FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
A PERSPECTIVE ON COVID-19
(Part 26)
OUR SALVATION IS IN GOD
May 2, 2020
Today’s psalm: Psalm 116:12-17
“Then I called on the name of the Lord,
O Lord, save my life!”
(Ps 116:4)
People are dying from COVID-19, people are fearful, and the world is desperately looking for a cure. “I was caught by the cords of death; the snares of Sheol had seized me; I felt agony and dread.” (v.3). But only God can save our lives. This speaks of both human life on earth and eternal life in heaven. If we are to preserve our lives, we must turn to God. We must know who our God is, and how we are to relate to Him in the midst of this pandemic.
Psalm 116 is a psalm of thanksgiving to God who saves from death. It has much to teach us in the face of this pandemic.
How should we look on God? What must we know about God?
First, God looks grievously on the death of His people. “Dear in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his devoted.” (v.15). God loves us all and cares for the well-being of all. God wants all to be saved. And if ever a beloved of God dies, He looks to having that one with Him eternally in heaven. God does not want anyone to be lost, and so also cares for sinners,1 but they make their own choice whether to be with God or not.
Second, God is merciful. “Gracious is the Lord and righteous; yes, our God is merciful.” (v.5). God provides us His grace by which we live in His ways. He leads us on the path of righteousness. He is loving and merciful. He forgives our sins if we repent. He accepts us back in His embrace if we return.
Third, God hears us when we pray. God “turned an ear to me on the day I called.” (v.2). Our basic communication and relationship with God is through prayer. He is always there for us. When we call, He answers.2 While we call on medical experts and scientists for the answer to COVID-19, we must also turn to God, who then turns to us.
Fourth, God favors the poor in spirit, who are fully dependent on Him. “The Lord protects the simple; I was helpless, but he saved me.” (v.6). We are not gods, as many in the world think they are.3 We actually are helpless if on our own.4 Apart from God we can do nothing.5 When we entrust our lives to Him, He is fully able to protect us and care for us.
So knowing who God is, how should we act?
First, we should love God, for His own sake, but also because He loves and cares for us. “I love the Lord, who listened to my voice in supplication.” (v.1). The first and greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, that is, with everything that we are. Imagine this great God, Creator of the universe, who is there the help us! When we are in right relationship with Him, then we can call upon Him in our need. If however we choose to love other gods, then what we get from our loving God is chastisement, as is COVID-196
Second, we should be mindful of all the good we receive from the hands of God, and know that we can rest secure in His love and care. “Return, my soul, to your rest; the Lord has been very good to you.” (v.7). We have much to thank the Lord for—for life, health, daily bread, and so many other small and big provisions in life. We are not even to worry about what we are to eat and what we are to wear.7 God provides. Even in this pandemic, God is there for us. So we need not focus so much on what God can do for us, but what we can do to show our gratitude for His great love and care. “How can I repay the Lord for all the great good done for me?” (v.12).
Third, we should look to God to save us. “I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (v.13). Only God can save us. Yes, even from COVID-19. And so we pray and ask for His mercy and intervention, even as we do human efforts by which we cooperate with His grace. And knowing how God does care for us and will help us, we give Him praise, trusting in His divine will.8 “I will offer a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord.” (v.17). Knowing who God is and what He does for us, we praise Him, both for the obvious good but also for the seeming bad that He allows, knowing He can make straight crooked lines.
Fourth, we should live our lives in this world according to God’s ways. “I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” (v.9). Is not the great evil in the world the cause of COVID-19?9 So we are called to be holy, to be set apart, as we are in this world but are not of it. There is no substitute for righteous living. We always follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We live out our covenant, as baptized Christians. “I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” (v.14). We witness to one and all about our God.10
Fifth, we should endure and persevere in the faith, even as we suffer afflictions. “I kept faith, even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted!’” (v.10). In fact, suffering and pain are salvific. They should draw us closer to God. Even the discipline of God (as in COVID-19), as He scourges His sons as Father, is intended to bring us to righteousness, and ultimately to salvation.11
Sixth, we should look to being God’s servant. “Lord, I am your servant, your servant, the child of your maidservant; you have loosed my bonds.” (v.16). We do not serve ourselves, as the world has largely done. We have chosen to serve mammon rather than God.12 An authentic servant or slave is one who is totally dedicated, committed and subservient to the Master. Jesus has freed us from our sins and the dominion of the evil one, but in doing so, we then enter into his dominion. God owns us. We are the disciples of Jesus who go forth to do his will.
If we truly know who God is, and if we act accordingly, then what we get is relief, comfort, consolation, hope, a clear way forward, guidance, freedom from fear, and authentic life, now and in the hereafter. “For my soul has been freed from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” (v.8). This is how we defeat COVID-19.
1 God “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Mt 5:45b).
2 Not always in the way we would have wanted our prayers to be answered. In addition, God always answers, perhaps yes, perhaps no, perhaps not now but later.
3 This is part of God’s chastisement through COVID-19, as He wants the world to realize that people cannot become gods and turn away from the one true God. They are not in control; only God is.
4 When we realize this, it is a moment of grace, and opens up the fullness of God’s help and blessings for us, especially in our dire needs.
5 See John 15:5.
6 See Deuteronomy 11:26-28.
7 See Matthew 6:25ff.
8 While we ask for relief from COVID-19, hopefully sooner rather than later, we leave it up to God’s wisdom how and when to act. If the pandemic persists, could it be that the world is not learning its lesson? Our part is just to continually call upon His name.
8 Even as we look to human or natural causes, such as bio-warfare of China, eating of bats, or even nature’s tantrum as Pope Francis says.
9 Even as we look to human or natural causes, such as bio-warfare of China, eating of bats, or even nature’s tantrum as Pope Francis says.
10 This is both a silent and a verbal witness. We always act as a true Christian, being righteous in conduct, and we proclaim Christ to others. This is the essence of being a holy warrior.
11 See Hebrews 12:5-11.
12 See Matthew 6:24. The world’s love and devotion to mammon has led it to turn away from God and even despise Him. Thus the chastisement of COVID-19.
