Many years ago I visited Niagara Falls, a large and magnificent waterfall between the U.S. state of New York and Canada’s province of Ontario. Niagara Falls, like any very large waterfall, is extremely loud, and can be heard long before you get to them. The sound of water and waves crashing against rocks and the shore is majestic and powerful. I have driven down Lake Shore Drive along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Chicago on a number of occasions when the water was very turbulent, the waves crashing up along the shore. I imagine it is even more so along the ocean shores during storms. Our psalm this week, a very short psalm, speaks of the sound of mighty waters and waves, and how the Lord is mightier than even the strongest of waves and floods.
One of the most fearful situations one can find themselves in is that of being in a hurricane or on a boat in the ocean, large lake or sea in the middle of a powerful storm. When a powerful hurricane is heading towards land, there are often large-scale evacuations ordered for the residents in coastal communities. These storms are powerful and life-threatening. Sometimes sailors go out to sea despite storm warnings, but often tragically find their sailing skills are no match to the power of the waves. No one has ever been able to tame or defeat a hurricane or other large storm at sea.
Though no human is a match for this power, our psalmist reminds us of One who is even more powerful, that being the Lord God (vs. 1-2). God is omnipotent. He has the power to do anything and everything He wishes. He is the Creator of all on earth, and He controls the winds and waves. He has all of the power of any mighty waterfall, any hurricane or storm at His fingertips. This is seen when Jesus stilled the raging waves of the Sea of Galilee during a storm (Mark 4:35-41). Many of the disciples were professional fishermen and knew the power of storms. These men knew how dangerous they could be, and were rightly afraid. Yet Jesus, the almighty Creator, has the power to still the waves at His Word. When our life feels like we are on a small raft, heading towards a looming, large waterfall, ready to go over to doom, we need to remember that God is always greater than all of our troubles. No matter how high the floods or waves, the Lord remains greater than them all.
Large groups of angry people, an angry mob, can seem like powerful waves that cannot be contained. More and more we are seeing people turn away from God and His Word, especially in an angry and defiant way. The angry nations and enemies of God, who rage against Him and His Son’s reign, are just like the angry waves in a storm (Revelation 11:17-18). However, just as Jesus commanded the waves to be still, He will subdue the angry waves of humanity that are defiant against Him. Jesus will still the raging, hostile nations, and will establish His Kingdom.
God’s glory is seen, not only in His strength, but also in His perfect moral character (vs. 5). God will never do anything that is not morally perfect. Because He is holy, He wants His children to be holy, as well (Leviticus 19:1-2). God’s Word is sure and true. The foundations of His house is holiness, as our psalmist states, without any spot or stain of sin there.
As we close out this short, little psalm, we need to remember that nothing is more powerful than God, even some of the most powerful forces on earth, such as storms and waves. Nothing is more sure and steadfast than His reign, even against the angry wave-like mobs of defiant nations. Nothing is more true than His Word. What God has said will happen, will indeed happen. We can count on that.
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