Rev. Stuart Murdoch 1
The Audacity to Hope
Psalm 46
The Audacity to Hope, Psalm 46 is a Psalm that demands radical trust,
hope and commitment in a world which is overflowing with greed anger
and hatred. Psalm 46 is an invitation for people of Faith who have
submitted to and are now following Jesus Christ their Lord and Saviour to
hold firm and steadfast before countless amounts of nameless and
faceless dangers. Psalm 46 was the Psalm which has been read out in the
immediate aftermath of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the
earthquake in South California in 1987, the Indian Ocean tsunami of
2004. It was equally read out as a comfort on the Sunday after
September 11th 2001 terror attacks.
Human-created terror instils fear. However, responding out of fear usually
accentuates violence, as it did following the 9/11 event and the following wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq.1
So how can this Psalm help us through our dark and difficult times in
which we live? Where does our security lie? As followers of Jesus Christ
our security is not in weapons of war and mass destruction, but rather our
security is in Jesus Christ the Son of God our Saviour and our Lord. It is
in Him we have our rest it is in Him that we need to be still and to know
Him truly as our Sovereign Lord of all and that He is with us Immanuel,
God is with us...!!! It is He who is steadfast through all our trial
tribulations and storms of life. He is our Rock, He is our Fortress, He is
our delivering in Him will I trust. We as His people are therefore
responsible to make His presence known to all.
In a world being destabilized by many forces, this quiet song of confidence
stands as a reminder to place trust in God as refuge and strength. 2
The helpful presence of God threads its way all the way through this
Psalm. Refuge is a place where someone can find safety, security and rest.
1
James H. Waltner., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006),
237.
2
James H. Waltner., Psalms, 237.
1
Rev. Stuart Murdoch 2
There is no better place to find that than in God Almighty Himself.
Whether the disaster that is faced is natural or man-made it is God in
whom we find a place of safety for our troubled souls.
The Psalmist helpfully highlights the river whose streams make glad the
city of God, the Holy place where the Most High dwells. The question is
will we follow that river to its source? For if we do we will follow it right
to the heart of God Himself, that river where mercy flows, that river if
we enter will wash away all our hurts pains, injuries, and sins, that river in
which we will be washed clean. The Psalmist is clear to point out that the
central theme here is one of faithful stability amid a troubled and
instable world. In the midst of our troubled world we can only rely on God
for He is complete and utterly trustworthy.
It is God who is the Judge of all for He is the one who is in control of
history. The challenge of V10 is not an invitation to rest and meditate
quietly in a relaxed atmosphere it is however a challenging command to
walk away from waging war and inflicting pain on fellow human beings. It
means not to enter into hostile relations of alliance with others who will
hard hurt maim and injure fellow human beings.
God controls history. Step back from looking for security in anyone other than
God, who is exalted among the nations. 3
So it is the Psalmist who deep down in his heart has the audacity to hope
above all hopes simply because he is utterly dependent on God, He allows
all his thinking, vision, and his entire life and being to be guided by God
Himself. Therefore he is able to come to the conclusion that The Lord
Almighty is with us, Immanuel, no matter what we face.
Julie Miller Song: River where Mercy Flows
3
James H. Waltner., Psalms, 235f.
2