John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 5:22

"Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it." — Jeremiah 5:22 (ASV)

God shows here why he had said that the people were foolish and without understanding. It was indeed a monstrous stupidity not to fear in the presence of God, since even inanimate elements obey his bidding. He takes the sea especially as an example, for there is nothing more terrifying than a tempestuous sea.

It appears as if it would overwhelm the whole world when its waves swell with so much violence. No one in this case can do otherwise than tremble. But the sea itself, which makes the bravest tremble, quietly obeys God; for however furious its tossings may be, they are still under restraint.

Now, if anyone inquires how this is, it must be acknowledged as a miracle that cannot be accounted for. For the sea, we know, like other elements, is spherical. As the earth is round, so also is the element of water, as well as air and fire. Since, then, the form of this element is spherical, we must know that it is not lower than the earth; but its being lighter than the earth shows that it stands above it.

How then is it that the sea does not overflow the whole earth? For it is a liquid and cannot stand in one place unless retained by some secret power of God. It therefore follows that the sea is confined to its own place because of God’s appointment, according to what is said by Moses:

Let the dry land, said God, appear (Genesis 1:9).

For he intimates that the earth was covered with water, and no part of it appeared, until God formed the sea. Now the word of God, though it is not heard by us, nor resounds in the air, is yet heard by the sea, for the sea is confined within its own limits.

Were the sea tranquil, it would still be a wonderful work of God, as he has given the earth to be the habitation of men. But when it is moved, as I have said, by a tempest, and heaven and earth seem to blend together, there is no one, being near such a sight, who does not feel dread. Therefore, the power of God, and his awesome might, appear more evident when he calms the turbulent sea.

We now see the scope of the Prophet’s words: He shows that the Jews were monsters, and unworthy not only to be counted as men, but even to be classed with brute animals. For there was more sense and understanding in the tempestuous and raging sea than in men, who seemed endowed with reason and understanding. This is the design of the comparison.

But as it was a heavy complaint, the Prophet asks a question, Will you not fear me? As if God had said, “What do you mean? How is it that I am not feared by you? The sea obeys me, and its fury is checked by my secret bidding; for I have once and for all commanded the sea to remain within its own limits, and though it may be violently agitated by storms and tempests, it still does not exceed my orders.

Will not you men, endowed with reason, fear me? Will you not tremble at my presence?” And he says that he had set the sand to be the boundary of the sea; and this is much more expressive than if he had said that he had set boundaries to the sea, for the sand is movable and driven by a small breath of wind, and the sand is also penetrable.

Were there rocks along all the shores of the sea, it would not be so wonderful. Had God then restrained the violence of the sea by firm and strong mounds, the keeping of it within its limits might be ascribed to nature; but what firmness is there in sand? For a little water thrown on it will soon penetrate through it.

How then is it that the sea, when tossed by violent storms, does not remove the sand, which is so easily shifted? We therefore see that the mention of sand is not introduced in vain. And there is a similar passage in Job 38:11, where God, speaking of his infinite power, says among other things:

Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further.

For doubtless no storm arises, except when it pleases God. He might indeed keep the sea in the same quiet state, but he does not do so. On the contrary, he gives it, as it were, loose reins, but he says, Hitherto shall it come. When therefore high mountains seem to threaten all mortals, and the earth seems near an overthrow, then suddenly the impetuous waves are repressed and become calm.

And he adds, A perpetual ordinance. It is indeed true that the sea sometimes overflows its limits; for many cities, we know, have been swallowed up by a flood.

But still it is rightly said that it is a perpetual ordinance or decree that God confines the sea within its own limits.

For whenever the sea overflows a small portion of land, we therefore learn what it might do without that restraint mentioned here by Jeremiah and in the book of Job. We therefore learn that there is nothing to hinder the sea from overflowing the whole earth but the command of God which it obeys.

In the meantime, the perpetuity of which the Prophet speaks remains generally the same; for though many storms arise every year, the fury of the sea is still quieted, but not otherwise than by the command of God.

This then is true—that the sea has prescribed limits, over which its waves are not permitted to pass. And therefore he says, Move themselves and not prevail shall its waves; and again, Resound, or tumultuate shall they, and shall not pass over.

We now understand the design of this verse: God complains that there was so much madness and stupidity in the people that they did not obey him as much as the sea, even the stormy sea. He then condemns the Jews here as if they were monsters; for nothing can be more contrary to nature than for the tempestuous sea to have more understanding than man, created in God’s image and endowed with reason. He then adds—