Psalms 107:23-31

David from the Bible wrote many psalms for that book. These were a way a teaching the young about the past. To sing psalms is the proper way to read them. Some of the chapters tell of love and faith, while others talk of sin and the law. Psalms 107 is a hymn inviting those who have been rescued by God to give praise to him. As is with all psalms, it is a look at history, in this cause of Israel. This chapter consists of four archetypal divine rescues. Each rescue ends in giving thanks: from the sterile desert, from imprisonment in gloom, from mortal illness, and from the angry sea. It is said that the number four signifies totality, all the possible varieties of rescue. The same saving activity of God is shown in Israel's history whenever the people were endangered God rescued them. The last verses invite people to ponder the persistent saving acts of God. Psalm 107:23-31 is all about being saved from the angry sea.

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;" Those that go down to the sea in ships, as merchants, fisherman, passengers, or mariners, that do business in great waters have all seen the power of God at work at sea. These people see the works of the Lord, and his wonders. These wonders are more amazing then those found on land, in that all are born and raised upon the land, and what happens on the sea is strange and unusual. From rogue waves to whirlpools and sunny skies to sudden storms, all see the power of God at work in the great waters of the sea. The deep, open water is a wonder unto itself with its tidal currents, animals, salinity, and great vastness. This is written not to stop people from entering the sea but to go safely upon the sea and observe God's creation with its unending perfections.

Wonders begin to appear in the deep when the wind is strong. "For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves thereof." As with all storms at sea, the high winds kick up large waves. These waves that are created now toss their boat about the waves like a cowboy on a bull, up and down and to a fro. The boat rides the waves to peak and then down to the trough. "They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:" This metaphorical analysis allows the common human to understand the severity of the sea and its fury. A stranger to the sea, who has never seen it, wouldn't think a ship could survive at sea in a storm and ride it out, but would expect that the next wave would destroy it and send it to the depths of the sea. When the vessels are thrown about, the soul of the men melts because of trouble. Even when the storm is great seasoned sailors can neither shake off no dissemble their fears, but "they reel to and fro."

The unstable foundation of the boat causes the men to become sick almost like being drunk. "And stagger like a drunken man." Everyone is confused and unable to solve the problem and thus

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