He Makes the Storm a Calm
A Sermon on Psalms 107:23-32
Originally preached Feb. 6, 1955
Scripture
23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26They mount up …
Sermon Description
It is not hard to see that humanity is in a state of suffering and evil. Everyone experiences death, sickness, and suffering in their lives, but why is this? Many do not consider this question because they claim that humanity will inevitably progress until all evils have been extinguished and that man is the master of his own destiny. But the Bible presents a very different picture of the world than the triumphalist. In this sermon on Psalm 107:23-32, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Scripture teaches that humanity is fundamentally sick and weak, and in dire need of salvation. No one is master of their own destiny, but all are subject to what happens in the world. When the gospel comes, it does not make humanity the center of the world, but it restores them to their rightful place as creatures of God. The gospel brings true and lasting peace for all that believe. This sermon calls each and every person to flee from sin and to come to God in repentance and humility to be saved. This sermon brings the vital message that all need salvation and that Jesus is the Savior.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon text is Psalm 107:23-32 which describes a storm at sea and God delivering people from it.
- The psalmist uses four pictures to convey one message: that all troubles are due to sin and the only salvation is in God.
- The fourth picture in Psalm 107 is of a terrible storm at sea threatening to sink a ship. This represents the violence and turmoil of sin.
- Life is not smooth sailing. There are many storms that shake us: passions, temptations, trials, illness, loss, war, etc.
- These storms show that we are not in control of our lives but are at the mercy of sin and circumstances. We “reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man.”
- We try to steady the ship of life with human wisdom but are “at our wits end.” Nothing we do works. Only God can save us.
- When all seems lost, we should cry out to the Lord, and he will deliver us from our distress. Jesus is the pilot who can calm the storm and guide us to the haven.
- When Jesus comes into our lives, we find calm and peace. He forgives our sins, is with us, and gives us strength and direction. He brings us eternal joy.
- We should ask Jesus to be the pilot of our lives, to hide us in the storm, and guide us to the haven of heaven. He will receive all who come to him.
- We should praise God for sending Jesus to save us from our sin and pilot us to heaven.
Sermon Q&A
What is Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teaching About the Storms of Life in Psalm 107?
How does Psalm 107 describe people caught in the stormy seas of life?
In Psalm 107:23-32, Dr. Lloyd-Jones shows how the psalmist vividly describes sailors caught in a terrible storm at sea. He highlights the dramatic imagery: "They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths. Their soul is melted because of trouble." The people on the ship "reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken men" as they're tossed about by the waves. Most critically, they reach the point where "they are at their wits' end" - a state of complete helplessness where they've exhausted every possible solution and have no resources left of their own.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the root cause of life's storms?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, all the troubles we face - whether individually or collectively - stem from one fundamental source: sin. He states: "The Bible starts by telling us that life is not smooth sailing... Life is a stormy sea." He explains that "the world was never meant to be like this. Life was never meant to be like this. It is like this because of men's sin and his disobedience." Sin has disrupted the peace that was originally intended for human existence.
What types of storms do people face in life according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several categories of storms people experience: 1. Internal storms: "the storm of passion... anger, temper," and "lust" that can drive people against their will 2. External temptations that hit unexpectedly "like a wave" even when life seems calm 3. Trials like illness, financial loss, or unemployment 4. Global storms like wars and international crises 5. The general sense of being "at the mercy of life" and losing control
How does the psalm describe God's response to those who cry out to Him in the storm?
When the sailors "cry out unto the Lord in their trouble," God's response is immediate and powerful. The psalm says "He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that God brings quietness, peace, and direction to those who call on Him. As the psalm says, "He bringeth them into their desired haven." It's a picture of complete rescue and restoration - not just temporary relief but being brought safely to one's destination.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones relate this psalm to the gospel message?
Lloyd-Jones explains that this psalm is "nothing but a very dramatic representation of the message of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Just as God calms the literal storms for the sailors, Christ calms the storms of sin, passion, and circumstance in our lives. He compares it to Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee - a historical event that also serves as a picture of salvation. When Christ comes into a person's life, "the moment you meet him, the first thing that happens to you is you're conscious of a calm," bringing peace, direction, and the assurance of reaching the eternal haven.
What does it mean to be "at your wits' end" spiritually?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, to be "at your wits' end" means that "face to face with life as it is, human wisdom is completely useless." He explains: "A man's wit is a man's wisdom. It's his knowledge, it's his understanding, it's his ability. It's his power to plan. It's his power to apply remedies." To be at your wits' end means you've "done everything they can, and it doesn't avail them" - you've exhausted all human resources and solutions but are still in peril. Lloyd-Jones says this is "a fundamental proposition of the whole Bible" - that human beings, by themselves, cannot solve their deepest problems.
What invitation does Dr. Lloyd-Jones extend at the end of his sermon?
At the conclusion, Lloyd-Jones offers a direct invitation to his listeners who feel buffeted by life's storms. He asks, "Are you in the midst of a storm? Are the billers of passion and lust and desire and jealousy and envy and anger? Are they buffeting and battering you?" He urges them to "cry out unto him" using the words of the hymn "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," promising that Christ will "receive you" and "pilot you and lead you safely to your desired haven." The invitation is to turn to Christ in desperation and trust Him to navigate the storms of life.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.