NOTES & FILL-INS:
- The Bible describes similar creatures, such as the Leviathan, Sea Monsters, and Dragons — all to communicate chaos, disorder, and death; forces beyond human control.
- “Leviathan was seen in ancient legend as a sea monster engaged in primordial warfare with the gods. This creature represented chaos in a personified manner that any creator deity had to overcome in order to create. Leviathan was also seen as a threat to the orderliness of the universe and ultimately to be subdued at the end of time.” (Steve Wyrick, “Leviathan,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Chad Brand et al. (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1028.)
- Is (or was) Leviathan a real creature?
- Connotations are the set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning.
SCRIPTURE CONNOTATIONS
- God created the sea monsters and saw that they were good. (Gen 1:21)
- God established boundaries for all of His creations. (Job 7, 38)
- God is not intimidated by the Leviathan (Job 41)
- God defeated their Leviathan; He can defeat your enemy too! (Ps 74)
- Leviathan becoming synonymous with serpent and dragon. (Isa 27)
- In the new creation there is no longer any sea – no more chaos, disorder, death, destruction, threats, sea monsters, dragons, Leviathan. (Rev 20, 21)
FURTHER STUDY & REFLECTION:
- Read all of today’s Scriptures and these below in the following translations: NIV, RSV, NASB, KJV
- Splitting the Seas: Gen 1:6-7; Ex 14:21-22; Josh 3:15-17; 2 Kings 2:8, 14
- Leviathan’s Place: Ps 102:24-26
- Water in the New Creation: Rev 22:1-2
- Jesus Throwing Beings into the Abyss: Luke 8:26-39
- Jesus & Authority over Dragons/Serpents: Mk 16:15-20; Lk 10:18-20
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
