"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves
thereof arise, thou stillest them," PSA 89:9.

God's poor, tried, tempest-tossed, weather-beaten, exercised children understand the raging of the sea and the blessed calm when their God stills those waves. The hymn writer spoke their heart's desire saying:

The billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call,
My fears are great, my strength is small.

O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guide and guard me through the storm;
Defend me from each threatening ill,
Control the waves, say, 'Peace be still.'

Dangers of every shape and name,
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave this world's deceitful shore,
But leave it to return no more.

When the Holy Spirit works grace in the soul, He sets that soul out to sea in his journey of spiritual life. Those will turn their backs on the sins and vanities of this world, "to return no more."

As their spiritual travail becomes genuine, they begin to understand what the apostle said in EPH 6:12, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Our text shows how the Psalmist learned God's sovereignty in both sending and controlling every trial. "Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." We learn God's preserving care in His school of affliction where He manifests His mercy in the deep waters of tribulation.

The calmed sea has its blessings of peace. HEB 12:11 says, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

Oh, beloved, what peace there is when our faith's eye is fixed upon our blessed Peace Maker, who made peace by "the blood of His cross". It was through His righteousness and sacrifice that He stilled the lightening and thundering of Mount Sinai for His people. Oh, what peace He obtained for His bride!

Now the Spirit speaks to the heart of the anxious soul, "Peace, be still," when He gives us faith to see that Jesus is with us on this boisterous sea, MAR 4:37-41.

The lions will not tear,
The billows cannot heave,
The furnace shall not singe thy hair,
Till Jesus gives them leave.

There is no shelter from the storm of God's wrath against sin except in the sacrifice and righteousness of our blessed substitute. EPH 2:8-10 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."