Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty (Ps 93:4).
My dad used to tell the story of a friend of his who canoed the Zambezi River. I’m not sure where he started but he and his friend paddled a great distance, finally arriving at the mouth in Mozambique. The description terrified me. It conveyed the image of rough, mighty, waters churned by huge crocodiles and sharks competing for food.
The writers of scripture viewed the sea like this- the source of terrifying storms and horrifying beasts. The sea represented the forces of chaos and rebellion. In both Daniel (7:1ff) and Revelation (13:1ff) the sea birthed monsters that oppose God’s people.
In times of chaos, uncertainty, violence and fear, God’s people sing. Singing reminds us that when we fear that the world is falling apart the truth is the “LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure” (Ps 93:1). Yes, we have a King who stilled the storm, Jesus, the “faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5).
God Bless, Sean