for his grace continues forever.
2 Let those redeemed by Adonai say it,
those he redeemed from the power of the foe.
3 He gathered them from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the sea., 23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
plying their trade on the great ocean,
24 saw the works of Adonai,
his wonders in the deep.
25 For at his word the storm-wind arose,
lifting up towering waves.
26 The sailors were raised up to the sky,
then plunged into the depths.
At the danger, their courage failed them,
27 they reeled and staggered like drunk men,
and all their skill was swallowed up.
28 In their trouble they cried to Adonai,
and he rescued them from their distress.
29 He silenced the storm and stilled its waves,
30 and they rejoiced as the sea grew calm.
Then he brought them safely
to their desired port.
31 Let them give thanks to Adonai for his grace,
for his wonders bestowed on humanity!
32 Let them extol him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the leaders’ council. (Complete Jewish Bible).
***
For the ancient Hebrew people, the sea was the primary symbol of chaos and destruction. Our language is not so much different. We "weather the storms" of our lives, sometimes "just barely keeping our heads above water." When we are disconnected from others, we often say we are "adrift."
In Genesis 1, God's power over chaos is shown through the separation of the waters to create space for life. In Job 38, God's authority over the sea is shown poetically as God midwifes the sea from the womb and sets limits on what it can do and where it can go. Life is full of storms, to be sure, but we do not face them alone. For, like the sailors tossed about on the sea, we too have a God to cry out to when the waves of anxieties and grief seek to sink us. God hears our cries and brings peace.
God of peace, Calm the storms that trouble me and bring me to safe haven. Amen.
John Guthridge, '15
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grandview, Wash.
Psalm 107:1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south...
23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;
29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. (New Revised Standard Version).
For the ancient Hebrew people, the sea was the primary symbol of chaos and destruction. Our language is not so much different. We "weather the storms" of our lives, sometimes "just barely keeping our heads above water." When we are disconnected from others, we often say we are "adrift."
In Genesis 1, God's power over chaos is shown through the separation of the waters to create space for life. In Job 38, God's authority over the sea is shown poetically as God midwifes the sea from the womb and sets limits on what it can do and where it can go. Life is full of storms, to be sure, but we do not face them alone. For, like the sailors tossed about on the sea, we too have a God to cry out to when the waves of anxieties and grief seek to sink us. God hears our cries and brings peace.
God of peace, Calm the storms that trouble me and bring me to safe haven. Amen.
John Guthridge, '15
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grandview, Wash.
Psalm 107:1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south...
23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;
29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United State
***
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