THESIS: To show that sailors & saints have something in common - knowledge about storms & the Savior.
INTRO.:
A. Sailors & saints have some things in common, knowledge about the power of God & experience with storms! "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters" are commercial fishermen, divers, coast guardsmen, merchant marine, some commercial passengers (like Jonah) & navy men. Any one of these who has been on the "great waters" (oceans) for very long know something about storms & God's power.
B. Any saint of God who has been on the "sea of life" for very long also knows something about storms & God's power. The "works of the Lord" have been mentioned 3 times already (v.8,15,21) and now are brought into focus in one place...the sea! This passage can give us very practical information & and insight about those storms & God's power in our lives...
I. THE LORD IS IN OUR STORMS: v.24-26a
A. He Orchestrates Our Storms:
1. His omnipotence gives the storm its power. v.23-26a
ILLUS.: Sailors know more about God than theologians & saints know more about God than scholars!
a. Sailors see God's power in the storm & His "wonders in the deep."
ILLUS.: 💥The sea is an awesome sight. It is ever changing & reveals God's beautiful diversity in creation & displays the raw power of the Almighty. 💥What fantastic wonders there are in the sea. Just last week a whale surfaced w/in 25 feet of our boat & there were long slender red worms swimming around the surface & literally 100's of 1000's of 10-12" bait fish in giant schools being chased around by large bluefish & sharks. On two occasions I have seen small worms everywhere on the surface of the sea for miles!
b. No mere man nor man-made vessel is a match for the power of the sea in a storm; supertankers the size of 3 football fields are tossed around like corks & often break apart. v.26a
ILLUS.: The only One Who can control a storm is the One Who created the storm. It is comforting to know that He is in all of our storms!
2. His Omniscience sees the storms purpose.
ILLUS.: 💥Every one of the storms He creates for us has a specific purpose. He may be trying to bring us closer to Himself; He may be purging us, etc. 💥Many a person adrift at sea in a storm has called upon the Lord for salvation! Some were merely "rubber raft conversions" soon forgotten after the storm, but others were life-changing events. 💥Don't just get right with God till the storm passes over!
3. His Omnipresence guarantees His presence in the storm.
ILLUS.: 🔹No believer is ever "adrift at sea in a storm" alone! 🔹The Lord is always in the storm, even if He isn't in the boat with us. When the disciples were in the midst of the storm the Lord came to them by night "walking on the waves..."! 🔹When they finally acknowledged Him, THEN He got in the boat with them!
THOT: Did you ever realize that there are no pleasure boats in the Bible?!
A. Storms Change Our Attitude: v.26b "their soul is melted because of trouble..."
1. What God cannot accomplish w/His children on smooth seas, He does so in the times of storm & trouble.
2. Whenever we need an "attitude adjustment" He simply sends another storm.
B. Storms Change Our Focus: v.27"their wits end..."
1. Money, popularity, possessions, etc. mean nothing to someone in a violent, turbulent storm! 2. The focus shifts from you to the Lord...the only One Who can control the storm & bring you to a safe haven.
NOTE: ✔The spiritual mariner's log agrees w/that of the sailor in a storm. ✔All our wit & wisdom disappears in the storm & we shift our focus from ourselves to our Savior. ✔We stagger likes drunks & lose our spiritual equilibrium & are at our "wits end"!
C. Storms Change Our Perspective: v.28 "THEN they cry unto the Lord..."
1. God hears from us more when we are afflicted or burdened than He ever does when things are quiet & peaceful.
NOTE: The context of this Psalm has to do w/Israel returning from the "storm" of captivity in Babylon. The tragedy is that only 42,360 returned & of the 4000 priests only 74 Levites came home! But, praise the Lord, those who did return first began to rebuild the altar. "They began building an altar for God...since w/out a proper view of sin & redemption no nation can prosper." - Phillips
2. Jonah slept in the belly of the ship, but prayed in the belly of the whale!
3. The Prodigal sneered disrespectfully at his father in his home, but prayed & repented in the hog pen!
4. The rich & famous wanted nothing to do w/our Savior, but the poor, maimed, blind & crippled flocked to Him for healing & salvation.
QUOTE: "He that cannot pray, let him go to sea, and there he will learn."
III. THE SAVIOR CAN CALM OUR STORMS: v.29,30
A. The Pilot: "He..." v.29
ILLUS.: When the ship is in danger of running aground a pilot is brought on board who knows the paths or channels in the sea & he takes over!!!
B. The Purpose: "He maketh the storm a calm...the waves...still..."v.29
1. When you finally tire of trying to navigate thru the storm alone, turn things over to the Pilot!
CHORUS: "He's My Lord, there is no other One...Who can CALM THE STORMS of life, like my Lord...He gives rest to the weary, gives new life to the hopeless...There's no doubt about it, He's My Lord!"
2. There are many good captains who have gotten ships through great storms (as well as many who have lost their ships, crew & life); but there is no Capt. who can calm a storm or still even one wave!
C. The Port: "glad...He bringeth them unto their desired haven..." v.30 1. There is no more wonderful joy than to come through a storm safely. 2. There is no greater peace than that which follows after a storm. 3. There is nothing satisfying to get to our "desired haven" when that place is also where the Lord wanted us & brought us!!!
CONCL.: No wonder the Psalmist repeats his refrain again: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness..." v.31 💥Sailors & saints both know something about God's power & storms, but only the saint has a Savior to get Him safely to his desired haven...heaven!