"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).

We enjoyed our visit to the ocean yesterday in spite of the constant drizzle we've experienced since our arrival in New England last Wednesday (although Friday was relatively clear). In the 90's we lived relatively close to the ocean when we lived in New England for almost 8 years. But now, living in south-central Pennsylvania, it's quite a distance and a double blessing when we do get here. Yesterday we visited Gloucester and Rockport, two fishing villages on Cape Ann north of Boston.

As we were taking in the view of the mighty ocean and watching its pounding waves hit the the monstrous boulders of Bearskin Neck in Rockport the old hymn, "Like a Mighty Sea" came to mind. It's a hymn rarely heard anymore and I had a hard time finding a version on the internet to share with our readers. But it was a favorite in the well-worn hymnbooks we used in our first pastorate at a small country church in Southern Missouri. A dear older lady named Bula Sutherland often requested this song, as it was her favorite. What I find interesting is that she and her husband had never seen the ocean. Their only distant trip was as far as Illinois, one state to the east, where their daughter lived.  

The ocean has inspired quite a number of Scripture verses, hymns, and settings for writings; both fiction and nonfiction throughout the ages.  Perhaps the most well known hymn using the setting of the vast and furious ocean is the hymn, "It is Well". It's text was written by Horatio Spafford who lost all five of his daughters at sea. He painted a picture of ongoing grief using the waves of the ocean; "When sorrows like sea billows roll."

The daily Psalm portion extols the mightiness of God. "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." 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 as we did yesterday. They underscore the awesomeness 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. Truly, "the LORD on high is mighty!"



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, any words we speak or analogies we use cannot fully 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 comes from You, Almighty God. Even as the waves of the ocean are constant and 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.

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“Like A Mighty Sea”  Video  Korean Church choir
Here's a newer version by someone who has a lot of guitars!  Video