Preaching Goes Viral

COVID-19 and God's Children: Psalm 91

“And there [Egypt] ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.” (Deuteronomy 28:68) But Joseph was sold as a slave, and it was not because of God’s anger or wrath towards him. It was not a curse. Here is what scripture says about it: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20) Another good example can be found in Josiah vs. Ahab. The similarities between how these two men died is uncanny, but the result of each death was completely different. One ended in peace and mercy, and the other did not. Both men were promised that they would be delivered from some future judgment of God (Josiah not having to witness the Babylonian Captivity, and Ahab not having to witness God’s curse on his house as He cut them off). Both were warned about going into battle (Josiah by Pharaoh-Necho, and Ahab by the prophet Michaiah). Both ignored the warning and ill-advisedly went to battle anyway (Josiah in the valley of Megiddo, and Ahab in Ramothgilead). Both disguised themselves so they would look like regular foot soldiers. Both were struck by an arrow, and both died from their wound. You can read about all of this in 1 Kings 21-22, and 2 Chronicles 34-35. Both died under strikingly Page 2 of 10 similar circumstances, but the difference is that Josiah genuinely loved God and repented of his sins. He had a tender heart, and truly humbled himself before God. He was one of God’s elect, so therefore God, through the prophetess Huldah, promised him the following: “thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace.” (2 Chronicles 34:28). Yes. He died in a bloody, violent battle, but he was at peace with God. Ahab put on a show of humility, and God acknowledged it, but Ahab didn’t get a promise of being gathered to his grave in peace. His promise was this: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” (1 Kings 21:19). And the promise was fulfilled: “The dogs licked up his blood...according unto the word of the Lord which he spake.” (1 Kings 22:38). As Michaiah told him, “if thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me.” (1 Kings 22:28). There is no sense in which Ahab went down to his grave in peace. About people like Josiah, Isaiah the prophet said: “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” (Isaiah 57:1-2)

Analogies to Mythic Narratives

Westboro Baptist Church

3701 SW 12th St., Topeka, KS 66604

Primitive and Independent Baptist

10/19/2020 19:40