The first casualties of upheaval can be love, kindness, and patience. But crisis is also a moment when love for God & one another can spring up. For 150 days, starting on 17th March 2020, I will write 300 words based on one of the 150 psalms in the bible. How can I find and give love in the midst of coronavirus?
Erinnerst du dich an April 2020?
Vous souvenez-vous d’avril 2020?
Você se lembra de abril de 2020?
Do you remember April 2020?
You can ask this question to anyone, anywhere in the world in the next few years and, language permitting, you would have a lot to talk about. The coronavirus pandemic is unique in recent history, in that it has impacted every corner of the globe [do globes have corners?]. Someone in Pakistan, Panama, Poland or Peru will have something to say about it.
This is God’s perspective. And this is what was extraordinary about the God of the Jews in the Old Testament. Uniquely among the myriad of gods in the Ancient Near East – He wasn’t just the God of one nation, or of a mountain, or of the sea or of the sun. He was the God of all the earth – and in fact of all the universe. Hear some of the words of Psalm 47:
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. 8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
The Lord God is king over all the earth. Crikey, we need to be reminded of this. In amongst all of the current upheaval – and the upheaval of any moment in history – we need to remind ourselves that the Lord is king – not just of our nation – but of every nation. He is interested and involved in every country of the world. He is not nationalistic. He loves you, in whatever country you are from. He loves everyone in all the other countries. He is working – he really is.
And what is the correct response to this? Well look at Psalm 47 – clap your hands, sing praise, shout and then sing some more praises.
Let’s praise the king – who is seated on the throne.
Have a blessed day. Much love, Matt