Brent Amato

As I shared in my previous two posts,  God is not taken by surprise by COVID-19, and around 1000 B.C., He inspired a psalmist to write and sing Psalm 91. This Psalm is most certainly for us in such a time as this. In view of this and other deadly prospects, it gives us security for such a time as this.

No one saw this coming. Emotional and mental reactions range from shock to fear to discouragement to depression.  Yet as Solomon reminds us, “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).  One remembers the Bubonic Plague (“Black Death”) that devastated Europe over five years in the mid 1300’s, resulting in more than 20 million deaths.  Even the Bible records an evening of horrific death.  Sometime during or after the sixth century B.C.,  the author of I and II Kings, on the eve of war between the Judah Kingdom and the Assyrians and after King Hezekiah’s prayer, records: “And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians.  And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.” (II Kings 19:35)

WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD?

In the last post, we examined some of the names of God that speak security to us as we push in to know Him. What more do we need? Well, how about six more truths in four verses about God than might illuminate and enlighten our appreciation for Him in tough times?

             -God’s presence (Psalm 91:15)-To Moses, the Israelites and you. “I will never desert you, not will I ever forsake you.”
                         Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5)                       

             -God’s promises (Psalm 91:10)-To the Israelites and you. (Romans 9:4, Acts 2:39)

             -God’s faithfulness (Psalm 91:4)-To the inhabitants of Jerusalem conquered by King Nebuchadrezzar and you
                         (Lamentations 3:19-23, I Peter 4:19)

             -God’s guardian angels (Psalm 91:11)-To Daniel and you. (Daniel 6:22, Matthew  18:10)

              -God’s rescue (Psalm 91:15)-To King Hezekiah and his troops and you (II Kings    19:35, II Peter 2:9)

              -God’s honor (Psalm 91:15)-To Esther and her people in Persia and you. (Esther 8:16, John 12:26)

Feeling secure?  But there’s more!

How about nine more blessings to be received from your God?

            -Your answered prayers (Psalm 91:15a)

            -Your protection (Psalm 91:14b)

            -Your covering (Psalm 91:4)

            -Your overcoming (Psalm 91:13)

            -Your deliverance (Psalm 91:3, 14)

            -Your abiding dwelling (Psalm 91:1, 9)   

            -Your satisfaction (Psalm 91:16a)

            -Your life (Psalm 91:16a)

            -Your salvation (Psalm 91:16b)

Quite frankly, when I consider and meditate on all this, I feel like David, who faced his share of deadly circumstances: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” (Psalm 139:6). Other Psalms and Biblical passages capture this praise as well (Psalm 116:1-9, Job 42:1-3, Romans 11:33)

YOUR RESPONSE-WHAT TO DO IN SUCH A TIME AS THIS?

            “When he [the Psalmist] calls to me [Elyon, Shaddai, Jehovah, Elohim], I will answer him….”(Psalm 91:15a)

            Call upon God.  And it’s not like this is a new concept. Beyond the general exhortation to “pray without ceasing”
            (I Thessalonians 5:17), more specifically and in the prospect of pestilence,  both Solomon and Jehoshaphat prayed to
            God.  (I Kings 8:37-40, II Chronicles 20:9)

            Know more about yourself and God and grow in that relationship. Then ruthlessly trust in the security that God provides
           and keep praying to Him.

            Christianity is 180 degrees from the ways of the world. What is 180 degrees from COVID-19?  Surely it includes Psalm 91.