Posted by It is challenging to describe the current moment in our collective history. It seems as if every day adds a new reality, We are all challenged by what the President calls “the invisible enemy.” It might help us in navigating these uncharted waters if we (1) put the coronavirus pandemic in perspective and (2) follow a few biblical rules for how we should behave.
This is not the first time the world has been threatened by a major epidemic. The Bible, in the Book of Isaiah chapter 37, relates the attack on Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the Assyrian general.
As Lord Byron tells it:
The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green,
That host with their banners at sunset were seen:
Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown,
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown.
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
Most historians believe that the camp of the Assyrians experienced a typhus epidemic which decimated them. In any case, one day they were there threatening Jerusalem and the next day the entire army was destroyed.
Some other notable pandemics:
- The Antonine Plague in 165 AD. It killed around 5 million people in Italy, Egypt and Greece (probably smallpox or measles)
- Plague of Justinian in 541-542 AD. It is thought to have killed around half the population of Europe (probably bubonic plague)
- The Black Death (1346-1353). The Black Plague is estimated to have killed between 75 million and 200 million people throughout Europe (bubonic plague)
- Spanish Flu Pandemic in 1918-19. The Spanish flu is estimated to have killed 50 million people around the world (a form of H1N1 virus)
- Asian Flu (1956-1958). The death toll from the Asian flu was about 2 million
- HIV/AIDS epidemic (peaked between 2005 and 2012). estimated to have killed 35 million.
Nevertheless, past experiences give us little comfort, except to realize, that this, too, shall pass. What are we to do? Here are ten biblical rules for getting through this tragedy. (this post will present the first five; the next post the last five).
Do not fear. These are anxious times, but fear is not a helpful response. The Bible makes it very clear that “fear” should be reserved for God, whom Jacob calls the “Fear of his father Isaac.” The word “fear” appears 336 times in the New International Version translation and 166 of those instances it is reserved for God. Typical is this verse from Deuteronomy 6:2: “so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” The fear of God leads us to blessings and a long life. But the Bible also says that we should not fear anything else. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The following children’s video makes the point in song
Be together alone. In Acts 2:42 we see the early Christians practicing fellowship: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” We have all been told that the main way we can defeat this virus is by practicing social distancing. For most of us that means staying at home. But we are social creatures and need to interact with others, sharing our lives and our feelings. We are blessed to live in a time when we can be in virtual connection with all of those we love. Now is the time to be intentional in connecting with our loved ones, especially to those living by themselves. And we must keep in mind that being alone is not good for our mental health, as is presented in this article in Science News.
In fact, the health impact of this loneliness epidemic is incredible. According to one expert, “the impact of social isolation and loneliness on longevity equals that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day and exceeds the risks associated with obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and lack of exercise.” According to John Stonestreet, “A group that should be at the front of our concerns when it comes to loneliness and its impact are the elderly. According to one study, “some 18 percent of adults age 65 and older in the U.S. live alone, and 43 percent report feeling lonely on a regular basis.”
But the loneliness epidemic is also felt by America’s younger generations, including Generation Z, who have increasingly turned to social media at the expense of face-to-face contact. Now that we are forced to isolate we need to find ways to do it together; Zoom is better for our souls than Instagram.
Love one another through random acts of kindness. The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.How do we do that? By caring contact, by helping our neighbors with tasks that they cannot do, and by praying for them. As I sit here writing in my office a neighbor comes to my steps and leaves some cut flowers, a pure act of love and encouragement. She has added a note: “I am here to help. Please let me know if you need anything.” Here’s another:
Know the truth. Our understanding of the corona virus changes each day. There is a lot of bad information out there. You can only do the right thing if you can separate fact from fiction. Politicians are, in general, not the best source of truth. We should look to scientists, but we need to realize that there is a lot which is still unknown. For example, we don’t know whether normal masks are effective. Surgical masks may be effective, but the masks you can buy at the drug store are not. This article presents some pros and cons: The main conclusion, surgical masks help; ordinary masks don’t; masks are no substitute for practicing best hygienic practices. In the end it is up to each of us to research the science and to make our judgments as to what is to be believed and what is not.
As of April 3, here are four excellent resources:
Tips on how to survive covid-19
Be wise. Despite these questions, there are simple guidelines that are widely accepted:
- If at all possible, stay home
- If at all possible, avoid crowds
- Wash hands often and correctly
- Try not to rub your face
- If you are sick, then definitely stay home; if someone in your family has tested positive, then stay home.
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Clean surfaces frequently
The next post will present rules 6-10.
Great historical information, Itching, and some great spiritual truths, too. Much appreciated. Bill in Ohio