SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/14/2025 7:56 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “The Sailor’s Dread”
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: Jonah 1:5a
Message of the verse: “Then the sailors became fearful, and every man cried to his god, and they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.”
I think that perhaps we may need to understand what the Lord’s primary purpose for this storm as and that is to intervene in the life of His runaway prophet. However God also used it to work in the hearts of the sailors who were on the ship. With the storms surrounding them, this made even these sailors who must have been seasoned, to become fearful. God employed the weather to arrest their attention. “The words of Psalm 107 describe such a scene:” (John MacArthur.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! “Psalm 107:23-31).
“The events of Jonah 1 displayed the extent of Yahweh’s compassion. His care extended not only to Gentiles living in great cities like Nineveh, but even to crusty sailors venturing on a boat in the middle of the sea.
“The storm struck such fear into the crew that every man cried to his god. While these pagan Gentiles did not yet know the true God, the Lord used the storm to bring every man to consider his morality and the need for divine intervention. The sailors frantically hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. The cargo which was in the ship included heavy equipment and the ship’s payload—the goods that were being hauled for trade. The sailors took drastic measures to lighten the ship, incurring massive financial loss as a result. With life and death flashing before them, their priorities shifted from saving material goods to saving themselves (cf. Job 33:19-22; Ps. 49:1-20; Ecc. 12:6-7; Luke 7:1-9; James 1:2-4, 9-11; 1 Pet. 5:10). As noted above, the verb ‘hurl’ was also used of God hurling the great wind that incited the storm (Johan 1:4)” (From my last SD.) “The Lord had hurled the wind that caused the sailors to hurl their cargo. He brought them to a point of despair so their eyes would turn from temporal concerns to spiritual realities.”
Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today: There is a great storm going on in our family lives at this time, the storm of cancer in the body of my dear wife, and we are taking this storm to the Lord looking for wisdom and direction as to what He desires us to do, trusting in His wisdom and His love to settle this storm.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I am trusting the Lord to work this storm in our lives out for His glory. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
9/14/2025 8:17 AM
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