The Social Gospel Blog supplemental message to everyone from Rev. Paul J. Bern

Can the Corona Virus be found in the Bible?

The Corona Virus and the Bible

or, More Proof That the Scriptures Still Matter In the 21st Century

(Psalms 92, verses 3-7) by Rev. Paul J. Bern

For quite some time now, over 2 years to be precise, all we have heard about on various media outlets is more than we care to hear about COVID-19, otherwise known as the Corona Virus. With over 700,000 dead in the USA alone, the Spanish Flu of over a century ago that killed over 150,000 pales in comparison to Corona Virus. Thinking back to the four Gospels, Jesus healed numerous people for anything from demonic possession to blindness. He even raised people from the dead (Lazarus is only one example of several). Jesus, on the other hand, never got sick..

Because of this alone, we need not fear getting Corona Virus. Those who fear dying from anything – from Corona Virus to all other fatal diseases to dying in accidents – overlook the inescapable fact that all life ends, and sooner not later. Sometimes I think there’s an underlying reason for the fear of dying. – many of us have not made peace with God. Just as Jesus had to carry his cross one half mile uphill only to be nailed to it, so we too must make the trek uphill with the cross of our own lives and allow ourselves to be crucified in the spirit as we surrender to Him.

For example, the following prophecy was composed by King David of Jerusalem in the Book of Psalms, of which he was the author. It had to do with disease and pestilence, as it is written: “3) Surely he will save you from the Fowler's snare, and from the deadly pestilence. 4) He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5) You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6) nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7) A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” (Psalm 91, verses 3-7).

In the previous quote a “fowler” is a hunter, shooter, or trapper of wild fowl. So we can see that no follower of Christ becomes prey for any hunter, no matter how skilled that hunter may be. And if Christ stands with us, then who could stand against us? The Lord will save us “from the deadly pestilence” and from “the plague that destroys at midday”. Either of these could be COVID, especially “the plague that destroys at midday.”, which fits the virus to a tee given Corona’s high transmission rate among those who haven’t been vaccinated. The justification for our faith is spelled out clearly in verse 7: “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” Here in black and white is all the proof you need that true believers in Jesus will not die from the Corona Virus. Unless, of course, their lives are already coming to an end due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control.

Let’s all move along to another example of disease and plague as it relates to COVID-19, Old Testament scriptures and their relevance to modern life. The New Testament has been preached in vain in so many cases because the background of the Old Testament has not been studied enough, or even ignored altogether:

28) “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 29) and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel — being aware of their afflictions and pains, and spreading out their hands toward this temple — 30) then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know the human heart), 31) so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.” (2nd Chronicles chapter 6, verse 28)

“When famine or plague comes to the land”, says a lot right from the start. There was no hard currency in those days like we have today. Currency was bartered on the basis of crops, livestock and land, the latter being reserved for really big transactions. Having a daughter of marriageable age was another way to barter for other things like food and weapons. So for a famine, plague, blight or pestilence to overrun a patch of land was to have that land rendered worthless, at least for the short term. This can apply to our spiritual lives as well. And yes, our faith can protect us from getting COVID-19. So I think it’s time for us to stop worrying about COVID, even if the news media tells us we should. I haven’t had a cable TV subscription for many years now, and I don’t miss it one little bit.