The Great Wide Sea by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

The Great Wide Sea

By J. S. WASHBURN

J. S. WASHBURN

In that glorious nature psalm, the one hundred and fourth, where the footsteps of the eternal Creator are traced in all his works, are these impressive words:—

“O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.”

The sun arises out of the waters, gleams on the crest of the waves, and sinks down at evening into the depths. Solemn night settles somber and dark on the lonely waste of waters. Thus day follows night, and night succeeds day. Though rushing with railway speed over the sea day after day, yet no land, no limit, appears to our sight. Truly the sea is “great and wide,” apparently boundless, fathomless, fit symbol of eternity and of the infinite love and power of God.

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters: these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps. 107: 23-31.

How Mighty the Sea!

How frail the strongest ship that man has ever built! Wintry night has brought from the arctic northwest an icy blast laden with sleet and snow. Westward bound, the great “Oceanic” struggles with the terrible head wind. How she trembles and reels under the terrific blows of the mountainous billows! Now tossed high on the crest of the sea, while waves thunder and winds roar and shriek, the ship, with constant creaking and strain, trembles for a moment, then plunges with quiver and convulsive groan down into the depths.

How frail is man and his greatest work in the mighty grip of the great sea! Yet the eternal God holds all the sea depths in the hollow of his hand.

“The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” Ps. 93: 3, 4.

He calms its furious ragings with a word of command, as a mother hushes her restless child. “Peace, be still;” and the billows sleep placid and mild. He sets bounds to the sea, and stays her proud waves.

How the raging waves, foaming, picture to us the wicked, who cannot rest, but ever foam out their own sin and shame. And yet how the unfailing flow, the endless resources of the sea, are used by the Lord to illustrate the boundless stores of his righteousness, sufficient for every need, the mighty depths of his judgment.

How Beautiful the Sea!

The silvery moonlight glistens on the peaceful waters, and lo, as I gaze, the very heaven of beauty looks up from the deep. Wondrous mirror of the bright hosts of stars and all God’s glory shining from on high! The bright sunshine lights up a living country full of moving mountains with gleaming snow peaks, which curl and fall with feathery lightness, while in the spray for a moment shines out a lovely rainbow, lost in an instant, to reappear and vanish again. What ceaseless, endless change of scenery!

How Wonderful the Sea!

For ages this mighty reservoir of a world’s life has tossed its waves incessantly; rolled its mysterious tides regularly, daily, up and down every shore; sent its deep, strange undercurrents (rivers in the sea) to many lands, laden with heat and moisture; and received all the rivers of the world, yet is never full. Constantly, in answer to the sun ray’s call, it sends up its moisture, to be given in rain and dew o’er all the dry land. How generously does the sea bestow life upon all the earth!

How Terrible the Sea!

Not only life, but grim death is there. Into its awful depths, mighty navies, merchant ships, the wealth of ages, have gone down forever. How many are sleeping the last long sleep, deep in its caverns! How cruel, how relentless, the sea! With shuddering I gaze into its depths. What tales of anguish unspeakable, of grave, sad, last good-bys, might these waves reveal!

But, oh! we may patiently wait till at Christ’s words of life the sea shall give up her dead, and, all her terrible secrets revealed, her mysteries disclosed, the faithful sleepers awake to stand triumphant, with harps of gold, on the crystal sea, the sea of life, before the throne of God.

Philadelphia.