Redemption of the Sea

I was asked to write a devotion for Lent. I decided to take up the bad reputation of the sea as my topic.
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“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders;
The Lord is upon the mighty waters.” Psalm 29:3

Like most storms on the Gulf Coast, one can expect them like clockwork on summer afternoons and yet still be surprised by how fast they move. Laura and I were half of a mile offshore when the thunderclouds and lightning started to move closer, indeed corralled us. Yet, with all of the potential power of nature surrounding us, we lost the wind in the very real calm before the storm. The little sunfish sailboat, about 10 feet long, was barely moving. Neither of us panicked, but it did seem to be a matter of concern that the lightning was coming closer to the metal mast of our tiny boat.

The sea/deep/waters (tehom in Hebrew) is sometimes a scary place. The sea—over which the spirit moved in Genesis 1:2—is the sign of death and primeval chaos that God held back when God let creation be. Through the sea, God led Israel away from death in Egypt. It is out of the deep that we call to God (Ps. 130). By the waters of Baptism, we die and rise again in Christ. There are many other mentions of tehom; but finally, in the book of Revelation, we read that at the consummation of the Kingdom, the sea shall be no more (Rev. 21:1).

We live in this sea, do we not? We have each known the chaos, been in proximity to death, and will someday experience the end.

Death and chaos, and yet…creativity. Today’s Psalm reminds us that God is still upon the waters. It was also from the sea that God brought forth life (Gen 1:20)…and God is still there, opening possibilities and beckoning us to participate in our own lives. The sensing of this Divine Presence allows us to risk because we can trust in that Presence.

That day, Laura and I rowed ourselves back to shore with an oar we keep in the sailboat, landing mere minutes before the storm came upon us. Yet, we are always willing to go back out.

Why not risk other adventures?
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May I suggest a hymn for today?
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.