You’ll never walk alone

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

This song has gained popularity in the past few weeks. It has of course, been the anthem of Liverpool football team for many years. It has its origins in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Carousel” where a man who has died is supposedly given the opportunity after some time in purgatory to redeem himself and to return invisibly to earth and encourage his daughter. It is a sad story which when examined through the lens of the gospel is one of hopelessness-it is pure fiction.

Here is Jerry and the Pacemakers hit version from 1963.

The words are vague and without any foundation.  Where does the “hope in your heart” come from?  That is not clear from this song at all.

There is away we can never walk alone and it is found in the 23^rd Psalm where David trusting in The Lord as his shepherd knowing that he will not walk the valley of the shadow of death alone because he knows the great Shepherd will be with him, his rod and his staff will comfort him. He had the end of the journey in sight, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.  That is really knowing you will never walk alone!  That is real hope – certainty of a life to come in the presence of the Creator who made you. 

The contemporary songwriters Townend and Edwards have captured the real hope of the Christian in this song;

There is a hope that burns within my heart,
That gives me strength for every passing day;
A glimpse of glory now revealed in meagre part,
Yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiven;
And Christ in me, the hope of heaven!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
To make His will my home.

There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Saviour there!
Through present sufferings, future’s fear,
He whispers ‘courage’ in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.

There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
And every longing satisfied.
Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home.

Just imagine 54000 Liverpudlians filling Liverpool’s Anfield stadium and finding that the true religion is not football but Jesus and singing this as their anthem!