The Great Tribulation

100,000 deaths. 

Certainly this pandemic is a "great tribulation." Surely it is a time of great tribulation for the grieving, hospitalized, the health care workers, first responders, and other people on the front line. 

Comforting words and gestures for the grieving are greatly needed. Comforting words coming out of our own experience of loss and the emotions accompanying them. 

Words of hope from the Bible are also needed to bring comfort. These, for example, from the Book of Revelation:

 

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God

    and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne

    will shelter them with his presence.

16 ‘Never again will they hunger;

    never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,

    nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne

    will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’

    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Choices

Deuteronomy 30:15 

"See, I have set before you today

 life and prosperity, death and adversity....
choose life"

That seems like an  easy choice. If we're given the option of life or death, wouldn't we naturally choose life? After all the urge to live is very strong. Creatures of all sorts do all they can to stay alive.

Until we find ourselves in a situation of chaotic crisis. Then what?

The pandemic clearly defines choices. How much social distancing do I need to do? Am I safe in and outdoor crowd? Do I really need to wear a mask outdoors?  Do I really need to stay at home since I feel don't sick? Can I make my own choice to do what I want since everything seems to be just a recommendation? For some, the options are confusing. Do we listen to local politicians telling us what we want to hear or the board of health saying the opposite?

In  Deuteronomy, Moses is not simply talking about being alive and deciding to keep body and soul together in a crisis. Moses is talking about obedience to God’s teachings and faithfulness in worshiping God. In other words, keep the covenant God made by walking in his ways, and observing the commandments.

And how do you do that?

In verse 20 Moses gives 3 ways. First, choose life by loving the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Second, choose life by walking in God's ways and listening to God's voice.

Third, choose life by keeping God’s commands and holding fast to God. Act in appropriate ways toward each other and God.

In other words, we are God's people. God established a covenant with Abraham and God establishes a covenant with us through our baptism.

This is the way of life through this chaotic chaos.

On Being Tested

Psalm 66:12

"we went through fire and through water; 

yet you have brought us out to a spacious place."

 The writer of Psalm 66 obviously thinks God is behind all the suffering Israel endured. The writer believes God punishes for sins committed. That is why the writer says in Verse 10, "For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried; you brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs; you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water."

I don't think for a minute that a merciful God brings on the scourge of a  Pandemic to determine whether we are good or bad people. Neither do I think Covid-19 is a punishment for sin. 

I do think life circumstances can feel like a test.  Every time I put on a mask and breathing becomes more difficult, it feels like a test. When I get disturbed by cabin fever, it feels like a test. When Elaine and I go grocery shopping and see empty shelves, it feels like a test. Not of whether I can breathe, or how I will handle confinement, or endure changes, or see empty shelves, but of how I will react. Will I be able to endure the downward burden my soul feels?  Will I be able to maintain my faith? Do I see God at work?

It is here that verse 12 helps me see the Goodness of the Lord. "you have brought us out to a spacious place" A merciful God sends the Spirit to strengthen us through refiners fire and floods that leads us to a spacious place of God's hope. The writer of the psalm says it this way, "But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.