightnings)
Verse 19
"The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook."
The peak of the storm: thunder rolling across the wheel of the sky, lightnings lighting the whole world, the earth trembling. All creation takes part in the redemption.
Verse 20
"Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known."
The mysterious verse answering the chorus: "in the sanctuary" — and "in the sea". When the waters closed, no trace remained — the greatest miracle leaves no footprints; it lives only in memory and song.
Verse 21
"Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."
The tender closing of the whole psalm: after the thunders — one quiet picture, a shepherd gently leading his flock by two faithful hands.
In one line: the sea parts, the heavens thunder, the earth trembles — and through it all the people walks quietly, a flock in the hand of Moses and Aaron.