COVID-19 Update from Mexico, and Studying Psalms
Either you’re wondering why I haven’t written more about COVID-19 lately, or perhaps you’re glad I haven’t! But here’s a little update.
This past week Mexico entered into the “top 10” countries of the world for deaths from COVID-19, according to the “official” stats. This is due in great part to the population of Mexico, the 10th most populous country. Per capita, it’s much lower on the list.
As I write, while the USA and Canada have a slight decline of new daily cases, cases in Mexico continue to rise steadily. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s virtually impossible to compare numbers in a meaningful way. For one thing, while the USA and Canada are now testing around 35-40 people per thousand, Mexico is testing between 1 and 2. That alone should make comparisons suspect.
I think I told some people a while ago that our local area (our municipality, specifically) was actually worse than Canada in general according to the official numbers. I was wrong – the numbers show 2-3 times more cases confirmed in Canada (because of testing, or?), and 1-2 times more deaths. However, the zone we’re in is certainly considered a “high risk” zone, and numbers are still rising.
Out of 125 municipalities in our state, the top ten municipalities account for about 62-65% of cases and deaths, and of course Ixtapaluca is one of the top ten. This is important because the governments are talking about opening things up depending somewhat on the numbers and risk in different municipalities.
All that boring stuff to say that Mexico is not jumping to open everything up, at least not in our area.
More than ever, health is a big topic of conversation and prayer when we talk to our friends. I have asked some of you to pray for our friends Juan and Blanca. Juan is in the hospital – I won’t post the details here because Rod just posted more information and a couple of pictures – so do please continue to pray for Juan and his family. Rod also gives some other details about the stats and the “talk” of what the near future may hold here.
This morning we enjoyed another segment of our Old Testament Survey class, beginning our study of the Psalms. In days when – possibly – a few people may have questions – concerns – complaints – about governments (such a rare thing!) – Psalm 2 struck me anew.
Like many Psalms, music goes through my head when I think about Psalm 2, such as this version from the Shiyr Poets. Why do the nations rage?
The Psalm reminds me again of one of the running themes in the book of Daniel (in fact, I just quoted the first part of this Psalm in my last sermon on Daniel, if I remember correctly!). The nations of the world may act like pagans, they may even actively plot against God and His Messiah. But not only can they not alter His plans, they in fact find that their actions are being used by God to fulfill His plans.
Whatever governments and leaders and people of power may do, they’re not actually going to stop the Lord of the Universe from building His Church, and doing His will. In this Psalm, God doesn’t struggle valiantly against the wicked – He simply laughs, and says that His Anointed will break them like a piece of pottery – and we know how easy it is to break a bowl.
By the end of the Psalm, perhaps we are reminded of John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jesus Himself, speaking prophetically to the leaders of their day. They didn’t cower, or hope that they would get an equal vote with everyone else. They preached that God Himself was in charge, and that everyone – the poor and the rich, the oppressed and the powerful – would all need to repent and serve the Lord – seek refuge in Him – before judgement came. That’s the confidence we can have!
Tonight we continue our Bible study talking of Jesus’ mission – a mission that was as unstoppable then as it is now.
The believers in Acts 4 found comfort in this Psalm in a time of persecution. Reading Psalm 2, they knew that they should not be surprised when people in power opposed God and His Messiah. They knew that God was listening, and that His plans would move forward. And they saw that even the greatest injustice was part of God’s plan – wicked leaders had been used in the very plan of salvation itself.
Maybe it seems strange to you that Psalm 2 would be comforting. But in a time when so many are asking “But what if…”, it’s wonderful to be able to say “Even if…” – even if this happens or this law is passed or this person gets sick or this happens to my bank account or this place closes down … God’s plan will move forward. Unimpeded.
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
Acts 4:23-30
“Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed”
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.