“How Long, O Lord?” Maybe that’s how you feel today, two months after our last public worship services at Yokena and Port Gibson. Yes, as “shelter-in-place” has become “safer-at-home,” some of the legal restrictions on our movements have been reduced. But there’s still no cure for this virus, testing continues to be spotty, and we’ll probably have to wait at least until Christmas for a vaccine to be available. Truly it seems like our invisible enemy is exalted over us (Psalm 13:4).

In light of all this, we might be tempted to think that God has forgotten us (Psalm 13:1). But when he was in a similar situation, David kept crying out to God, begging God to answer him (Psalm 13:3). He kept on insisting that God is the only One Who could save Him – and the same thing is true for us too.

But the cross of Christ has proven that God is not only able but willing to deliver us from even our worst enemies, from sin and death. That’s why we can trust in God’s lovingkindness, His faithful, covenant-keeping love, no matter what happens. That’s why even now we can rejoice, knowing that God has given His own Son to save us (Psalm 13:5).

And so even while we wait for this pandemic to be over, we can rejoice in the Lord. And we can even sing His praise. For He has blessed us in the past (Psalm 13:6), and we can be confident of His mercy in the future.

Psalm 13 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David . How long, O LORD? Wilt Thou forget me forever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD, my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 Lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” Lest my adversaries rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.