“With healing balm my soul he fills and every faithless murmur stills.”

Hymn: “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” – Johann Schütz (1640-1690)
Common Tune: MIT FREUDEN ZART

Murmuring: have you ever heard that word used in a positive context? By definition, this is a soft, indistinct sound made by a person or group of people speaking quietly or at a distance; the quiet or subdued expression of a particular feeling by a group of people.” In common usage, these “soft, indistinct sounds” and “subdued expressions” have become forces that can eventually lead to a mutiny if not detected and quieted.

With forty-plus years in local church ministry, I am well familiar with murmuring – and not once do I recall this to have developed into a movement of support or praise.

This happens inside us individually. Understand? There are constant whisperings in our spirit that are faithless – not faith-based. Sometimes that “still small voice” that nags at us is not the one Elijah heard; instead, it is a complaining, grousing attitude that works against us – one that will not (and I reluctantly use the phrase) shut up and leave us alone.

When we realize this is happening, we have to deal with it; we have to quieten those negative voices that demand our attention and command our approval… and possible action. Our only choice is to “shut ‘er down” and put an end to “every weight and sin that so easily beset us” or drag us down… throw us off course… ultimately defeat us. (Hebrews 12:1)

Fortunately, this hymnline reminds us that there is a salving of the soul, a filling of the Spirit that attacks for us the viral attack of those low-toned murmurings. The Great Physician… or Pharmacist… is near to fill that which has been prescribed for us to be able to quiet those undertones and replace them with resolve.

I’m not comfortable with exorcism; I guess the Linda Blair movie messed me up on that! However, there are times when I have to say, “In the name of Jesus, away with you, faithless murmur. Leave me alone. I will not listen to you anymore.”

Somebody pass me that healing balm!


This hymn from Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church