. There in the solitudes of that
voiceless ocean, a plunge is heard, by John Macduff, God's
words of comfort to his people, 1872. You will trample our sins
under your feet, and throw them into the depths of the ocean,
Micah 7,19. The picture here is of an ocean,
not near the shore, but far beyond sight of land, in the midst of
a wide wilderness of waters, the illimitable horizon stretching
on every side, And when the sounding line is let down, it cannot fathom
the depth, or reach the bottom. There, in the solitudes of that
voiceless ocean, a plunge is heard, the surface is ruffled
only for a moment, then the waves resume their usual calmness.
The load, whatever it is, is never more seen. It is buried
somewhere in these dark caverns. No spirit of the deep can ever
come up from the silent caves to tell its story. Ships cross
and recross where it fell, but no distinguishing marker is left
on the unstable highway to mark the spot. The sea can be tempted
by no bribe to give up the secret of its keeping, all traces lost
from sight and memory forever. That is a picture of what God
does for all His redeemed people. You will trample our sins under
your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean.