“So the Lord answered his supplication for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.”
– II Samuel 24:25b These words go back to somewhere around 980 B.C., toward the end of David’s reign. It’s interesting that all these years later, we’re yearning for a similar outcome here in America. 70,000 people had died in Israel from their plague (24:15). In our case, we have now passed the 500,000 mark in early 2021 and the numbers are still climbing. It’s a great tragedy; every single loss is significant. There are people I’ve known who’ve been very dear to me who have been taken by the COVID virus, and I know it’s a similar thing for others in our congregation and community. The Bible doesn’t give a step-by-step blueprint for ending a pandemic, but we do see a historical pattern that’s worthy of emulation as we face similar times. I see several things at the very end of II Samuel that make for good application today…
I’m hopeful that, likewise, we’ll come to the point where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve certainly been through some tough times. But either way, we can thank God that He was not content to leave us in our brokenness. He sent His son, Jesus, to live among us – back in a time when the world was as bad as it’s ever been. Jesus came amidst hunger, and He found a way to feed the masses. He came amidst sickness, and He found ways to bring healing. And He came amidst violence, and He experienced the worst of it for the sake of our sins when He was killed on the cross. But then, of course, He rose up from the grave. And that, my friends, is a sign for all of us in our ultimate victory over death. With God’s help, we will find a way to make it through these tough times. God bless you, Pastor Andrew McHenry – First Congregational Church
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Andrew McHenryI am a husband, a Congregational pastor, and a native Kansan currently living in Thermalito, California. In the past I have also been a prison chaplain and a youth pastor. Interests include reading, railroads, prog rock, KU, and the KC Royals. Archives
April 2024
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