Topical Bible: The Wicked are Compared to Troubled Sea

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The imagery of the wicked being compared to a troubled sea is a vivid metaphor found in the Bible, illustrating the restless and chaotic nature of those who live in opposition to God's ways. This comparison is primarily drawn from the book of Isaiah, where the prophet uses the turbulent sea to depict the inner turmoil and lack of peace experienced by the wicked.

Biblical Reference:

Isaiah 57:20-21 states, "But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck. 'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'"

Analysis:

1. Restlessness and Chaos:
The troubled sea is characterized by its inability to be calm, constantly churning and tossing. This reflects the inner state of the wicked, who are perpetually unsettled and driven by their sinful desires. Just as the sea cannot find rest, the wicked are in a constant state of agitation, unable to find true peace or satisfaction.

2. Mire and Muck:
The imagery of the sea churning up "mire and muck" symbolizes the moral and spiritual filth that results from a life of wickedness. The actions and thoughts of the wicked produce corruption and impurity, much like the debris stirred up by a stormy sea. This highlights the destructive nature of sin, which not only affects the individual but also those around them.

3. Absence of Peace:
The declaration, "There is no peace...for the wicked," underscores the fundamental truth that peace is a gift from God, granted to those who live in accordance with His will. The wicked, by rejecting God's authority and pursuing their own paths, forfeit this peace. Their lives are marked by conflict, both internally and externally, as they are estranged from the source of true tranquility.

4. Contrast with the Righteous:
In contrast to the troubled sea, the Bible often describes the righteous as experiencing peace and stability. For instance, Psalm 1:3 compares the righteous to "a tree planted by streams of water," signifying a life that is nourished, stable, and fruitful. This juxtaposition serves to highlight the blessings of living a life aligned with God's commandments.

5. Prophetic Warning:
The metaphor serves as a prophetic warning to the people of Israel and to all readers of Scripture. It calls for self-examination and repentance, urging individuals to turn away from wickedness and seek the peace that comes from a relationship with God. The troubled sea is a reminder of the consequences of sin and the urgent need for redemption.

Theological Implications:

The comparison of the wicked to a troubled sea carries significant theological implications. It emphasizes the inherent instability and dissatisfaction found in a life apart from God. The metaphor also points to the ultimate judgment that awaits the wicked, as their lives, like the stormy sea, are destined for destruction unless they turn to God for salvation. This imagery serves as a powerful call to repentance and faith, urging individuals to seek the peace that only God can provide through Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 57:20
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Concerning Peaceableness
... He is a self-tormentor. The wicked are compared to a troubled sea' (Isaiah
57:20). And it follows there is no peace to the wicked' (verse 21). ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/18 concerning peaceableness.htm

"Am Ia Sea, or a Whale?"
... thou art but a child with thy father, as compared with the wicked and rebellious ...
make them smooth: God the Holy Ghost can send to your troubled soul a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/am i a sea or.htm

The Future State a Self-Conscious State.
... But what is this compared with the suffering soul? ... "There is no peace saith my God
to the wicked; the wicked are like the troubled sea." In order to know ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the future state a self-conscious 2.htm

"Peace, be Still"
... the lake; yet it was a desolate region when compared with the ... to the truth of the
words of Scripture, "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 35 peace be still.htm

[Shewing] that Common and Saving Grace Differ, not Only in Degree ...
... His subduing, in conversion, the heart of the wicked, which is like the troubled
sea, when it ... confirmed by those things which conversion is compared to in ...
/.../edwards/treatise on grace/shewing that common and saving.htm

Power in Operation.
... The heart is compared to a temple ... There is no peace for the wicked, saith my God ... They
are like the troubled sea that can not rest, casting up filth and mire all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/secret power/chapter iv power in operation.htm

The Draw-Net.
... shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among ... one time, and in one discourse,
compared the ministry ... see and cannot resist, from this troubled sea of time ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/vii the draw-net.htm

Contemporary History.
... of Christ, or the condemnation of the wicked, or the ... Empire of the West might now
be compared to a ship heaving to and fro in a troubled sea, encompassed by ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/ii contemporary history.htm

Christian Meekness
... The graces therefore are compared to needlework, which is different ... nature the heart
is like a troubled sea, casting forth ... I do not deny that the wicked have a ...
/.../watson/the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/12 christian meekness.htm

The Scope of the Apocalypse is Indicated by Its Place in the ...
... Let it be compared with the 9th verse of the ... day of judgment to be punished." Wicked
human beings ... of the sea." In Scripture, the troubled "sea" is frequently a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the scope of the apocalypse.htm