Topical Bible: Wicked (People): Compared With: Raging Waves of the Sea

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In the biblical context, the term "wicked" refers to individuals who live in opposition to God's commandments and moral order. The Bible frequently uses vivid imagery to describe the nature and consequences of wickedness, often drawing parallels with natural phenomena to convey the tumultuous and destructive nature of such behavior.

One such comparison is found in the Epistle of Jude, where the wicked are likened to "raging waves of the sea." Jude 1:13 states, "They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever." This metaphor highlights several key aspects of wickedness:

1. Uncontrollable and Chaotic: Just as the raging waves of the sea are unpredictable and beyond human control, so too are the actions and inclinations of the wicked. Their lives are marked by chaos and instability, lacking the peace and order that come from living in accordance with God's will.

2. Destructive Power: The imagery of wild waves suggests a force that is not only chaotic but also destructive. The wicked, through their actions, often bring harm to themselves and others, much like the waves that erode and destroy everything in their path.

3. Foaming Up Their Own Shame: The phrase "foaming up their own shame" indicates that the wicked, in their actions, reveal their true nature. Just as the foam on the waves is a visible sign of the turmoil beneath, the shameful deeds of the wicked are a manifestation of their inner corruption.

4. Destined for Darkness: The comparison concludes with a somber note on the ultimate fate of the wicked. Like "wandering stars" destined for "blackest darkness," the wicked face eternal separation from God. This serves as a warning of the spiritual peril that accompanies a life of rebellion against divine authority.

Throughout Scripture, the sea is often used as a symbol of chaos and opposition to God's order. In the creation narrative, God brings order to the primordial waters (Genesis 1:2), and in the New Testament, Jesus demonstrates His authority over the sea by calming the storm (Mark 4:39). By comparing the wicked to raging waves, the Bible underscores the futility and danger of living in defiance of God's sovereign rule.

In conclusion, the metaphor of the wicked as raging waves of the sea serves as a powerful reminder of the inherent instability, destructiveness, and ultimate judgment that accompany a life of wickedness. It calls believers to seek the peace and order found in a life aligned with God's purposes, avoiding the path of the wicked that leads to chaos and darkness.

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Jude 1:13
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
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Library

"Am Ia Sea, or a Whale?"
... You people with whom the sermon goes in at one ear and out at the other ... thou art
but a child with thy father, as compared with the wicked and rebellious ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/am i a sea or.htm

"Peace, be Still"
... yet it was a desolate region when compared with the ... The people whispered among
themselves, "What manner of man is ... no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa.57 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 35 peace be still.htm

Psalm LXXXIX.
... the clouds, who are not to be compared unto Thee ... degrees; and they are drunk by the
people of God ... for foxes." [4207] For the Scripture calls wicked, crafty, and ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxix.htm

"Nineveh, that Great City"
... Yet Nineveh, wicked though it had become, was not ... preaching of Jonah in Nineveh,
and compared the inhabitants ... heathen center with the professed people of God ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 22 nineveh that great.htm

God in the Covenant
... "God," say the wicked; but "my ... ought we to estimate the treasures of this world compared
with God ... They want rain: the people assemble and ask for rain, in the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/god in the covenant.htm

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
... had a mild, gentle, lamb-like appearance compared with Catholicism ... of Noah the world
became very wicked and God ... a time after the flood the people were righteous ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter ii scriptural predictions of.htm

Book ii.
... before death, inasmuch as the former is compared to the ... for them but the land of
the wicked shall perish. ... gave forth water for the thirsting people; [1550] and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book ii.htm

Letters to Olympias.
... inflicted by enemies, and their plots are compared to a ... a drunkard, and a friend
of the wicked and depraved. ... it held its ground amongst some people, after the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letters to olympias.htm

The Great Assize
... The wicked, meantime, shall be turned into hell, even all ... with them, and they shall
be his people, and God ... administer justice; may not ye be compared to those ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 15 the great assize.htm

Psalm CIV.
... but waves so great that they may be compared to mountains ... Lord's, and He shall be
Governor among the people." [4731] For ... that they be no more, save as wicked men ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm civ.htm