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March 22 (Fourth Sunday of Lent) Are We In A Day of Wrath?

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. ~Proverbs 11:4

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. ~Psalm 37:25-27

This is an interesting proverb to contemplate considering the situation we are in today with the threat of corona virus all around us. Our lives have been drastically changed in such a short amount of time. Many are unemployed. Even the way we worship together has been altered. Our goal is to stop the spread of infection, of course. But isn’t it interesting how in so many ways the field has been leveled?

This illness is no respecter of status. The wealthy will not be able to stop it by holding up a dollar bill. We will all stop it together only by all of us cooperating, mostly sheltering in place and respecting the guidelines of washing our hands and keeping our distance. There are no exemptions or special allowances for those who can afford it. It isn’t possible to go on with life and pay someone else to follow the rules. Are we in “a Day of Wrath?” Maybe, maybe not, but it is obvious that there is only so much money will do.

Alternatively, consider David’s statement of security. He talks about being old, but never forsaken. God has been faithful to him through his whole life even to his children. So, his son Solomon is able to declare: “But righteousness delivers from death.” He was familiar with his father’s stories of pursuit by enemies, including King Saul, his battles with the Philistines, all the adventures that David lived through, but God was faithful. He was more faithful than any earthly wealth or position. David gave glory, or credit, to God for keeping him safe and Solomon had a front row seat to all God had done for his family.

He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Surely. He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. “Because he loves Me,” says the Lord, I will rescue him. I will protect him for he acknowledges My Name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalm 90:1-7 & 14-15)

Remember, He may be the unseen, but He remains our true security no matter how life appears to our earthly senses. We are safe in Him no matter what.

Prayer: Lord thank you for being our shelter and refuge! You are our only hope against this illness. Thank you for the wisdom to do what we can, such as social distancing, and for those who are finding treatments and vaccines. For anyone who is stricken and suffering, may they be comforted by your presence and healed too. For anyone who is lonely because of necessary isolation, may they sense your presence and be able to worship you still. For each person, we pray that they will live by wisdom that exercises caution and protects from harm and from spreading. That’s worth more than all the money in the world righty now. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Under His Wings

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