Topical Bible: The Sea: (Covered With Waters) of the Diffusion of Spiritual

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Topical Encyclopedia

The imagery of the sea, particularly as it is "covered with waters," serves as a profound metaphor within the biblical narrative, symbolizing the vastness and depth of spiritual truths and the diffusion of God's presence throughout creation. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating both the majesty and mystery of divine revelation.

Biblical Imagery and Symbolism

In the Bible, the sea often represents chaos and the unknown, yet it is also a testament to God's sovereign power over creation. Genesis 1:2 describes the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, indicating divine order emerging from chaos. The sea, in its vastness, becomes a symbol of the infinite nature of God's wisdom and knowledge. As the prophet Isaiah declares, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). This verse encapsulates the idea of spiritual diffusion, where divine knowledge permeates every aspect of creation.

The Sea as a Metaphor for Spiritual Abundance

The sea's boundless expanse is often used to illustrate the abundance of God's grace and the inexhaustible nature of His love. In Habakkuk 2:14, it is written, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" . This imagery suggests a future where God's glory is universally recognized and experienced, akin to the pervasive and enveloping nature of the sea's waters.

New Testament Reflections

In the New Testament, the sea continues to serve as a powerful metaphor for spiritual truths. Jesus' calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39) demonstrates His authority over the natural and spiritual realms, reinforcing the idea that divine peace can transcend chaos. Furthermore, the vision of the "sea of glass" in Revelation 4:6 symbolizes the purity and clarity of God's presence, offering a glimpse into the heavenly reality where spiritual truths are fully revealed.

Theological Implications

The concept of the sea as "covered with waters" invites believers to contemplate the depth and breadth of God's revelation. It challenges the faithful to seek a deeper understanding of spiritual truths, recognizing that, like the sea, God's wisdom is both profound and accessible. This metaphor encourages a posture of humility and awe, acknowledging that human understanding is but a drop in the ocean of divine knowledge.

Conclusion

The sea, as depicted in Scripture, serves as a rich and multifaceted symbol of the diffusion of spiritual truths. It reflects the vastness of God's wisdom, the abundance of His grace, and the ultimate fulfillment of His glory throughout the earth. As believers meditate on this imagery, they are invited to immerse themselves in the depths of God's revelation, trusting in His sovereign power and infinite love.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Basil -- the Creation of the World
... afterward collected them and gave them the name of sea. ... and as at that time the water
covered everything, we ... God moved upon the face of the waters?" Does this ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/basil the creation of.htm

"The Earth was Invisible and Unfinished. "
... of bodies; and as at that time the water covered everything, we ... the ??ther becomes
more pleasing and the waters more limpid ... just as when men in deep sea pour in ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily ii the earth was.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the ... root and fills the land;
the hills are covered with its ... it sends out its boughs to the sea, and its ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

Mason -- Messiah's Throne
... Our Sovereign's way is in the sea, and His path in the deep waters; and His ... they
shall come together, bone to His bone"shall be covered with sinews and ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/mason messiahs throne.htm

The Third Continental Journey.
... reach Patras without risking the night on the sea. ... The road was frightful; over rocks,
waters, and swampy ... and in the sweet stillness which covered our spirits ...
/.../chapter xii the third continental.htm

The Tabernacle of the Most High
... the mountains, and digged the seas, and covered its valleys ... thunderbolt and lifting
up his voice upon the waters. ... Devoutly he looks across the sea, and beholds ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the tabernacle of the most.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1820 to the Beginning ...
... preachers, who took an interest in their spiritual welfare, before ... the upper Coos,
along the upper waters of the ... About the year 1791 a sea captain, a citizen ...
/.../chapter 6 from the close.htm