April 6, 2020 -- Psalm 119:144 -- Living in times of contagion

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Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

Psalm 119:144 English Standard Version

What is striking is how relevant scripture is for every generation and all times. The psalmist is celebrating that fact as he declared ‘the testimonies of the LORD are righteous forever’. Consider the times we are living in now. Our government has implemented bans on social gatherings, work gatherings and closed schools and universities, even the sacred cow of sporting events has not been left untouched! Award ceremonies have been cancelled! These last two points should underline for us how serious this situation is. Now Resurrection Sunday (a.k.a. Easter Sunday) is about to be celebrated and for many of us it will be unprecedented: no gatherings for worship services. What does Scripture teach us?

  1. The man who had a suspected case of leprosy was required to live alone in his house for seven days. If the priest confirmed the disease, he was to live outside the camp of Israel (Leviticus 13). This was done so that the people of Israel as a nation would be spared any contagion.

  2. Numbers 5 reiterates this command, that those who have a discharge, are leprous, or are unclean are to remain outside the camp of Israel (Numbers 5:1-4).

  3. The testimonies of the LORD also remind us that we need pray for our leaders (I Timothy 2:1-2) as well as obey them (Romans 13:1-2).

  4. Such regulations for living separate were to be in place until a confirmation was made that the person outside the camp was in fact healed (even Jesus required this in Luke 17). After healing ten lepers He required them to present themselves to the priest to confirm their healing. It was the priest in those days, not a medical officer, who approved the return to society after such an illness.

What we learn is the deep compassion of God for the individual and for the whole community. A man was not cast out on the suspicion of an illness. There was an opportunity for this illness to be verified and only when the disease was confirmed did this man have to live away from the rest of society.

When there is a chance that a contagion might sweep through a whole population, it makes sense for the ruling authorities to protect the people. Whether our rulers acknowledge it or not, they are appointed by the LORD our God to govern in such times.

The beauty of Scripture is that Jesus went “outside the camp” and bore our sin, guilt, sickness and shame. Jesus was crucified on a hillside outside of the city of Jerusalem. He was treated as leprous, unclean and despised. Yet, because He bled and died in this fashion, He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.

Christians are not being singled out or persecuted by these regulations. All Canadians are bearing them together. If the government tries to ban worship services after this corona virus threat has abated, then Christians must rise up and protest. For now, Christians must be model citizens—honouring the government, praying for our leaders, helping our neighbours, using all means available to help and encourage others through these times.

God our Father, faithful to Your people through-out every generation, give us as Christians the understanding we need so that we can face these times in loving submission to You. Merciful King of Heaven thank You for Jesus Christ Who bore the shame of going outside the camp, out of the city to be punished and humiliated in order that Your holiness would be honored as holy and sin would be forever judged as sinful. Thank You Jesus for the restoration You bring so that believers can call God the Father, our Father. Spirit of God teach us new ways to be obedient in these difficult times. Show us, Spirit of God, what it is to worship God in our homes, while we are alone or are with family members. Build up in us a holy anticipation of the glorious day when we shall be able to gather as believers in our churches, but far more importantly, increase our holy anticipation of that day of matchless glories and wonders when we shall be gathered with all the saints, elders, living creatures and angels before Your blessed throne and we shall worship You perfectly. Amen.