LIKE THE TROUBLED SEA

LIKE THE TROUBLED SEA

“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”. (Is. 57:20-21 KJV)

On November 24, 2009 Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the southern tip of South America and entered the Pacific Ocean with three ships. He was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, it was Magellan who named this vast ocean “Pacific” which means “peaceful”. While the ocean may appear “peaceful” from a distance, it is not peaceful at all. Every ocean makes waves and those who walk along the beach can easily see that these waves “cast up mire and dirt”. This reminded Isaiah of wicked people. From a distance they look “peaceful”. Often they are rich and powerful and are envied by others. Many would like to trade places with them. Don’t be fooled! When you get to know them, wicked people are not peaceful at all.

HEROD THE GREAT

For example, consider Herod the Great. There were many rich and powerful people in the Herod family, but the richest and most powerful of them all was named “Herod the Great”. Herod got a great many things done. As king he rebuilt the Jewish temple, developed new water supplies for Jerusalem, built fortresses in Masada and Herodium, founded new cities such as Caesarea Maritima, and Mamre in Hebron. Etc. He was very rich and very powerful. One of his many sources of wealth came from a monopoly that he and Cleopatra had over the extraction of asphalt from the Dead Sea. This asphalt was much in demand as it was an essential ingredient used in shipbuilding. Herod also leased copper mines on Cyprus from the Roman emperor, levied taxes, and had many other sources of income. His vast riches, however, did not make him happy or secure.

In fact, in spite of all his riches and accomplishments, Herod was a miserable man. He was paranoid about people wanting to kill him and hired 2,000 soldiers to be his personal body guards. He feared that his wife Miriamne and her mother were conspiring against him so he had them both killed. He also executed her sons for the same reason. In an effort to kill the baby Jesus, Herod killed all the boy babies in the vicinity of Bethlehem that were two years of age and younger (Matt. 2:16). Herod was like the troubled sea. He was not a happy man!

When Herod was about to die he went to Jericho. Fearing that the Jews would rejoice at his death he ordered that the most illustrious Jews from every town be arrested and locked up in the hippodrome. He then gave these orders to his sister Salome and her husband Alexander: “I know that the Jews will rejoice at my death. But I may be lamented by others and have a splendid funeral if you are willing to perform my commands. When I shall expire surround these men, who are now under guard, as quickly as possible with soldiers, and slay them, in order that all Judea and every house may weep for me even against their will.” Fortunately, when the wicked king died his evil orders were nor obeyed.

The point is, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”.

JEZEBEL

Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Zidoneans. Her name is synonymous with evil. She obviously came from a very rich family. Ahab, the king of Israel, married her and formed an alliance with the Zidoneans, who were also know as “Phoenicians”. Marrying King Ahab made her even richer still. Under her evil influence Ahab began to serve and worship Baal (1 Ki. 16:29-33). These pagans believed that Baal controlled the reproductive powers of nature and thus Baal worship involved every kind of sexual indulgence. Thus Jezebel engaged in any and every kind of sexual experience. Baal worship even involved religious prostitution and little babies born as a result were often seen as an inconvenience. Consequently they were often killed. To make this murder acceptable the prophets of Baal said that if the bodies of these babies were placed in the foundations of houses and public buildings Baal would give them a special blessing. Jezebel considered Jehovah an enemy and killed the prophets of God (1 Ki. 18:4). Sadly, the happiness derived from money and sex is only temporary. Jezebel was not a happy woman!

It was at the height of Ahab’s power and devotion to Baal that God sent the prophet Elijah to tell him: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Ki. 17:1).

The fact that Baal could do nothing to stop this three year drought set the stage for the famous confrontation between Elijah and the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel (1 Ki. 18:16-46). At the end of the day Jehovah was proven to ge the One True God, the prophets of Baal were killed, and the three year drought was over.

Even though they desperately needed the rain, Jezebel was not happy about the death of her prophets. So she sent word to Elijah that she was going to kill him within 24 hours (1 Ki. 19:2). She should have been happy that Elijah brought their much needed rain, but she was not. Fortunately Elijah survived her efforts to kill him. In fact, Elijah didn’t die at all for God took him up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Ki. 2:11).

We can “infer” that in addition to being rich, and powerful, and having no sexual restraints, Jezebel was also attractive. When she was threatened by Jehu, for example, she “painted her eyes and arranged her hair and looked out of a window”. Apparently she thought she could seduce Jehu with her beauty (2 Ki. 9:30). She was wrong! Jehu called out for some eunuchs standing near her to throw her out of the window. When they did so she fell to the ground with such force that some of her blood spattered on the wall. Not only was Jehu not seduced by her beauty, but his horses trampled her underfoot, and her body was eaten by the dogs (2 Ki. 9:32-37).

The point is, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”.

J. PAUL GETTY

In 1957 Fortune Magazine named J. Paul Getty as the richest man in America. The Guinness Book of Records named him the world’s richest private citizen. His biographer, Robert Lenzner, revealed the following information about Getty in the December 1985 issue of Life Magazine. In spite of all his great wealth Getty was not a happy man. He was married five times but none of his marriages

made him happy. Neither of his parents were invited to any of his weddings. He was reportedly visited regularly by an assortment of female friends whom he would write into and out of his will as the whims would strike him. He had 5 sons by 4 different wives but did not seem close to any of his children. When his son Timmy died of a brain tumor he didn’t even attend the funeral. When his son George came home for a business consultation his father made him wait for eight days before receiving an appointment. When George committed suicide he left a note for his mother saying he would “see her in the hereafter and happier life”. His son Paul Jr. was disinherited for using drugs and his father never saw him again.

His grandson, J. Paul Getty III, once wrote: “I am a refugee from a Rolls-Royce . . . I am an escapee from a credit card”. When the boy was kidnapped and held for ransom his grandfather assumed it was a trick to extort money to buy drugs. Only when the kidnappers cut off the boy’s ear and mailed it to the police did his grandfather pay the ransom. The one eared grandson later became blind, paralyzed, and unable to speak as a result of drugs.

J. Paul Getty lived in a mansion with 500 windows. He was so afraid, however, that he had bars installed on every window, and also had guards and guard dogs to patrol the yard outside of his house. He even had his bedroom door fortified with a steel plate and every night a hired guard and attack dog stood watch outside of his bedroom door. Just in case, Getty also had an assortment of weapons on his bedside table.

The point is, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”.

PABLO ESCOBAR

Pablo Escobar was born Dec. 1, 1949 and was known as the “King of Cocaine”. He was once considered the richest criminal in history. He was a Columbian Drug Lord and the sole leader of the Medellin Drug Cartel. By shipping 70-80 tons of cocaine out of Columbia every month he not only made a lot of money, he also made a lot of enemies. He was constantly battling rival cartels both domestically and abroad. As a consequence he was involved in murdering police officers, judges, locals, prominent politicians, and anybody else who got in his way. He made Colombia the murder capital of the world. Being constantly at war, as you know, is not a happy way to live.

So in 1991 Escobar surrendered to authorities, cut a deal, and was only sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Being in prison, however, did not make him happy either so in 1992 he escaped and went into hiding. This led to a nation wide manhunt which caused the Medellín Cartel to crumble. In 1993 Escobar returned to his home town in search of happiness but was killed there by the Columbian National Police. It was only one day after his 44th birthday.

Please note this contrast between Pablo Escobar and the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul wrote these following words from prison in Rome: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:11-13).

The point is, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”.

ROBERT MAXWELL

Robert Maxwell was born in 1923 in rural Czechoslovakia to a family of Orthodox Jews. He was the third of nine children. His name was originally Jon Ludvik Hoch but he took the name Robert Maxwell when he moved to Britain in 1940. When he realized the value of scientific treatises he started a publishing company. Eventually he would publish 600 text books a year. In 1964 his stock went public and he became a multi-millionaire.

Pride was the original sin of Satan and he only thought about himself. Satan said in his heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will set also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High (Is. 14:13-14). This was precisely the sin of Robert Maxwell. He always put himself first. One of his employees said: “Maxwell was the sun, and were either planets or we had to leave”. Maxwell, however was not happy! He became so bitter and paranoid that he hired private detectives to investigate anyone who dared to criticize him and sued them into silence.

As Maxwell thought that more money would make him happy, he stole $1.65 billion from public companies, and $795 million from the pension fund of his own employees. In 1988 he raised $300,000 to help Mother Teresa build a hospital, but three years later the money was still in his own personal bank account. In retrospect he was perhaps the biggest thief in British history. On June 18, 1992 his son Kevin was arrested and charged with eight counts of theft and conspiracy to defraud. When ordered by the courts to pay $700 million he had stolen he declared bankruptcy.

Finally, Maxwell’s financial house of cards collapsed. His compulsive buy-out sprees forced him to put up shares of his public companies as security. He shuffled hundreds of millions trying to stay ahead of his avalanche of debt, but falling stock prices led him to believe that his massive loans were about to be called in. In desperation he even pledged as collateral assets that were no longer his. He was at the end of his rope and was destined for public humiliation and prison.

So, on October 31, 1991 he boarded his yacht a final time. A few days later Maxwell received a call from his son while still at sea. His son informed him that he needed to return to the UK. A meeting with the Bank of England was scheduled to discuss the liquidation of his company. He had also recently defaulted on a £50 million loan from Goldman Sachs. When he failed to answer an 11:00 a.m. phone call the next day the alarm was sounded. His body was found floating in the water at 6:00 that evening. It is still not clear whether he died by suicide, murder, or accident.

It is clear, however, that: “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”.

IT IS GOD WHO PROVIDES TRUE PEACE

Isaiah wrote: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Is. 26:3 KJV). True peace only comes from God!

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On the night before Calvary Jesus promised to give his disciples peace. He said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (Jn. 14:27).

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Jesus also said: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). •

It is obvious that the peace God gives is not like the world gives!

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When the apostles were beaten they “Left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:41) – That’s true peace! •

When Stephen was being stoned to death he saw heaven opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. He prayed “‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ then he fell on his knees and cried out ‘Lord do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this he fell asleep” (Acts 7:55-60). That’s true peace!

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Herod executed James, the brother of John, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the people he arrested Peter too, expecting to bring him out for a public trial. The night before Peter was chained between two soldiers but was sleeping. He was sleeping so soundly that when an angel of the Lord came to rescue him he had to strike him on the side to wake him up (Acts 12:1-19). That’s true peace!

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When Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and imprisoned they were placed in an inner cell with their feet in the stocks. Instead of complaining, however, they were singing hymns (Acts 16:22- 28). That’s true peace!

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When the ship Paul was riding in was caught in a severe storm the passengers were terrified. Paul encouraged everyone, however, and said: “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously give you the lives of all who sail with you. So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me” (Acts 27:23-25). That’s true peace!

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Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians from prison. In that brief letter he referred to joy and rejoicing 16 times. He wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7). That’s true peace!

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Just before his execution Paul wrote to Timothy: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:6-8) That’s true peace!

Yes! “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace saith my God, to the wicked”. There is, however, plenty of peace to those who place their trust in God. We will conclude this brief article with the 46th Psalm. It is thought

to have been composed after God delivered King Hezekiah from the vast army of Sennacherib, the King of Assyria (See Isaiah chapters 36-37). Note in particular that when calamities take place all around the children of God, the Lord commands: “Be still and know that I am God”.

PSALM 46

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

WHEN THE LORD GOD IS WITH US WE ARE KEPT IN PERFECT PEACE!

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