Untitled Sermon (2)

Introduction

Well good morning, my friends. I wanted to begin by posing a question that is plaguing every single pastor in the world right now.

How do we responsibly continue to have church and continue the ministry of the church amidst the covid-19 pandemic?

Clearly, this is a question being asked and answered all across the globe.

Some churches are moving to online platforms such as live streaming and zoom calls for their weekly services.

Some are turning their sermons into podcasts to make them more easily accesible.

Others are intentionally reaching out and interacting (virtually) with the members of their congregation through phone calls, skype, or even car parades.

Obviously, there are a lot of different answers to this question, none of which are right or wrong. There’s a lot of diversity in how each church handles this situation.

This is a very unique time for ministry, where we cannot meet in person, there is much fear and anxiety, and so much loneliness. In addition there’s mourning happening within the church. There’s loss, there’s hopelessness, there’s unknown...

How do we continue to have church and worship God amidst this darkness?

I’m reminded of some of the situations that King David was in.

Let me just say this, if you haven’t read 2 Samuel yet I highly suggest it. It’s dramatic, it’s intense, and I don’t think Hollywood could write a better story plot.

One of the most significant events that happens though, is through a series of circumstances, David’s son Absalom flees Jerusalem for killing his brother. An important piece to note here is that even though Absalom had killed David’s son, 2 Samuel 13:39 states that “the heart of the king went out, yearning for Absalom.

So in his time of exile from the city, he regains the trust and love of the Israelites, and even earns the forgiveness of his father. He is permitted to enter back into Jerusalem

Yet, Absalom’s intentions are not good and he attempts to overthrow his father from the throne and take over rule of Jerusalem

David is now forced to take all of his servants and flee Jerusalem, entering into exile in the wilderness of Judea.

It is here that David sits down a writes out poem after poem, hymn after hymn which we later call the Psalms.

One of the Psalms that David writes is Psalm 63. Let me read a portion of what David wrote in this period of his life.

“ O God, you are my God, I seek you,

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands and call on your name.”

(Pause)

Wow....

Just… Wow...

The crazy part is, David was alone, the only people he took with him were some of his servants.

David was afraid, his son was trying to kill him, and he was in hiding, he didn’t know what the next move was...

David was mourning. 2 Samuel 15:30 tells us that “David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot”. He had lost his nation, he had lost his people, and he was most likely mourning the loss of the relationship with his son, Absalom.

So here we have David, his son is out to kill him, he has fled from Jerusalem and is in hiding in the middle of the wilderness! He has lost his kingdom, he has lost his power, he has lost his people.

David had no reason to praise God, there was nothing good going for him, if anyone had a reason to write a psalm of lament it was DAVID!!!

Yet, David sits down and proclaims that God’s steadfast love is better than life, so I’m gonna praise you!

Here’s the cool part, it doesn’t end there.

No no.. with everything that is going on, the uncertainty facing David, he finishes up Psalm 63 with this...

The New Revised Standard Version Comfort and Assurance in God’s Presence

But those who seek to destroy my life

shall go down into the depths of the earth;

10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword,

they shall be prey for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

all who swear by him shall exult,

for the mouths of liars will be stopped

David reaffirms his faith and his confidence that God will destroy his enemies. Despite the uncertainty in the situation facing David. David is certain that God is greater than the situation facing him

How can we become more like David?

You know, one of the cool things that I have loved being able to witness and be apart of over the last several weeks is watching Churches and ministries get creative.

Do things that are different.

Do something unique.

Some churches are doing things so vastly different than the normal flow of things.

My church, for example, is doing a service live-streamed every single night Sunday - Friday. We are intentionally placing ourselves in a posture of worship every single night when every instinct and circumstance dictates that we should be lamenting.

On an individual level, it would be so easy just to not tune in to church on Sunday morning. It would be so easy just to stop attending the zoom small group. It would be so easy to forget about that bible study you were in the middle of doing. The threat of becoming disconnect with other and with God is looming.

Yet, when we take a stance of actively praising God amidst this darkness, he meets us where we are and restores our confidence that God is greater than this situation facing us.

Yes, God is greater than isolation.

God is greater than loneliness

God is greater than despair

God is greater than the stupid Coronavirus.

And because of that, let’s praise him.