A different perspective

Mar 24, 2020 by

Philip Giddings, former lay chair of the General Synod and founding convenor of Anglican Mainstream, reflects on the Coronavirus Epidemic

The current pandemic is a judgement on the dominance of Mammon not only in the UK and the western world but increasingly across the whole world.  There is also the arrogance of Western Humanity which thinks that science/technology can and should solve all our problems.  There are plenty of precedents in the Old Testament and especially the Psalms of plagues coming as judgements on human action.   Of course, it is a tragedy for those who lose their lives and perhaps even more for those who suffer agonising deaths and those who are bereft in consequence.   All of which is a very unfashionable view in our society and also, sadly, within the Christian community.

When dealing with individuals rather than society and its self-appointed prophets we should, of course, adopt a different approach which is beautifully set out in Psalm 91.

Psalm 91

  1. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
  2. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
  3.  Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
  4. He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
  5. You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
  6. nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
  7. A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
  8. You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.
  9. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
  10. no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
  11. For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
  12. they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
  13. You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
  14.  “Because heloves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
  15. He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
  16. With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Related Posts

Tags

Share This