Noise

 November 17, 2021

We live in a noisy world. Even here, living on the edges of a small village of about 700 souls, the sound of traffic is never far away. It’s not like living in the city, but it’s still here. Saturday is opening day of deer hunting here in NYS. The woods will echo with the sound of rifles and shotguns as hunters pursue (actually, ambush) their quarry. Years ago, opening day almost sounded like a range war as hunters filled the woods. Hunting pressure has diminished over the years, so we’ll hear shots ring out here and there, but the predominant sound in the woods will be the roar of semis and other vehicular traffic along any of the major area highways. Even in the woods, it’s a noisy world.

We are so used to the noise that it often doesn’t even register. It’s part of the backdrop of our lives—there, but not there. Despite the plaintive melody and lyrics of Paul Simon, we don’t know the sound of silence. All we know is noise.

Psalm 93 speaks of “the noise of many waters,” like the roar of a Niagara, which back then was about the loudest thing anyone would ever hear. Today, such noise is easily drowned out by the mega-boost of a rock concert, the ear-splitting jet engine, or the din of modern battlefields. It is all noise, but the noise of those waters is particularly significant. Isaiah says that “the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest…””There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”” (57:20-21).

The noise of many waters is symbol of the restlessness of the wicked, the nations that rage against the Lord and his Anointed (Psalm 2:2). We hear a lot of noise in the news; the raging of saber-rattling that could erupt at any moment. That noise is loud, but Jesus told us to pay no attention to it; we will hear such noise till the end of time, but as the psalmist says, “The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.” 

Hold onto that word “mightier.” Those making the most noise these days want us to buy into their lie that they must be heard and obeyed. “We hold your future in our hands,” they say. “If you want to live, you must do as we say.” Don’t believe it for a moment! The LORD on high is mightier than they, and as the second psalm says, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.” 

I don’t want to be God’s laughingstock, which is why it is so important to “be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10). Continual vigilance is necessary to do this, for the noise penetrates all but the most remote and secluded parts of life. Jesus said to “enter into your room” to pray.” Shut out all the distractions so you can hear God’s still, small voice whispering to your thirsty soul.