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The Forgotten Books of Eden · 231 of 293

Odes of Solomon: Ode 39

One of the few allusions to events in the Gospels—that of our Lord walking on the Sea of Galilee.

1.Great rivers are the power of the Lord: 2 And they carry headlong those who despise Him: and entangle their paths: 3 And they sweep away their fords, and catch their bodies and destroy their lives. 4 For they are more swift than lightning and more rapid, and those who cross them in faith are not moved; 5 And those who walk on them without blemish shall not be afraid. 6 For the sign in them is the Lord; and the sign is the way of those who cross in the name of the Lord; 7 Put on, therefore, the name of the Most High, and know Him, and you shall cross without danger, for the rivers will be subject to you. 8 The Lord has bridged them by His word; and He walked and crossed them on foot: 9 And His footsteps stand firm on the water, and are not injured; they are as firm as a tree that is truly set up. 10 And the waves were lifted up on this side and on that, but the footsteps of our Lord Messiah stand firm and are not obliterated and are not defaced. 11 And a way has been appointed for those who cross after Him and for those who adhere to the course of faith in Him and worship His name. Hallelujah.

Asked of Guide

Why does the ode say believers "walk on" rivers like the Lord?

The poem treats rivers as God’s power that destroy the proud yet obey those who trust Him; “those who cross them in faith are not moved” explains believers share the Lord’s victory over chaos. The image connects to Jesus walking on the Sea—“His footsteps stand firm on the water”—so following Him lets disciples follow a bridged path across danger.

This ode calls the Lord’s word the bridge and His name the garment that secures passage: “Put on, therefore, the name of the Most High, and know Him, and you shall cross without danger.” That language echoes themes in the Gospel of Matthew where faith and following Jesus make the stormed sea a place of revelation rather than destruction.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.