Topical Bible: The Sea: The Clouds the Garment of

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In the biblical narrative, the sea is often depicted as a powerful and mysterious element of God's creation. It is a symbol of both chaos and order, reflecting the majesty and sovereignty of God over the natural world. One of the poetic descriptions of the sea is found in the imagery of clouds serving as its garment, a metaphor that underscores the divine control and artistry in creation.

Biblical Reference:

The concept of the sea being clothed with clouds is vividly illustrated in the Book of Job. In Job 38:9 , God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, reminding him of the divine authority over creation: "when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket." This passage is part of a larger discourse where God questions Job, highlighting the limitations of human understanding compared to the infinite wisdom and power of the Creator.

Theological Significance:

The imagery of clouds as the garment of the sea serves several theological purposes. Firstly, it emphasizes God's sovereignty over the natural world. The sea, often seen as a symbol of chaos and unpredictability, is tamed and ordered by God, who clothes it with clouds. This act of clothing signifies God's ability to bring order out of chaos, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.

Secondly, the clouds as a garment suggest a covering or protection, indicating that even the most tumultuous elements of creation are under God's care and control. This reflects the biblical theme of God's providence, where He sustains and governs all things according to His will.

Symbolism and Imagery:

The use of clothing imagery in relation to the sea also speaks to the beauty and majesty of creation. Just as a garment can enhance the appearance of the one who wears it, the clouds add to the splendor of the sea, reflecting the glory of the Creator. This imagery invites the reader to contemplate the aesthetic and artistic aspects of God's creation, encouraging a sense of wonder and reverence.

Furthermore, the clouds as a garment can be seen as a veil, partially concealing the mysteries of the deep. This aligns with the biblical theme of mystery, where God's ways and thoughts are higher than human understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). The sea, clothed in clouds, becomes a metaphor for the hidden depths of God's wisdom and knowledge.

Conclusion:

The depiction of the sea with clouds as its garment in the Book of Job serves as a powerful reminder of God's omnipotence and the intricate beauty of His creation. It calls believers to trust in God's sovereign control over all things, even those that seem chaotic and beyond comprehension. Through this imagery, the Bible invites us to marvel at the Creator's handiwork and to acknowledge our own limitations in the face of His infinite majesty.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 38:9
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling cloth for it,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Sky, Earth, and Sea: a Parable of God
... for ever; like these, its summits touch the fleeting clouds of human ... The earth shall
wax old like a garment, but My ... while its feet are laved by the sea of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/sky earth and sea a.htm

What are the Clouds?
... her garments of mourning and put on a garment of praise ... Put me to sea, and let the
ship be driven along ... wind is my Father's breath let the clouds gather, they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/what are the clouds.htm

God's World
... earth and skies are God's garment"the garment by which we ... that God's angels guide
those thunder-clouds; that the ... corals too, in the deep, deep sea, who build ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon i gods world.htm

The Creator's Joy in his Creation
... the seal; And all things stand forth as a garment: And from ... Hast thou entered into
the springs of the sea? ... thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the creators joy in.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany. Lift up Your Eyes unto the Heavens ...
... the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall
wax old like a garment, and the ... Who spreads the clouds o'er sea and land,. ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/second sunday after epiphany lift.htm

Psalm XCVII.
... isles stand fixed, and at last the sea is calmed ... afraid at the lightnings which burst
forth from those clouds? ... Art thou unwilling to put off a patched garment? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcvii.htm

God the Loving Creator
... the heavens like a tent, Thou framest thy upper stories in the waters, Thou makest
the clouds thy chariot ... Thou didst cover it with the sea as with a garment. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/god the loving creator.htm

The King and his Armies.
... And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name ... 19:8. The righteous being caught
up in the clouds to meet ... and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the king and his armies.htm

This HomilyWas Delivered on the Occasion of the Prefect Entering ...
... not pilots; when the sea is raging, and the clouds are rushing ... is it, if it be so
by land and sea, when even ... a piece of new cloth into an old garment, for that ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xvi this homily was.htm

That as Long as we are in this Mortal Life we May Lose the Love of ...
... For so we being as yet amidst the sea of this ... only have a glimpse of it through the
clouds of faith ... our free-will is clothed with her wedding garment, which, as ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i that as long.htm