More than 24 million people are believed to have listened to the Queen's broadcast last night. Doubtless many more will have listened subsequently on catch up or will have read reports of it. This was only the fifth such address she has made, apart from her annual Christmas Day broadcasts, and so it was a significant moment in the country's history. She spoke with realism about these tragic days but also offered comfort and hope to the nation. Her Majesty's words carry weight. It is the weightiness of a wisdom born out of a long life and vast experience...

Without in any way wishing to detract from the Queen's broadcast itself, it seemed to me unfortunate that one broadcast journalist trailed it with the comment that her's is the one voice above all others that we need to hear in these difficult days. To speak like that is to place an extraordinarily unfair burden of expectation upon the words of one person, however wise and experienced they may be. How can one person rise to finding adequate words to address all the needs and uncertainties, or the hopes and fears of millions of people?

That is not to say though that there is no-one at all who can meet what is an understandable and laudable desire. Who does not want to hear a voice of goodness, wisdom, authority and power in trying times, or to hear words that will bring genuine help, comfort and hope in times of need? There is one whose voice we do need to hear above all others; one to whom we should listen most attentively; one whose words can address all our needs, uncertainties, hopes and fears. This one is, of course, God, who has spoken to us supremely in His Son, Jesus Christ, and whose words are to be found in the Bible. Here we can find divine wisdom and the infinite weightiness of divine authority. Turn to this Word, listen to God.