Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes.’

―Elisabeth Elliot

Scripture: Psalm 93.3-4

The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!

Reflection: Hope of Glory
The Park Forum

It can be difficult to understand the level of fear ancient people felt when they talked about the sea. When the Psalmist cried, “The floods lift up their roaring,” he described one of the greatest threats his people faced. The NET Bible translates his cry as, “The waves roar, the waves roar and crash.”

Without reliable maps, weather prediction technology, or modern marine science, most people in ancient cultures knew someone who went out to sea and never came back. The sea was a place of great unknown, near-certain danger, and possible destruction.

The Psalmist continues, “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” The Hebrew word used for, “might” is the same word for majesty, glory, or excellence. We might say, “Though there is immense uncertainty and danger, God transcends all and is wonderful in his beauty.”

The Psalmist rests in the understanding that God transcends what we perceive as unconquerable. Even the most crushing of our fears does not diminish God’s power or excellence in the least.

There is great security in the majesty of God, both in the darkest moments of human history, as well as in the intimate moments of our individual trials and pain. Yet we join with Christians throughout time in our longing for more.

In describing the new heaven and new earth the Scriptures promise that we will find, “the sea is no more.” The Biblical writers’ symbol for all that is unknown, dangerous, destructive, fearful, and evil will be defeated. Though, in the toil of today, we place our hope in God, we long for the day we see his glory bring full restoration to all that is broken, return what is lost, and heal our suffering.

Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Incline my heart, O God, to your ways. Turn my eyes from longing after vanities.

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Full prayer available online and in print.

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 9 (Listen – 5:06)
Psalm 92-93 (Listen – 2:09)