19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19
“And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction” (2 Chronicles 12:12).
Self-humiliation. This is what previous generations of Christians understood to be their solemn duty when times of great calamity fell upon them. They knew that there is a God in heaven who has brought this calamity upon them in order to bring their hearts back to him.
This should be our attitude as Christians today in the light of this COVID-19 global plague that has now claimed over 100,000 lives worldwide. Unbelievers may see this purely as a natural disaster. It is this same blindness that makes them think we evolved from apes.
God’s famous promise to Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:14 was about humility: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
That is what we also see in our text above. King Rehoboam abandoned God’s law when he was established as a king. God brought the Egyptians to plunder Israel. King Rehoboam and his fellow leaders humbled themselves and the Bible says they averted complete destruction.
Do we really believe that there is a righteous God in heaven? Do we genuinely believe that he causes disasters? Do we honestly believe that our generation well deserves his judgment? Then let us prostrate ourselves before God in true humility during this COVID-19 plague. Let us as believers set aside seasons of prayer, fasting, and self-humiliation. Who knows? God may yet have mercy upon our generation!
“Heal us, Emmanuel, hear our prayer;
We long to feel Your touch;
Deep wounded souls to You we fly
O Savior hear our cry
Our faith is feeble, we confess;
We faintly trust Your word;
But will You pity us the less?
Be that far from You, Lord!”
—William Cowper (1731–1800)
