“Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, His wondrous works in the deep. For He commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.” Psalm 107:23-32
Devotional Thought For The Day
I was not raised in a “sea-faring” or even a “sailing” family. My father was raised on a farm where there was little or no chance to learn how to swim and he was rather terrified of water. After a near drowning incident he finally took lessons but remained uncomfortable about being in deep water. He was, in retirement, able to overcome his fears to the extent of taking ocean cruises, and in the course of those trips he did experience some of what the psalmist is referring to. I took lessons as a child and was always fairly confident in water, but never spent a great deal of time in boats. I have, however, experienced circumstances similar to what the psalmist described, not on the ocean but in the shallow lakes of Minnesota. It is unnerving to contemplate being swamped and left to fend for yourself in the middle of a large body of water.
I’ve thought about those intrepid souls who are comfortable out on the ocean, or at least willing to make their living plying the seas – fishermen, crabbers, those working on cargo ships, and military seamen. I have often thought that man was made to live on land, and that to be out in the ocean is unnatural for human beings, that we ought to just stay put. The psalmist recognized that the oceans were the Lord’s, and that His great deeds and wondrous works could be observed while out on the ocean. He also observed that God was present with men as they conducted commerce on the seas, to deliver them from storm and distress and bring them to “their desired haven” – a very tender way of describing the very comforting reality of God’s great and caring love for all people.
Not all sailors are spared from storms and waves – and we are humbled by consideration of God’s inscrutable will and ways. However, all people have been saved from sin, guilt, and condemnation, by the Lord Himself, our dear Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” [2 Cor. 5:19] Note the tense of the verbs – all past, the actions all accomplished fact. No gloom of threatening punishment or torment need lay fear and terror on the heart of any human being. In spite of the grotesque and dire nature of our sin, including all of the doubt, unbelief, distortion, ignorance, and rebellion that exists in our hearts and minds, God is reconciled to us in Christ. He counted our sins against His own beloved Son, and punished Him fully and completely for every human sin [from the first to the last committed on the Last Day]; so He does not count our trespasses against us but has forgiven us and cleansed us from all sin. All who are condemned on the Last Day are people who demand it in continued impenitence and rebellion against God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness and rejection of His gift of salvation in Christ.
Those sailors spared by God and brought safely to their destination were encouraged to praise and thank the Lord, and to bear witness to His wondrous works to others, especially fellow believers within the assembly of the church, the congregation. How much more should we be encouraged to do the same in regard to the ultimate salvation God has provided for us in His Son, a salvation that bestows and guarantees eternal life in the desired haven of God, His eternal heavenly kingdom. We too sail through the stormy seas of life in this fallen world of sin, with many dangers and uncertainties lurking around us. Our sin makes us feel out of place in God’s world, His creation – our guilt bears witness that our sin makes us deserving of death [Rom. 6:23]. Knowing and believing God’s great love for us, His gracious mercy and forgiveness, and “the free gift of God [which] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” [Rom. 6:23], sin itself makes us feel out of place, our own sin and that in the world around us. But just as God is present everywhere, in the deepest depths of the ocean and in the farthest reaches of space, so Jesus is with us always with His love and His salvation – protecting and preserving us and bringing us to our desired haven.
So let us also, today and always “thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man” and let us “extol Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.” And let us remember, wherever we go and whatever business we have to do, that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” [Ps. 46:1]
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, when we look at stormy seas or treacherous mountain heights, and especially at the all the horrible dangers posed by human sin and wickedness, we too must cry out to You for deliverance and help. We are weak in faith and spiritual sentience, and often fail to take cognizance of Your presence and to trust in Your love for us. Forgive us for all unbelief and doubt, and strengthen our faith and trust in You. Especially remind us of the eternal life and salvation that You have already accomplished for us so that we always have with us the assurance that whether we live or die, we remain Your dear children forever. Amen.