Schnapps, God, and Ocean Documentaries: A Brief Commentary

Tonight I made my drink a little too strong, but I drink it anyway. Hot chocolate with Kahlua and peppermint schnapps. The looseness inspires; lubricates my thoughts. They say that writers should write daily, so I’ll write as I watch nature documentaries and talk to myself, oohing and awing at the mysteries of the ocean deep. Creatures that can change the texture and color of their skin on a whim; bioluminescence and propelling water syphons. And it occurs to me that some of the most amazing creatures are the ones that most people can’t get at; ones that no one even knew existed for thousands and thousands of years. Yet there they were, there in the dark, living and growing and evolving just for God Himself.

And it occurs to me how arrogant it is to assume that creation was made for mankind. No doubt much of it was, in part. No doubt much of the brilliance was put in place as a signpost to direct us toward the Creator and the paradise that will one day marry the earth, and to fill us with beauty and awe. But I believe that much of it was made just for Him, to love and enjoy and watch. So much has been unseen for so long; so much remains unseen. How much are we missing, how much will we continue to miss until the day Heaven meets Earth? Those things do not exist in vain. As God delights in us, He delights in the rest of creation of which we are unaware.

I watch this ocean documentary and I am reminded of the Leviathan as it is mentioned in Psalm 104:26. Not only majestic, not only monstrous, but merry and joyful, reflecting the gladness of God. Psalm 104 speaks of the ocean, and in verse 26, it says, “There the ships go to and fro, and the Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.” That’s the New International Version. The New Living Translation says, “See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which You formed to play in the sea.” New American Standard translation: “There the ships move along, and Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it.” Aramaic Bible in Plain English: “In it the ships travel; this is Leviathan which You have created to be merry in it.” King James, International Standard, NET, and many more; in all of them Leviathan plays, or romps, or frolics, or makes merry. And in all of them that was their purpose: “Which You formed to…”

Biblical scholars might argue; I don't know. Maybe it really means something different from how I'm interpreting it just now. But this is what it says to me: God delights when creation rejoices, and creation was made to rejoice.

I've finished my drink. To all a good night.