“Like A Mighty Sea”
June 4, 2012
A view of the moon from Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.
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“The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea– the LORD on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:3,4). “For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is His name” (Isaiah 51:15).
This morning we are at Rehoboth Beach Delaware. I was raised in the Midwest and didn’t see the ocean till I was twelve. Brooksyne, raised in Oklahoma, didn’t see the ocean till 1979 after we were married for several years. As we recall it was near this very beach in Delaware when we enjoyed a vacation here. Ester, on the other hand, has seen the ocean regularly since she was four years old due to our years of ministry in New England. Now that we live inland we find it a privilege to once again view the mighty ocean, walk along the sandy shoreline or boardwalk, and hear the crashing waves all the while experiencing other nautical sights, sounds, and smells!
Yesterday afternoon as we drove into the area we were both excited to see our first glimpse of the ocean. As we took in the view of the mighty ocean and watched its pounding waves hit the shoreline an old hymn came to mind, “Like a Mighty Sea”.
In our first pastorate in Southern Missouri a dear older lady named Beulah Sutherland often requested this song, as it was her favorite. What I find interesting is that she and her husband Tracy had never seen the ocean. Their only distant trip was as far as Illinois, one state to the east, where their daughter lived. (The photo shows Tracy and Beulah Sutherland with a very young Brooksyne during the “big hair” days. The Sutherlands were in their 90′s at this time, and we were humbled that they, together representing about 150 years of walking with God, lovingly sat under our ministry though we were still Bible College students in our very early 20′s. Their sterling example has served us all these years later.
The ocean has inspired quite a number of Scripture verses, hymns, and settings for writings; both fiction and nonfiction throughout the ages. The above Psalm portion extols the might of God. The sea referred to by the Psalmist was likely the Mediterranean Sea. Israel is small geographically and Jerusalem is not far from the Mediterranean Sea.
I too am reminded of the awesomeness of God’s power when I look out over the vast ocean and watch the great breakers crash into the shore. The mysteries that lie below the sea only underscore the awesomeness and depth of God’s great power. Truly the waves are a great analogy of God’s ceaseless mighty power but the Lord on high is even mightier! How mighty is God? He’s mighty enough to rule the great universe, yet small enough to live within my heart.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, any words we speak or analogies we use cannot adequately describe your infinite mighty power. It miraculously reaches beyond the heavens, is visible throughout all the earth, and is resident within our own hearts. It is only in experiencing a personal relationship with you that we begin to tap into the inexhaustible power and might that flows from You, Almighty God. Even as the waves of the ocean are powerful and wash up on shore may You fill our lives to overflowing so that Your mighty presence is visible in our lives and spills out to those around us. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.
On the way to the shore we stopped to visit our Amish friends. Here’s their beautiful garden. Moses is excitedly preparing to fly the “airplane” kite his mother got at the garage sale the day before.
The children were enjoying the kite soaring in the wind until it headed for the windmill and, whoof, it got snatched up by the large turning blades. Dad quickly turned off the wheel. What a sight to watch their lit up faces quickly turn to very disappointed ones as it appeared the windmill was mangling the kite. But, lo and behold, Dad’s quick action freed the kite and eventually it untangled itself and looked no worse for the wear. What a relief!!
The kids couldn’t wait to show me their “Amish go-cart” Dad had made for them. The motor is from Anna Ruth’s old washing machine. She now has an electric Amish washer as she describes it, which runs off the generator.
The children led me to the nest of newly born song sparrows crying out “I’m hungry!!!”
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me
The waves of glory roll, the Savior to extol
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.
“The Love Of God” Video MercyMe
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
“How Big Is God?” Video The Cathedrals
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