Cosmic Geography, Part 1

Sept. 21

Read: Psalm 24

Cosmic Geography, Part 1

“The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.” (v.1)

There is a certain “geography” that God has made… a way that God interacts with “the earth”. Places and things matter to God. He created them. He is the source of ALL THINGS. All created things belong to God…They are HIS…He owns them.

In the ancient world, water almost always represented chaos, evil, and the unknown. Humans, from the earliest times that we know of, have seen the water as being a place that could “swallow up” a person… destroy them… a dangerous place. This is why it is so powerful and telling to see this truth:

“for (the LORD) has founded (the fullness of the earth, the world, and those who dwell in it) upon the seas and established it upon the rivers”.

Overcoming chaos and over the top of evil (what water has always symbolized=chaos and evil), the LORD rules, brings order, gives life, and conquers. No matter what form evil and chaos comes in (like the water = whether a sea or a river) the Lord prevails, rules over, and brings newness of life and creation. In fact, God “founded creation upon the seas” and “established it upon the rivers”. Think back to Genesis 1 and we see this same truth:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:1)

See how God’s Spirit hovers over… rules over… the “faces of the water”. The story of all creation begins “without form and void”… chaotic and inhospitable to life… and God as the creator-king builds, creates, and gives LIFE. He sets boundaries for the water… he brings land out of the water. “He founded the earth upon the seas”. All of these physical places have spiritual undertones and meanings in the scriptures. They are meant to paint a picture of who God is and how amazing and worthy of worship that he is. We serve a God who creates life, hope, and “solid ground” over the top of / in the midst of what is chaotic and evil to us!

Over the next few days we will look at this Psalm and think about some of this imagery… some of the “cosmic and spiritual geography’ of the world that the Lord has made. Today, this is what I want you to focus on: God rules and reigns over chaos and evil. No matter what form it takes, the LORD will prevail. He is creating and giving life in the midst of all the chaos and evil. He is building “earth” upon the “sea”… “over the top of it”. His Spirit “hovers over formless void and chaos” and then creates… brings life… brings order and purpose. God has set boundaries for the evil… for the chaotic… for the “seas” and the”rivers”. Evil does not run about the earth unchecked. A time is coming when it (evil, chaos, the Devil, and anything that wars against God Most High) will be dealt with. Nothing and no one that is on this earth - “those who dwell therein” - is out of God’s control or sovereign rule. Does your life seem surrounded by chaos and evil? Take heart, God creates over and in the midst of these circumstances… he always has and always will. This is the creator God who loves you and looks out for you… you are HIS. Everything you need in this world belongs to HIM!

“The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.” (v.1)

Love you guys. -JDP