How does Psalm 95:5 emphasize God's sovereignty over the sea and land? The Verse at a Glance “Psalm 95:5 — ‘The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.’” His Ownership Declared • “The sea is His… the dry land” — Repetition of “His” twice in a single line stamps clear ownership. • Creation establishes title: the Maker retains the rights (cf. Psalm 24:1–2). • No realm is excluded; everything visible between horizon and shore belongs to Him. Creating and Controlling the Sea • Genesis 1:10 records God naming the “seas” after gathering the waters; naming in Scripture signals authority. • Job 38:8–11 portrays God shutting in the sea with doors and setting boundaries it cannot pass. • Exodus 14:21 shows Him parting the Red Sea, proving ongoing power over what He created. Forming and Shaping the Dry Land • “His hands formed the dry land” pictures intentional, craftsman-like work. • Isaiah 45:18 affirms, “He established it; He did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited.” • The verb “formed” (יָצַר / yatsar) evokes a potter fashioning clay, highlighting personal involvement. Sea and Land in Harmony Under One Sovereign • In ancient thought, sea symbolized chaos; land symbolized stability. By claiming both, God reigns over chaos and order alike. • Revelation 10:2 pictures an angel with one foot on the sea and one on the land, echoing the unified dominion first stated in Psalm 95:5. Worship Implications • Because He owns and governs every environment, no circumstance lies outside His rule. • When we stand on shore or sail at sea we are on His property, under His care, responsible to His authority. • Psalm 95:6 follows naturally: “Come, let us bow down in worship.” Sovereignty invites surrender and praise. Takeaway Points – God’s sovereignty is total, covering every realm. – Creation proves and proclaims His authority. – Recognizing His ownership deepens trust and fuels wholehearted worship. |
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