Topical Bible: The Sea: The Waves of Raised Upon High

◄ The Sea: The Waves of Raised Upon High ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The sea, a vast and mysterious creation of God, is frequently mentioned throughout the Bible, symbolizing both the power and majesty of the Creator as well as the chaos and unpredictability of the natural world. The waves of the sea, in particular, are often depicted as being raised upon high, illustrating the might and sovereignty of God over all creation.

Biblical References and Symbolism

In the Old Testament, the sea is often portrayed as a symbol of chaos and disorder, yet it is always under the control of God. In Genesis 1:9-10 , God commands the waters to gather into one place, allowing dry land to appear, demonstrating His authority over the seas. The waves, raised upon high, are a testament to His power: "You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them" (Psalm 89:9).

The book of Job also reflects on the power of God over the sea. In Job 38:8-11 , God questions Job, reminding him of His control over the sea: "Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?"

The Sea in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the sea continues to serve as a backdrop for demonstrating the divine authority of Jesus Christ. One of the most notable instances is when Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee. In Mark 4:39 , Jesus rebukes the wind and says to the sea, "Peace, be still!" The wind ceases, and there is a great calm, showcasing His dominion over nature.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, uses the imagery of the sea to convey spiritual truths. In Ephesians 4:14 , he warns believers not to be "tossed by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching," using the sea's tumultuous nature as a metaphor for instability in faith.

Theological Implications

The imagery of the sea and its waves raised upon high serves as a powerful reminder of God's omnipotence and the order He brings to chaos. The sea's vastness and the might of its waves are a reflection of God's infinite power and the awe-inspiring nature of His creation. The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes that, despite the sea's potential for destruction and disorder, it remains under the sovereign control of the Creator.

In prophetic literature, the sea often symbolizes the nations and peoples of the world, as seen in Daniel 7:2-3 and Revelation 17:15 . The tumultuous waves can represent the unrest and turmoil of human history, yet the ultimate message is one of hope and assurance that God is in control, and His purposes will prevail.

Conclusion

The sea and its waves, raised upon high, are a profound biblical motif that underscores the majesty and authority of God. From the creation narrative to the calming of the storm by Jesus, the sea serves as a testament to the divine power that governs the universe. Through the imagery of the sea, believers are reminded of the stability and peace found in trusting the One who commands even the mightiest of waves.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 93:3
The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 107:25
For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the [Temple And] Cities that were Built by Herod and Erected ...
... which was thus already extant above the sea, till it ... Procumatia, or the first breaker
of the waves; but the ... distance, and at vast charges, and raised an ascent ...
/.../chapter 21 of the temple.htm

"Peace, be Still"
... and the light of the rising sun touched sea and land ... and foaming at the mouth,
approached Him, Jesus raised that hand which had beckoned the waves to rest ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 35 peace be still.htm

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
... On every side I am tossed by the waves of business, and ... I am come into the depth
of the sea, and the ... whom it is written, While they were being raised up thou ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle v to theoctista sister.htm

Acts of Saint Philip the Apostle when He Went to Upper Hellas.
... has been brought down low into itself; O bitter sea! ... us out, but which by itself
lulls its waves to rest ... having driven the demon away from him, he raised him up ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of philip/acts of saint philip the.htm

Psalm LXV.
... builded in the most interior regions of Persia, which for a long time raised its
head ... What man shall endure the sound of the waves of the sea, the behests ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxv.htm

Concerning the Famine that Happened in Judea and Syria; and How ...
... It is a sort of a moderate hill, raised to a further height by the hand of ... all, he
adorned it with a haven, that was always free from the waves of the sea. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning the famine.htm

"The Time of Trouble. "
... in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords raised against them ...
But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: the ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /39 the time of trouble.htm

The Time of Trouble
... in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords raised against them ...
But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 39 the time of.htm

A Strain of Jonah the Prophet.
... Of God, who raised aloft the sky, who based. ... Embarked, and cleaving 'neath the
lowest waves. ... 145 By waters, yet untouched; in the sea's heart. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/1 a strain of jonah.htm

The Birth of Mary the Holy Mother of God, and Very Glorious Mother ...
... And I saw the sheep walking, and the sheep stood still; and the shepherd raised
his hand to strike them ... I am not like the waves of the sea, because even the ...
/.../unknown/the protevangelium of james/the birth of mary the.htm