September 16, Day 259 – The Turbulent Ocean of Life

Psalm 107:23-32; Isaiah 36-37;

Galatians 2:1-10

"Still Life With Crepe Myrtles" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Watercolor on Paper

Coming in today’s reading once again to the third section of Psalm 107 – verses 23-32 – we see that “some of” the Israelites “went out to sea in ships” (verse 23).  As the sea has always represented an unknown, uncertain, and unpredictable risk, we find here a “peril that melted their courage, for He spoke and stirred up a tempest,” driving “the waves up to the heavens and down to the depths.  In fear, they reeled and staggered like drunken men, until they came to their wits’ end, cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress” (verses 23-28).  This frightening scene is both realistic and prophetic.  It is a realistic description of the believer’s faith in Christ in the turbulent ocean of life.  In this life, when we come to our wits’ end with nowhere to turn, we are reminded that “the LORD is good” (verse 1), and we are thankful that we can “call out to the LORD in our trouble” (verse 28).  Moreover, this section is a prophetic depiction of Mark 4:39 and Luke 8:24, when the disciples were in “great danger,” and Jesus stilled “the furious squall.”  We always need God’s help, and He always desires to help us out of our predicament, but before the world, we must “acknowledge Him, give thanks to Him, exalt Him, and praise Him” (verses 31-32).

In Isaiah 36-37, the principle of Psalm 107 becomes a visible object lesson for us – Hezekiah prays, and God helps.  Here, we read about the overthrow of the Assyrians – the greatest power of that time.  This section is also a parallel passage with 2 Kings 19 (cf., July 11, Day 192 – Promises Made, Promises Kept).  In both passages, we read about Sennacherib’s warmongering confrontation with King Hezekiah.  Redundancy of this account in Scripture indicates its double importance – “the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon”  (cf., Genesis 41:32).  Chapter 36 informs us of Sennacherib’s blatant challenge through his field commander to Judah and its God.  In chapter 37, when King Hezekiah heard the news of Sennacherib’s threats, “he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into the temple of the LORD” (verse 1).  Tearing his clothes and putting on sackcloth was a symbolic cultural act associated with Hezekiah’s sense of impending distress.  We observe Hezekiah’s prayer (verses 14-20), and subsequently, God’s answer … “Have you not heard?  Long ago I ordained it.  In days of old, I planned it; now I have brought it to pass” (verse 26).  God gives Hezekiah a sign (cf., verses 30-32), and chapter 37 concludes with the angelic slaughter of 185,000 Assyrians and the death of Sennacherib (verses 21-38).

In Galatians 2:1-10, we see the kind of harmony that God wills for those who serve Him in Christian ministry.  Peter, James, and John recognized that God was at work in Paul’s “ministry of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been [entrusted to do so] with the Jews” (verse 7).  These apostles therefore extended their blessing – symbolized by the right hand of fellowship – for Paul to go to the Gentiles with the gospel.  This section of Galatians reveals that, without prejudice, we are to recognize the diverse differences in the church and accept all true believers who are biblical, but whose practices may be a little different from our own.  When we work together and respect one another’s calling, God can achieve great things through us.