“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. For He commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.” – Psalm 107:23-25

A few days ago, I read an interesting article about ‘sea trials’ – a series of trial runs to test ships, aimed at proving their seaworthiness.

Carrying out a sea trial is a crucial procedure before a vessel is cleared for delivery to the final customer as it is the guarantee that the crew, passengers and cargo would be safe and to test if everything would work as expected.

Crucially, these trials are carried out during a heavy storm when the sea is roughest as it is the best environment to reveal the flaws in the vessel’s design or construction – if any – as well as the various parameters such as stability, speed, fuel consumption, and maneuverability, etc.

The one that I found most interesting is the ‘Black Out Test,’ which involves the complete blackout to simulate a scenario whereby there is an emergency that shuts down all the ship’s systems completely.

It is intended to demonstrate what would be done to save lives in case a major disaster happens while the vessel is at sea.

In essence, ship builders love heavy storms. Another popular quote says, “A ship in a harbour is safe but that is not what ships are built for!”

Refuse to do serious ‘business’ around the shoreline; launch out into the deep as our Lord Jesus told Simon Peter (see Luke 5:4).

So like the eagle “mounts up with wings” into the storm, God is challenging us today not to shun the stormy gale but rather to fly right into it, and then our rewards (or results) will be evident to all.

Something else that loves storms is the eagle. While other birds fold up to take shelter, the eagle actively engages the strong winds and uses the turbulence to push itself into higher echelons, which it cannot reach in normal weather.

Our meditation today celebrates sailors that do business in great waters and thus who see the works and wonders of the LORD.

Verse 28 says it’s those being tossed to and fro in the storm that “cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses” (verse 28).

That implies that like storms are used to test the systems on a ship or aeroplane, the trials we go through are God’s messengers – “commanded” to test our support systems and our dependence on Him.

This Psalm 107 is one of my favorite psalms. The refrain in verse 31 says; “Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

Verse 32 adds; “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.”

That implies that only those who are willing to face the test of the “goodness” in the storm will be the ones to give a testimony!

So like the eagle “mounts up with wings” into the storm, God is challenging us today not to shun the stormy gale but rather to fly right into it, and then our rewards (or results) will be evident to all.

Lord, thank you for the storms! Amen!