SCRIPTURE: I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14
Introduction
Has the news about the spread of the Coronavirus made you nervous?
The Coronavirus, which began in China, has spread around the world. The World Health Organization has labeled it a pandemic, meaning it's dangerous and quickly spreading across the globe. At first, we watched with sadness as we learned of the thousands dying in China. When we heard reports that the virus had found its way to other countries, we became more concerned for those on cruise ships or trapped in vacation spots, now vulnerable to a disease that seems unstoppable. We knew that it was coming close when the entire nation of Italy went on lockdown.
Some felt safe in the United States because the ports were closed. In addition, immigration entry points and airplane flights were shut down, canceled, and closed. Then we started to see the reports of the snowballing presence of the virus inside the United States. The blame game began. Democrats blamed the President. The President blamed Congress. Everyone started blaming everyone else.
Still, many people were reluctant to accept the seriousness of the problem; that is until it started to touch home. All airplane flights to Europe, major parades along with political rallies and marches were canceled. We knew it was really serious when the NBA shut down its remaining games, the stock market crashed, and some Mega churches switched their worship services to online venues.
The Center for Disease Control is working with the World Health Organization to slow the spread of the disease, while scientists develop an antivirus to stop its growth and a vaccine to prevent its reoccurrence.
While the world waits, what should the faithful do? We should follow the safety instructions we have been given and trust God for deliverance. The Biblical record indicates that when the death angel came through Egypt that the faithful were told to mark their doorways with the blood of the lamb, prepare a meal, and wait for the salvation of the Lord. There was weeping and wailing all around them. Even some in Israel who did not seek the protection of the blood were among the mourners. The record also indicates that Noah's family was instructed to come into the ark because an unseen storm and flood was coming. The family followed God's instruction and waited in a year-long quarantine until it was safe to walk on dry ground. The record also reminds us that the disciples were on a boat in the middle of a storm, and someone asked Jesus, "Carest thou not that we perish?" Their faith was renewed when Jesus spoke to the wind and waves and said: "Peace be still."
While we wait for this terrible pandemic to pass, the faithful must not faint. Even in challenging, frightful, and terrifying times, God is still good. He is in control. Working through the great minds of the world or on his own volition, God will speak to this pandemic as he spoke to the cholera pandemic of 1899, the Spanish flu of 1918; the Hong Kong flu of 1968. He spoke, and Ebola, HIV, and SARS were identified contained and are now under control.
We wait because, unlike epidemics, a pandemic is worldwide, and there is no place to hide.
We wait because pandemics have novel or new components with no known vaccines. It takes months to develop vaccines as we know it comes to a halt.
Even while we wait, we remind ourselves of the goodness of the Lord.
Even while we wait, and follow medical instructions, we know no disease or force on earth can destroy the people of God.
Even as things go wrong, we remind ourselves that God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.
As Christians, we remain faithful that our God is able to deliver us from whatever temptations and frustrations we face. As we wait in faith, those who have weathered many storms remind us, "This too shall pass.”
Exposition
This text reflects on David's explanation of how he emotionally survived difficult times by leaning on his faith in God.
There are 150 Psalms, most of which were written by David, Moses and an assortment of worship leaders, under the inspiration of God. The Psalms deal with every emotion known to man, but to deal with those emotions in relationship to God. They show us believers who bare their souls before God as they experience anger, love, fear, anxiety, doubt, shame, worry, and a plethora of other emotions.
This Psalm addresses the spiritual soul when it has reached a point of uneasiness. It raises and answers the question, when do we trust God, completely and wholly to the point that we are at peace regardless of the situation.
The 27th Psalm reminds us that the best solace in difficult times is Godly confidence because faith in God is the best medicine for all seasons. Our faith is grounded in one truth, that "all things work to the good of those who are the called." No matter what happens, whether storms or wind, sunshine or rain, good times or pestilence, God has both our bodies and souls in his hands.
In difficult times David writes that he would have fainted if his faith had not allowed him to look through the threats of danger he experienced to see the goodness of the Lord. He saw the tragedy around him, but faith allowed him also to see the goodness of the Lord. He saw the dark losses around him, but he also saw how God's light shined brightly in dark places.
He resolved to wait patiently on the Lord as he remembered the goodness and greatness of God.
Power of God
Whenever difficulties increase the faithful give witness to three truths which are:
WE LEAN HEAVILY ON THE POWER OF GOD: Often, in emergencies, we learn how much we are dependent on the power of God. The old-timers were not theologians, but they were quick to acknowledge when natural circumstances were beyond their control. When tornado force winds came, or floodwaters rose, they learned to wait patiently to move. Some ordered the members of their household to sit still during storms and wait for God to do his work and push the storms past. They sat confidently because they knew the power of God. Standing at the Red Sea, the people of Israel murmured as they stood at the banks of the sea with Pharaoh's army approaching. However, Moses stood confidently and commanded them to "stand still" and see the salvation of the Lord.
In these difficult times, the entire world is uneasy on the verge of panic. Yet, the faithful, like the old-timers, are taking the necessary precautions, and waiting in confidence that God will do his thing, as he always does.
The faithful are not foolish. We do what should be done, but we are not panicked because we know the restorative power of God. He will work it out. Whether he uses health agencies, vaccines, doctors or hospitals, God will work it out.
We have seen him work in the Bible, and we have seen him work in our life experiences. We live in awe of his power and lean heavily upon him for our deliverance. That's why the songwriter wrote, "Leaning, Leaning. Safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, Leaning, on the everlasting arms.”
NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD: Believers are true and faithful regardless of the challenges we face. We remain strong because we know the essential goodness of the Lord. Whether we experience anxiety, loss, or even death, our affirmation of faith remains, "In thee oh Lord, do I put my trust."
When we struggle to understand pandemic losses death and trouble, some are tempted to question what seems to be the inactivity of God. They ask, "Why is such pain and misery allowed?" God never promised us immunity from the storms of life. He never promised us that there would always be sunshine. However, he did promise that he would be with us and never leave us alone. That's a dual promise that provides a place in his care on either side of Jordan. The faithful must not sink so low that we begin to speak as the doubters speak and question God's authority.
We never asked God why he chose to bless us? We received his favor; we didn't give it back. Now that we face an epidemic of trouble and frustration, we should not trouble his judgment, just hang on to your ticket; you have a front-row seat in glory, no matter how he decides.
We are soldiers in the army of the Lord. Sometimes, there is smoke, fire, and tragedy on the battlefield. Sometimes comrades fall, but we must sing with the resolve of our fore-parents, "I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. And I promised him that I would serve him till I die, I'm on the battlefield for my Lord."
Stand strong soldiers and keep the faith. The songwriter was right when he said,
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus, all the day long
While there are others, living about us
Never molested though in the wrong.
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by.
GOD IS GREATLY TO BE PRAISED: Even in troublesome times, we should praise God. David went further; in Psalm 96:4, he said: "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods." That refers to the intensity of our praise. To praise God greatly means our praise is more intense than our circumstance. If we encounter joy, then our praise of God, who is the source of joy, is louder than our words of excitement among our friends. If we get a new house, car, or jewelry, we are excited, but our praise of God for supplying these items is greater. Conversely, if we face danger, sickness, loss, or persecution, our praise of God should drown out our fears, doubts, and apprehensions.
Death, destruction, plague, and pestilence are not of God but are often allowed by God. Why it is this way is a mystery to us, all we know that there are times when God allows the wicked to prosper for a time, but they are soon cut down. There are also times when he allows plague and destruction to wake up a godless world with pandemic force.
It seems that this happens whenever the world strays too far from the godly. When this happens, worship slackens, our personal devotion disappears, and our loyalty to God is not steadfast. Sometimes it happens when the world begins to feel that it can exist without God. Even those who believe start to believe that all of their worship and study is wasteful.
The church should praise God intensely because has blessed us intensely. Yet, some in the church can't see the need for so much worship and believe we are wasting our time "greatly praising" God.
A certain man who had been absent from church for a long time received an inquiring visit from the Pastor. The man told the Pastor, "I've attended nearly every Sunday for 30 years. In that time, I have heard something like 1,500 sermons. In all of those years, people were shouting praises to God and thanking him. I listened to the sermons and the praises, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, and you, brother pastor, are wasting your time by giving sermons and all of those words of praise that I can't even remember.
The Pastor said, "I've been married for 30 years now. During this time, my wife has prepared me over 30,000 meals. She closed out every day by saying, "I love you," and read me a scripture, poem, or cute little phrase over 11,000 times. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals or remember a single one of those poems.
But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. I couldn't remember a single poem, but they all made me feel I was loved.
When you worship the Lord, you may not remember every sermon title or be able to recite every verse. But at the end of the day, you know they mean "God loves you.”
When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something!
When there is trouble all around, God is still on the throne, and he will never leave us alone.
God is great, and He is greatly to be praised!
Tell of his goodness
Finally, brothers and sisters, in difficult times, we must not focus on the tragedy without also focusing on the ecstasy of God's deliverance.
David said, "I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord."
He reminded believers that if it had not been for the Lord on his side, he would never have made it.
Like David, we see the trouble ahead, but we also see the goodness of the Lord.
The news tells me about the dangers of worldwide Pandemic, but I must tell you about the goodness of the Lord.
You may tell me how the lines at stores are getting longer and shelves are empty, but I serve a God whose shelves of mercy are never empty, I must tell about the goodness of the Lord.
You may worry about schools and governments shutting down our fear, but Psalm 121 says, "He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers or sleeps."
I must tell of the goodness of the Lord because when you are:
--Sick, He will be a Doctor in your sickroom!
--In Trouble, He will be a Lawyer in your courtroom!
--Lost and confused, He will make a way out of no way!
--Hungry and thirsty, He will feed you with bread from on high. That's why the old warriors cried out Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more!
I must tell about the goodness of the Lord
In the midst of sorrow, God is good, because he brings us joy!
In the midst of conflicts, God is good, because he brings us courage!
In the midst of danger, God is good, because he brings us safety!
In the midst of weakness, God is good, because he brings us strength!
In the midst of defeat, God is good, because he brings us the victory!
In the midst of the storm, God is good, because he speaks to the wind and waves and they obey his will.
I must tell about the goodness of the Lord
I must tell them about Jesus!
I must tell how He lived on this Earth for 33 long years!
I must tell how He bore an old rugged cross!
I must tell how He died out on Calvary!
But, early Sunday morning, He arose from the grave with all power in His hands!
I must tell about the goodness of the Lord!
