Proverbs 8:29

Men love the seashore. They can stand on a ribbon of sand and view the immense oceans that cover two-thirds of the earth’s surface. Though the depth, breadth, and power of the seas are great, and though the sand is only a few inches higher than the water, there is no danger. Jehovah laid the strip of sand on a foundation of earth, and He commanded the waters of oceans and seas to not go beyond it. And He used wisdom in this grand design.

Solomon personified wisdom as a woman to exalt knowledge and understanding (Pr 8:1-36; 9:1-12). Lady Wisdom introduced herself (Pr 8:1-11), showed her features and rewards (Pr 8:12-21), described her presence with God in the creation of the world (Pr 8:22-31), and exhorted men to receive her for blessing on their lives (Pr 8:32-36). By this proverb, she taught you that God had wisdom when He created the oceans (Pr 8:27-31).

The oceans and seas are one of earth’s greatest wonders. The Bible tells you exactly how they came to be. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters – And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good” (Gen 1:2,9-10).

The LORD expects you to be impressed with the oceans and His boundaries for them. He boasted to Job of locking the waters in place with doors and bars (Job 38:8-11). He inspired David to write about the waters being heaped up with a boundary they cannot pass (Ps 33:7; 104:9). And He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah that men should fear Him for His fantastic marvel of binding the oceans with a ribbon of sand, which they cannot pass over, no matter how much they toss and roar (Jer 5:22). Give God the glory!

Oceans and seas cover 71% of the earth. The Pacific Ocean is 17 times the size of the United States. The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is deeper than Mount Everest is tall – by over a mile. In spite of hurricanes, typhoons, tidal waves, and tsunamis, beaches and shores are where they were last year. God gave a decree to the oceans and seas, and they cannot cross His boundaries. Neither can wicked men (Ps 65:7; 76:10)!

The lesson is simple. If the blessed Creator of heaven and earth, the LORD Jehovah, rejoiced with wisdom before He formed the seas and the dry land, then wisdom is certainly something you ought to pursue with all your might. If the Creator possessed it, then how much more should His creatures seek it (Pr 3:13-18; 4:5-13; 8:32-36)?