Tuesday Scripture: Psalm 107
Calming the Storm
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
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The ancient Hebrew people were not great mariners. Moses crossed the Red Sea, but first God had to dry it up. Jonah tried to sail away to safety, and that turned out badly. In general, the Children of Abraham did not trust the sea.
This Psalm is dear to sailors because it talks about God's protection in the tempest. For Christians, it is a clear image of Christ calming the Sea of Galilee with a whisper:
"Peace, be Still."
Like those bold mariners of old, we are in uncharted seas. The storms of 2020 have left us at our wits end.
If you're looking for calm, turn off the news. You won't find it there. Look for Jesus walking on the water. Listen for his whisper: Peace, be Still.
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Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’er shadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.