“Be Still, My Soul”
A Sermon preached by the Rev Koa Keng Woo at the FEBC Chapel, 20 September 2011
Have you ever come across fear in your life? I have come across fears numerous times in my life and they cause me to have sleepless nights.
This hymn “Be Still, My Soul” will definitely help and comfort you when in such circumstances. Whatever circumstances we are in, this first line of the hymn will surely comfort us and we will be at rest.
In the midst of the Psalmist’s troubles, the LORD said: “Be still, and know that I am God”. These were the same words that spoke to Katharina von Schlegel in the turbulent times of post-Reformation Germany. A century after Luther’s Reformation, central Europe was troubled by the Thirty Years’ War. The Lutheran Church had lapsed into formalism and dead orthodoxy. In this period of darkness, God raised up the Pietist movement, stressing personal holiness, charity, missions, and music.
Songs of the Pietists were largely unknown outside Germany until three British women—Jane and Sarah Borthwick and Catherine Winkworth —began to translate them into English a hundred years later. This hymn “Be Still, My Soul” was written by Katharina von Schlegel of the Pietist movement in the latter half of the 17th century and translated into English by Jane Borthwick in the 19th century. It was among the many forgotten hymns. The music was composed by the renowned Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in 1899. The symphonic poem (or tone poem) was an orchestral work entitled “Finlandia” which was patriotic music and descriptive of the beauty of the land of Finland, and a part of this was taken and fitted to the hymn.
Today, the world is very uncertain and full of trouble and fear. Daily, we can hear of news of suicide bombers in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and many other places.
Earthquakes are so frequent in many places of the world. Floods and landslides are so commonly seen. I saw on TV news two weeks ago that at the time of the earthquake in Japan, many ran out of the building in fear. Wars in Libya, Syria and elsewhere have caused many innocent people to live in fear and some have lost their lives.
The economic situation of the world is uncertain too. Many countries are in financial trouble—USA, Greece etc. The uncertainty of the financial situation of the world has caused many people to be in fear of losing their jobs.
On the 4th of March 1933, the late President Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the USA, in his speech to the American people said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He was consoling the 13 million unemployed Americans not to be in fear.
When Life BPC sued to evict FEBC, many feared that we would not be able to continue to use this campus anymore.
But what are we going to do when we are facing fears in our lives? Do we just give up? Can we be consoled by someone like President Roosevelt telling us not to fear? Or are we going to think of some solutions ourselves to dismiss our fears?
When sincere believers have the Lord in their lives, only then need they not fear. David, when old, looked back and said, “I will fear no evil”. Many times in the Bible, we can see the words “fear not”. Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. The Psalmist in Psalm 118:6 declared, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear”. We do not have to fear “who” or “what” because we are in the Lord’s care.
2 Chronicles 20 tells us how the good king Jehoshaphat was threatened by the three great armies of Edom, Moab and Ammon at Engedi. In verse 3, the Bible tells us that “Jehoshaphat feared”, but the difference with him was that he “set himself to seek the LORD” (v3).
In verse 15, we see the Lord comforting Jehoshaphat saying, “Be not afraid”. In verse 17, we find the Lord assuring His people, “Stand ye still.” This is exactly what God says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God”. The small army of Jehoshaphat was not able to fight against the three armies of Edom, Moab and Ammon but God defeated them and wiped them out totally at Tekoa. So we see God’s Word in verses 15 and 17 of 2 Chronicles 20 telling us, “Stand ye still” and “Be not afraid”.
Now that we know what God can do for us, how then should we live, seeing the many troubles in the world and many people living in fear? The Word of God tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” If you do not know God, then you will be living in fear like others.
The 10-cent coin of the USA has the words, “In God We Trust“. America was blessed because they trusted in God. But today, they are departing from God. In the State of California, homosexuality is legalised and so is same sex marriage. That is why America is in trouble today.
If we need God to help us in time of fear and trouble, we must truthfully have God as our God, and in times of fear and trouble, He will tell you, “Be still, and know that I am God”. Remember the Lord Jesus Christ who “rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39).
Are you trusting in Jesus?
Pilgrimage Testimonies
The Bible Is Alive
By the Steps of the Church of All Nations Having the privilege to walk in the Holy Land with my youngest son and brethren is a great blessing from our Lord. Matthew 22:37-38 says, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” This is the first and great commandment.” This commandment made by God and the vast land where Jesus had walked made me realise the difficulties and pain He had suffered and gone through. Just imagine how He walked this vast land from one end to the other to preach the good news, to heal the blind, the sick, and to cast out devils. Visiting the Holy Land is an eye opening experience for believers. Hallelujah! The Bible is alive! Shirley Gan
The Bible Is Really His Book
Rocky and I would like to express our appreciation for letting us join your Holy land Pilgrimage. We really enjoyed it. We arrived back in Indonesia with really ‘fully’ fed of the things of God.
First, the fellowship that we had with other believers. Frankly speaking, they were fun, open minded believers, polite, respectful, and most of all godly. We enjoyed the company from all ages from Eyan (the youngest) to well the oldest, I guess, were Mr and Mrs Charles Bien.
Second, the guide, Nidal. We are amazed at his knowledge of the historical and biblical facts. One thing we really appreciate was his honesty and not being afraid of being, well, sometimes “contradictory’” or stating his own convictions.
Third, the supervision of Rev Khoo over any information given by the guide is something that most if not all of the pilgrimages in Indonesia do not have.
The best of this trip was visiting Jerusalem and the Tiberias area, and Dan’s trail, and the best place to stay was Ein Gev Kibbutz by the Sea of Galilee. The food was very good and healthy.
We thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity to visit His Holy Land. It truly makes our Bible readings more enjoyable now because of what we saw. Actually the trip was really a confirmation of how great Jehovah is, the God we serve in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is really His Book for His children to know Him.
Thank you again for the wonderful pilgrimage. If it is the Lord’s will, we will bring our five children one day to visit His Land. Ling Ling
An Experience to Treasure for a Lifetime
We would like to thank God for giving us the opportunity to visit the Holy Land, during which time we had learned many precious spiritual lessons and made new friends, an experience we will treasure for a lifetime. Praise the Lord! Charles & Shirley Bien
