Topical Bible: The Sea: Made to Glorify God

◄ The Sea: Made to Glorify God ►

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The sea, a vast and mysterious expanse, is a prominent feature in the biblical narrative, symbolizing both the power and majesty of God's creation. Throughout Scripture, the sea is depicted as a testament to God's sovereignty, creativity, and authority over all creation.

Creation and Sovereignty

In the account of creation, the sea is one of the first elements to be formed by God. Genesis 1:9-10 states, "And God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.' And it was so. God called the dry land 'earth,' and the gathering of waters He called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good." Here, the sea is established as a fundamental part of the created order, reflecting God's intentional design and purpose.

The sea also serves as a symbol of God's sovereignty. In Job 38:8-11 , God challenges Job, saying, "Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, and I declared: 'You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop'?" This passage underscores God's control over the sea, setting its limits and commanding its waves.

Awe and Majesty

The sea's vastness and power evoke awe and reverence for the Creator. Psalm 104:24-25 proclaims, "How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small." The psalmist marvels at the diversity and abundance of life within the sea, attributing it to God's wisdom and creative power.

The sea also serves as a metaphor for God's majesty and might. In Psalm 93:3-4 , it is written, "The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves. Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic." The imagery of the roaring sea is used to convey the overwhelming greatness of God, who is exalted above all creation.

Judgment and Deliverance

The sea is often associated with God's judgment and deliverance. In the account of the Exodus, God parts the Red Sea to deliver the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptian army. Exodus 14:21-22 recounts, "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left." This miraculous event demonstrates God's power to save His people and execute judgment on their enemies.

Similarly, the sea is depicted as a place of divine intervention in the New Testament. In Mark 4:39-41 , Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee, saying, "Peace, be still!" The wind ceases, and there is a great calm. The disciples are filled with awe, asking, "Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" This miracle reveals Jesus' divine authority over nature, affirming His identity as the Son of God.

Symbol of Chaos and Restoration

In biblical literature, the sea often symbolizes chaos and disorder, yet it is ultimately subject to God's control. Revelation 21:1 envisions a new creation where "there was no more sea," signifying the removal of chaos and the establishment of eternal peace. This imagery reflects the hope of restoration and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

The sea, in its grandeur and mystery, serves as a powerful reminder of God's glory and dominion. Through its depiction in Scripture, the sea calls believers to recognize the Creator's majesty, trust in His sovereignty, and anticipate the ultimate restoration of all things.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 69:34
Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moves therein.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 148:7
Praise the LORD from the earth, you dragons, and all deeps:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

God Showed Himself, by the Fall of Man, as Patient, Benign ...
... hath made the sea and the dry land." [3685] [This was done] that man, receiving
an unhoped-for salvation from God, might rise from the dead, and glorify God, ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xx god showed himself by.htm

The victors on the Sea of Glass.
... light of the new Jerusalem, those on the sea of glass ... shall not fear thee, O Lord,
and glorify thy name ... worship before thee; For thy judgments are made manifest ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the victors on the sea.htm

By the Sea once More
... they recalled the scene beside the sea when Jesus ... spake He, signifying by what death
he should glorify God.". Jesus thus made known to Peter the very manner of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 85 by the sea.htm

In the Beginning God Made the Heaven and the Earth.
... passage, "He hath founded it upon the sea," [1406] if ... the heavens and the earth."
Let us glorify the supreme ... all that was wisely and skillfully made; by the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily i in the beginning.htm

God's Glory the Chief End of Man's Being
... its faculties and excellencies into that same sea of goodness ... than the first, that
so he might glorify his Father ... Thus the breach is made up, thus the unsavoury ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture i gods glory the.htm

God's Gentle Power
... You were made to glorify God, that was the end for which you were ... Have you made him
any return? ... Mariner upon the sea of life, cost thou never consult thy chart ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/gods gentle power.htm

Testimonies. 1. That Christ is the First-Born, and that He is the ...
... and I walked on the waves of the sea, and I ... And now, do Thou glorify me with Thyself,
with the glory ... I had with Thee before the world was made." [3933] Also ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/testimonies 1 that christ is.htm

Rom. xv. 8
... that we ought to be united, and to glorify God; and also ... xix.1.) Why day and night
were made,"not that they may ... are not heard." (ib.3.) How the sea lies round ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxviii rom xv 8.htm

Letter xiv. Dress.
... The coats of skin, which the Lord made for our first parents ... Can I glorify God in
wearing it ... missions among the North American Indians, and the South Sea Islands ...
/.../newcomb/a practical directory for young christian females/letter xiv dress.htm

"Bought with a Price"
... In its attempt to reach the sea, it may run ashore, or come into collision ... that the
body is redeemed and is the Lord's, and should be made to glorify God. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/bought with a price.htm