It’s a common saying: “Life isn’t they way you’d like it to be; life is the way it is.” This is especially true these days. I’m beginning to believe that the coronavirus lockdown may be worse than the disease itself. But I don’t know. Every “expert” has a different view and a different forecast.

And for times like these (as for any other time), we have the Psalms. Life often wasn’t what people wanted then either. Here’s what I read recently:

They’ve burned it all to the ground. They’ve violated your sanctuary, the very dwelling place of your glory and your name. They boasted, “Let’s completely crush them! Let’s wipe out every trace of this God. Let’s burn up every sacred place where they worship this God.” We don’t see any miraculous signs anymore. There’s no longer a prophet among us who can tell us how long this devastation will continue. (Psalm 74.7 – 9, Passion Translation)

It feels like this now. Sanctuaries are still standing but they can’t be used. There are those who would ban religious gatherings indefinitely. It is weird when liquor stores and pot shops are essential, but churches are not. And truly, “There’s no longer a prophet among us who can tell us how long this devastation will continue.”

Here’s another part of this curse. It’s not just the churches that are closed:

Then man goes out to his labor and toil, working from dawn to dusk. O Lord, what an amazing variety of all you have created! Wild and wonderful is this world you have made, while wisdom was there at your side. This world is full of so many creatures, yet each belongs to you! (Psalm 104.23, 24, Passion Translation)

People are supposed to work, and we tell them they can’t. A friend of mine used to say (and it’s right out of this text): “Days is for workin’ and nights is for sleepin’!”

Again we wonder, Is the “cure” worse than the disease? And, how long will this devastation continue? And while we don’t know the answers, we are invited to pray with the Psalmist(s).

O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed– This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. (Psalm 74.1, 2, NKJV)

²³  Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
²⁴  You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵  Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
²⁶  My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73.23 – 26, NKJV)