The great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is larger than New Zealand, covering 344,400 square kilometres (around 70 million football fields). It stretches more than 2,300 kilometres along Queensland’s coastline and is made up of around 3,000 individual coral reefs. Ninety percent of the reef is underwater. The part that is above the surface serves as a breeding ground for birds and turtles. A few of the Islands of the reef are used by tourists.

One of the most remarkable things about the reef is that it is a living structure that does not erode. Composed of growing coral, with shells of dead coral underneath, it can withstand the strong ocean waves that would erode the mainland. Hundreds of types of coral in various colours and forms make up the reef. It also provides a home for a remarkable variety of brilliantly coloured fish, as well as many crustaceans, sea worms, and other marine life.

The phases of the moon trigger the spawning activities of coral. In summer, the new moon signals birth. In winter it is the full moon that gives the signal. When the eggs hatch, tiny larvae, called planula, propel themselves through the water with hundreds of almost invisible hairs. Because they form part of the ocean’s plankton, many coral larvae never reach maturity, for they are eaten by fish and other creatures of the sea. But those that survive anchor themselves for life and, if they are reef-building species, begin to secrete an exoskeleton. Their only requirement is shallow water with temperatures that range between 18C to 30C. Once anchored, they grow tentacles to catch tiny bits of food, and they expand their colonies by putting forth buds, much as plants do.

The Great Barrier Reef offers protection to Australia against the big waves that sometimes sweep in from the Pacific that would erode the shores of our continent. God has also provided spiritual barriers to protect the Christian from the many troubles and temptations that could overwhelm us. Psalm 3:3 says, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.”

Psalm 3 talks about peace amidst calamity: See 2 Samuel 15-18. This was the time of Absolom’s rebellion. Previous friends and associates forsook david and joined the ranks of those who troubled him. David’s situation was so bad that many felt he was beyond God’s help. Some would have said that God was unwilling to help him. They looked at David’s past sin and figured, this is all that he deserves from God.

If we were to add up all our trials and temptations, there is nothing so terrible as what is contained in the verses of Psalm 3. It is the most bitter of all afflictions to be led to fear that there is no help for us in God.

But the psalm ends in a positive note. David recounts what God did in the midst of his trouble. While looking hopeless David knew that God was his ‘shield.’(reef). Betrayal couldn’t shake David’s confidence in a God of love and help. He knew that God was his shield. This is a strong declaration of faith: ‘lift my head’ so, like David, I can Look beyond my circumstances. People find ‘glory’ in all sorts of things – fame, wealth, power, prestige, or possessions. David found his ‘glory’ in the LORD. Notice he prayed aloud, and God heard him. God was in control from the holy hill that his son Absalom had overtaken.