What is the meaning of Psalm 74:15? You broke open the fountain and the flood God is being praised for literally forcing water to burst forth where none existed. Picture the scene in Exodus 17:5-6, when Moses struck the rock at Horeb and “water came gushing out” for a thirsty nation. Psalm 78:15 echoes the same miracle, saying He “brought streams out of a rocky crag.” The language also reaches back to Genesis 7:11, where “all the springs of the great deep burst forth” during the global Flood. By joining these two historic moments—life-giving water in the desert and judgment waters in Noah’s day—the psalmist reminds us that the Lord commands both mercy and might. • Salvation side: In the wilderness He turns solid rock into a drinking fountain, proving He can meet needs in the most impossible places (Numbers 20:11). • Judgment side: In the Flood He unleashed fountains that swept away evil, showing He will not let wickedness stand (2 Peter 3:6 cites this same event as a warning). When doubts rise, we can rehearse these literal interventions: the God who split stone and the deep can handle whatever “dryness” or “overwhelm” confronts us today. You dried up the ever-flowing rivers Now the focus flips—waters that normally run nonstop are stopped cold. Think of the Red Sea standing up in walls so Israel could walk through on dry ground (Exodus 14:21-22). Later, at flood stage, the Jordan River “stood still” until the entire nation crossed (Joshua 3:13-17). Centuries after that, Elijah and Elisha each struck the Jordan and watched it part again (2 Kings 2:8, 14). Every time, God proved that currents and tides obey Him as readily as clouds and mountains. • He restrains chaos: Drying up “ever-flowing rivers” means He can shut down forces that look unstoppable in our lives. • He makes a way: The dried riverbed becomes a highway into promise, illustrating Isaiah 43:16, “who makes a way in the sea and a path through surging waters.” • He guarantees victory: When Jordan closed behind Israel, retreat was impossible—only forward into the land God swore to give them (Joshua 4:18-24). summary Psalm 74:15 strings together two vivid memories: God opening torrents no one could open and God stopping rivers no one could stop. By spotlighting these literal, historic acts, the psalmist strengthens faith in the present crisis. If the Lord can both unleash and halt the waters of earth, He can certainly deliver His people, judge His foes, and keep every promise He has ever spoken. |
    |