Friday, January 12, 2018
Psalm 107:1-2, 23-29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so. Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
REDEMPTION REVEALED TO THOSE IN A STORMY SEA
There are a few things that we are promised in life and one of them is storms. We are going to have rough waters; we are going to face rogue winds as we sail the seas of life. That is one of the things life guarantees us. Some people think that just because they have God in their life or go to church, things will go smoother for them. But Jesus affirms to us in John 16:33, "In the world you will have tribulation." You are going to face storms-- guaranteed.
Thankfully, the LORD delivers those caught in a stormy sea. When all the world was being tossed about in the storms of sin, the LORD revealed redemption by sending Jesus Christ, the Wavecalmer, to bring peace to a tumultuous realm. He gave us the Messiah, who commanded the storm on the Sea of Galilee to "'Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). He commissioned the Stormstopper, who encourages us in the second half of John 16:33, "Take heart; I have overcome the world." The great storm of sin and death has been overcome by the life, death, and resurrection of the Savior.
Thankfully, the LORD delivers those caught in a stormy sea. It's His specialty. Perhaps you've been caught in a storm lately. Maybe a storm of workplace drama, a storm of family turmoil, or a storm of heartbreaking tragedy. The LORD has been calming the stormy lives of His people for thousands of years, and He is not about to stop now. When you reel and stagger against the winds and waves of this sinful existence; when you are down in the depths of misery and your courage melts away; when you are at your wit's end-- Cry to the LORD! Look to His soothing Word to calm you and calm the waves. He delivers us from our distresses!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
