God surrounds us

[msethsmile]

Another Psalm of Ascents. The people would climb up to Jerusalem, the Temple Mount three times a year. They would sing this along the way:

Psalm 125:1-5

The LORD Surrounds His People.A Song of Ascents.
1Those who trust in the LORD
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
2As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
3For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous,
So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.
4Do good, O LORD, to those who are good
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
5But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The LORD will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.

When the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, they were unable to go to the temple and worship the LORD. In a sense, we now are in exile and unable to go to church due to the pandemic. The LORD of the Church foresaw times like these--and gives us wisdom and comfort thru His Holy Word. Rejoice for that Word.

Yes, people are frightened, sad, and frustrated. We wait for "the word" that the trouble has passed, things will get better. We have something better: No matter when our 'exile' ends, we are under the care of God Almighty.

V1. The modern day temple of the Holy Spirit is in each believer's heart. Does that mean a believer will never get sick? Consider Job, he had big time faith and horrible things happened to him. He (we) learn that the most important thing in life is not health or wealth or even precious family but "those who trust in the LORD cannot be shaken , but endure forever."

Take God at His Word, fear, love and trust God above all things...even when He tells you something you cannot comprehend. Your faith has the power to stand firm on the Rock (which is Christ) as long as our exile lasts.

V2. God knows our spiritual endurance (Psalm 103)-"He knows how we are formed."

V3. God sets boundaries on evil due to His love for you. He has already marked out the limits of the virus. Who gets sick, lives or dies is according to His perfect knowledge and love for our souls. If you (as a child of God) reach a point where you know your illness will result in temporal death...you can be absolutely certain: Jesus Christ has redeemed you (body and soul) with His holy life and innocent suffering and death.

V4. The ultimate good, God will bring you home, to heaven. Treasure your security in Christ during our exile. Now is our time of grace...

V5...but a time will come when there is no more outreach. Anyone who rejects God's mercy in Christ will suffer eternal separation from God (hell). Now is the perfect time to reach out with the saving Gospel of Christ.

excerpts from sermon 3/22/20

[CajunBass]

Thank you. Very timely, and comforting.

[digthemup]

Excellent words of comfort at a time that our country is under attack from this chinise virus, and we are under siege so not to harm our neighbors unintended.
"Psalm 91
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation;
10 there shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."
Amen

[msethsmile]

Psalm 34: "The angel of the LORD encamps around those that fear Him, and He delivers them."

Isaiah 43: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.'