when its waves mount up,
The mounting waves symbolize turmoil and unrest, both in the natural world and in human experience. In the context of ancient Israel, the sea was often viewed with fear and awe, as it was unpredictable and dangerous. This phrase can also be connected to the story of Jonah, where the sea's turmoil reflects God's displeasure and the need for repentance. The mounting waves can be seen as challenges or trials that believers face, which are ultimately under God's control.

You still them.
This phrase highlights God's ability to bring peace and calm to situations of chaos and distress. It is reminiscent of Jesus calming the storm in the Gospels (Mark 4:39), where He demonstrates His divine authority by commanding the wind and waves to be still. This act serves as a type of Christ, showing His power over nature and His role as the bringer of peace. The calming of the sea is also prophetic of the ultimate peace and order that God will establish in the new creation, as described in Revelation 21:1, where there is no longer any sea, symbolizing the absence of chaos and evil.

Psalm 89:9 opens with “You rule the raging sea,” immediately spotlighting God as the undisputed sovereign over creation. The psalmist doesn’t picture a distant deity but a present King who governs every surge and swell.

• Scripture consistently ties the sea to chaos and danger, then shows God reigning over it. In Job 38:8-11, He asks, “Who shut in the sea behind doors…when I fixed its boundaries and set bars and doors?” He alone set the limits.

• Psalm 93:3-4 echoes, “The floods have lifted up their voice…mightier than the breakers of the sea, the LORD on high is majestic.” No matter how loud the roar, His rule is louder.

• The Red Sea scene in Exodus 14:21-31 reminds us that God doesn’t merely command from shore; He divides waters for His people to walk through.

Because He rules, the Christian never faces an untamable chaos; every wave, literal or figurative, answers to Him.

The verse moves from God’s authority to the dramatic moment “when its waves mount up.” Real life mirrors this: storms don’t consult our calendars.

• Psalm 107:25-27 portrays sailors whose “courage melted away…they reeled and staggered like drunken men.” Even seasoned mariners can’t outmuscle the sea.

• Jonah 1:4 shows God “hurling a great wind on the sea,” proving He can escalate circumstances to awaken hearts.

• Jesus’ disciples faced mounting waves in Matthew 8:24; their boat “was being swamped by the waves.” The mounting moment is common to God’s people, and Scripture normalizes that tension.

Knowing waves will rise keeps us from surprise and drives us to the Ruler who stands above them.

Finally, “You still them.” Authority becomes action; God’s sovereignty translates into serenity.

• Psalm 107:29 celebrates, “He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” What He did then, He still does.

• Mark 4:39 records Jesus rebuking the wind: “Peace! Be still!” and “the wind died down and it was perfectly calm.” The same voice heard in Psalm 89 is heard in Galilee, underscoring Christ’s divine identity.

• Revelation 21:1 looks forward to a “new heaven and a new earth…there was no longer any sea.” The ultimate stilling is coming, when chaos is eradicated and peace is permanent.

For believers, this means:

– No crisis outruns His capacity to silence it.

– His calming may be immediate, gradual, or ultimate, but it is certain.

– Our worship is fueled by remembrance of past stillings and confidence in future ones.

Psalm 89:9 paints a threefold picture: God rules the sea, acknowledges the reality of mounting waves, and personally stills them. He stands above every chaos, permits its rise for His purposes, and possesses the final word of peace. Trust rests secure when anchored to the One whom winds and waves obey.