Some went out on the sea in ships …
a tempest lifted high the waves …
in their peril, their courage melted away
Psalm 107:23-31
Two stormy stories for today.
The first tells of a violent tempest. It is recorded in the Psalms. Imagine confident, experienced sailors – seamen and “merchants” – suddenly overwhelmed by the chaos of the towering waves.
The second is almost prefigured by this Psalm. Imagine confident, experienced fishermen – Peter and Andrew, James and John – suddenly overwhelmed by the chaos of another storm. In the Gospels, as they feared for their life, Jesus was doing what? Sleeping in the back of the boat.
Listen to today’s verses. My commentary is italicized.
23 Some went out on the sea in ships. Peter, James, John and all the rest. They were merchants on the mighty waters, fishermen familiar with the deep blue sea. And that day, much to their surprise, 24 they saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For the Lord spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 The heights and troughs of these waves were so great that it seemed like they mounted up to the very heavens and went down to the depths. The whole drama of life and death, heaven and hell, seemed to be playing out with each violent lurch of the seas. And in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They tried to stand firm, but they reeled and staggered like drunkards. They were at their wits’ end.
28 Beyond all human ability, they finally cried out to the Lord in their trouble. “Lord, are you sleeping? Do you not care that we are perishing?” “Oh, you of little faith,” said the Lord, as he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven, almost immediately it seemed that they arrived at the distant shore.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
The key moment in this Psalm – and at this moment in the Gospels – is the cry for help. Storms will come. Nations will totter. Health will ebb away. Will you cry?
Indeed, when will you cry? Must you wait for a storm? Or could you start crying, talking, praying, developing the relationship now?
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who knew a WWII sailor
who described a night on the North Sea.
The antennas on his ship were
eighty feet high and the waves –
from lowest troughs to highest heights –
were higher than the top of the antennas.
He became a praying man that night.
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