Topical Bible: Foundation: Figuratively Applied to The Ocean

◄ Foundation: Figuratively Applied to The Ocean ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the concept of "foundation" is often used metaphorically to describe the stability and order of creation, including the ocean. The ocean, with its vastness and power, is depicted as being set upon a foundation established by God, highlighting His sovereignty and control over the natural world.

The imagery of the ocean's foundation is vividly portrayed in the Psalms. Psalm 104:5-9 states, "He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved. You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the place You appointed for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth." Here, the psalmist emphasizes God's authority in establishing the earth and the ocean, setting boundaries that the waters cannot transgress.

The metaphor of the ocean's foundation underscores the theme of divine order. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sea often symbolized chaos and disorder. By describing the ocean as having a foundation, the biblical text conveys the idea that God has subdued chaos, bringing order and stability to creation. This is further illustrated in Job 38:4-11 , where God challenges Job, saying, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?"

The foundation of the ocean is also a testament to God's creative power and wisdom. Proverbs 8:27-29 personifies wisdom, stating, "I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, when He set a boundary for the sea so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth." This passage highlights the integral role of divine wisdom in the creation and maintenance of the world, including the ocean.

In the New Testament, the concept of foundation is applied to the teachings of Jesus Christ, who calms the stormy sea, demonstrating His authority over the natural elements. In Matthew 8:26-27 , Jesus rebukes the winds and the sea, and there is a great calm. The disciples marvel, saying, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!" This narrative reinforces the idea that Christ, as the divine Logos, upholds the created order, including the ocean, by His powerful word.

Thus, the figurative application of "foundation" to the ocean in the Bible serves to affirm God's supreme authority, the orderliness of His creation, and the sustaining power of His word.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 104:8
They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... when he actually appeared had its foundation in a ... to say many things which applied
to himself ... prophecy must clearly be understood figuratively, and therefore ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... God; which is "built upon the foundation of the ... producing spiritual death, 9:5. When
applied to the ... others understand that it is called figuratively by those ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

The Water of Life;
... a place where it breaketh out, but the original is the sea, the ocean of grace ... This
rock, saith he, was Christ, that is, figuratively: and this throne is Christ ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the water of life.htm

part ii
... Everything that disturbs us, and as though undermines the heart in its foundation
and oppresses it, proceeds from the Devil, for he himself is eternal ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm