Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. (Psalm 107:23-24)

For several verses, the psalmist describes the perils faced by those who sail the seas, which inspires them to observe the “works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep.” Looking at it from an ancient perspective, a sailor would stand on a deck completely surrounded by endless water filled with creatures big enough to swallow a man whole. Oftentimes, the waters would be stirred up by “the stormy wind” which caused the waves “to mount up to the heavens” (Psalm 107:25-26).

In those moments, the sailor realized all that stood between him and a watery death were a few planks of wood. His soul would “melt because of trouble” and he would “cry out to the Lord” who “brings them out of their distresses” (Psalm 107:28). It could be argued that no one understands the sense of helplessness and of being lost as much as the mariner caught in a tempest. There is no where to run; all he can do is look to Heaven and appeal to God for mercy. It could also be argued that no one is quite as joyful as that mariner when “He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven” (Psalm 107:29-30).

Many of us will never find ourselves in such a watery scenario, and yet, any of us could find ourselves feeling lost and helpless with no where to run. Storms of a different type swirl around us, some so strong they threaten to take us under, which makes it difficult to see anything but the imminent danger. Yet, when we are at our wits end, we must remember there is One who commands the wind and waves; He speaks to the storm and says, “Peace, be still!” He may allow us to feel the effects of the storm, but if we will place our confidence in Him, He will see to it that we arrive at our destination. Then we will truly appreciate the “works of the Lord” and testify of the wonders He performs for us.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill