[This Reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 12/Apr/2020]
An online dictionary defines pestilence as “any epidemic outbreak of a deadly and highly infectious disease” and this would be an apt description of the COVID19 virus that is currently disrupting our lives. The scale of the present outbreak may be unprecedented but the concept was familiar to the writer of Psalm 91:
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. (v3)
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (v 5, 6)
Does this mean that the Lord’s people are immune to the troubles that surround us? No, we may be citizens of another place but we are still sojourning here and we are subject to the perils and restrictions that apply to those around us. We are called to be salt and light or, as Neil recently put it, bright dots amongst the dull ones.
How we act in times of difficulty can have a positive influence on those around us. Are we ready with words of encouragement for those who feel that they cannot cope? Is there some practical way in which we can show God’s love to our neighbours? How we behave now will not only be a witness in times of trouble but will also be remembered when whatever passes for normality returns.
How do we keep our own spirits up when we are obliged to act as hermits? Many of us now have much more time on our hands – time to read God’s word more diligently and to share the gems that we find. Others will be working more intensely and will miss the support of their family of believers. The psalmist offers hope:
Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. (v 14, 15)
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
