He wrote, "It is a horror here - as I arrived in the office at 9am my colleagues were watching the second plane crash into the second World Trade Centre tower. We stood on the balcony together, looking straight down Madison Avenue to the towers, and began to witness the unfolding tragedy. As the numbness gave way to horror we met, prayed and have begun a vigil by the phones in the church office to care for our people - we will have lost people in the WTC …"
An immediate check of the news media revealed what we hadn't known before. Four domestic planes had been hijacked in the US. Two of them were aimed as suicide bombs at the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York. A third ploughed into the Pentagon in Washington DC - the US military headquarters (it may have been intended for the White House). The fourth crashed in an open field in Pennsylvania - believed to have been heading towards Andrews Airforce Base and Airforce One, the presidential jet.
The attack has dominated our news for the rest of the week - with replays and interviews, comments and condolences. Two things are not yet clear - the number of casualties and the person or group that master-minded the well-co-ordinated operation. Investigations are proceeding and some elements of the plot are already becoming clearer.
On Thursday morning someone phoned in to talk-back radio suggesting it was time we talked about something other than the terrorist attack. I sympathise with the caller, though Thursday morning was rather soon - and even today most of us still haven't "processed" it all so we can view it in perspective.
The terrorists weren't just attacking major icons of American economic and military might - and, potentially, the seat of US government as well. The attack was against humanity. Nationals from many countries were among the innocent civilians who worked at and died in the World Trade Centre. Business contacts and tourists from all over the world visit there on a daily basis. More than any other terrorist act in modern times, this one has the potential to escalate into global conflict. It is precisely because people desperately want good news - like the caller - but fear more bad news, that they have been "glued" to the media. They hope against hope that there is good news which can assure us all of a more stable future.
Most countries, even those considered traditional enemies of the US, have condemned the attacks. One country - Iraq - and certain of the Palestinian extremist groups have suggested America needs to "learn a lesson" about its Middle East policies. We were shocked at scenes of celebration in some Palestinian areas of Israel. However, Yasser Arafat, on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, has said, "We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people… on behalf of the Palestinian people."
But yes, there are important lessons for us all the learn - and Psalm 46 helps us here.
"God is our refuge and strength" (v. 1). We have to believe that - and live it. It's not enough to print "In God we trust" on your currency, or to sing "God bless America." It's not enough, like Australia, to open your constitution with the words, "Trusting in Almighty God…" Are we truly trusting in God as "our refuge and strength"?
Has the US come to rely too much on its economic and military superiority in the world - symbolised by the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon? And where do we in Australia find "our refuge and strength"? Have we believed that our alliance with powerful America would keep us immune from such terrorist acts. By Wednesday night, some commentators were already saying, "I know it seems wrong to be asking this when so many people are still unaccounted for, but… How will this affect our dollar? Will the world go into recession? How will this affect our agricultural markets?…"
A great evil has been perpetrated and our hearts go out to the shocked American nation - especially to all who have suffered loss and injury. But the "lesson" we all need to learn - yes, all of humankind of whatever race or creed - the "lesson" we all need to learn is that "God is our refuge and strength." Now is the time to acknowledge that none of us is as strong or secure as we have imagined.
True, we need to make our airlines safe. We need to eliminate terrorism as a way of conveying dissident viewpoints. We need peace in our troubled world, but we won't achieve it apart from acknowledging that "God is our refuge and strength."
This Psalm seems to have been written in a turbulent time for God's people - a time of war and unrest. Their situation is likened the upheaval of an earthquake, or a violent storm at sea with water crashing on the rocks.
In the midst of this surging turmoil, the Psalmist writes, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (vv. 4-7).
Safety in turbulent times requires water as well as a refuge. The Lord is in their midst like a stream - calming, refreshing and encouraging. The Lord is in their midst like a fortress - trusting in him they are safe.
Allen P Ross has commented, "Because God was within her, the city would not fall. (Years later, however, the city did fall. Because of extensive idolatry in the temple, Ezek. 8, God's presence left, Ezek. 10. Without his protective presence, Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians)" (BKC).
In our dismay and despair we cry out, Where is God in all of this? He is right here. He hasn't willed upon us this circumstance of human evil scheming. But he hasn't sent down powerful heavenly forces to thwart the plan either. In times like this we wish he had. But his greatest good for us is that we learn to trust him. Only then can we know his refreshing stream. Only then can we know his protection around our soul.
God is right here with us. But too often it is only in a major tragedy that we turn our attention back to him. He is here to refresh, to strengthen, to protect our soul.
But the Psalmist goes on to the Lord's call to us - "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (v. 10).
When the Good News Bible first came out, I recall looking up this verse. I was rather amazed that "Be still!" is rendered "Stop fighting!" That took me back to the context. In the New International Version the previous verse says, "He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire" (v. 9). The Hebrew word means to let go, to abandon, to release.
Ceasing hostilities is only part of that. We need to come to the point in our lives where we relinquish to God whatever others - or our circumstances - would take from us. Being a Christian doesn't make us somehow immune from the ills and afflictions of our common fallen humanity, nor does it guarantee us protection from evil acts which others may perpetrate.
When the Son of God himself became a human being, he emptied himself of his heavenly glory - and immunity - and suffered all the shame and pain of death on a human cross. The words of Psalm 22.1 became very real to him as he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27.46).
There are other words in that Psalm too. I wonder if Jesus also had them in mind. We know about v. 18, "They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." But what about v. 19? "But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me." And vv. 30-31, "Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn - for he has done it."
Trouble and disaster - whatever their cause - are never the final word. Be still! Stop fighting! Take stock! The Lord is God! The Lord is in our midst! God is our refuge and strength! Put our trust in him! Live under his grace! Know his peace in this troubled world!
Back to Sermons