Our Great God
The ocean depths raise their voice, O LORD;
they raise their voice and roar.
The LORD rules supreme in heaven,
greater than the roar of the ocean,
more powerful than the waves of the sea.
Your laws are eternal, LORD,
and your Temple is holy indeed,
for ever and ever. (verses 3-5)
Read Psalm 93
Lord Byron wrote:
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll on.
Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain.
Man marks the earth with ruin;
His control stops at the shore.
I grew up in north Queensland where the waves of the Pacific, quelled by the Great Barrier Reef, break gently on the shore. My first experience of a storm surf came on the southern coast of Yorke Peninsula, and I was amazed at the booming crash of the huge rollers and the spray that shot twenty metres into the air. What awesome power!
So I know now what the psalm writer means when he says that ‘the ocean depths raise their voice and roar’. But, he insists, the greatness of God’s rule from heaven is even more awesome. As we listen to God’s word and as we worship, hopefully we experience some of that divine grandeur and goodness.
Heavenly King, impress me with your greatness and move me even more deeply by your loving goodness. Amen.
by John Vitale, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)
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