When I think of a “lockdown”, I remember what is written in Ecclesiastes:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV
This passage describes the usual ongoing of life as an either-or of two extremes which is very much a reality of our world today. One day we are living on our normal lives, eating, drinking and being merry; the next we are facing a global pandemic and uncertainty. So much so that now we don’t even have seasons in time, but rather seasons within the same time but in different localities of the world. One country will be experiencing war and strife whilst another is experiencing peace. Here in the urban areas we are at the tip of chaos but in the orang asli community life goes on as usual, no face masks, social distancing or stocking up is required!
Throughout the Bible, God brings about extreme measures (whether through wondrous acts of God or through civil and government decisions), in order to remind His people to always reset their routines I order to refocus on Him.
God allowed wars, famines and plagues not only to deal with Israel’s enemies but also to remind the Israelites of who He was. Deuteronomy 8:3 describes this so well as God reminds them of why they were exposed to the elements of the wilderness for 40 years.
“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV
God allowed the Roman government to order a census, inconveniencing everyone to stop their daily routine and return to their place of birth, in order that He could “sneak” in the birth of a new King.
Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, presents to us this perspective of life “under the sun”, meaning the usual ongoing of life, and that it can be meaningless unless we fear God and keep His commandments.
For many of us, our jobs and routines have defined most of what we do and who we are. This time to reset, however, will challenge that identity and rightly so.
God allows disruptions so that we can realise, realign and refocus. Now that we are forced out from “under the sun”, it will affect our usual ongoing of life. It is time to form new routines and new priorities. Above all, Solomon reminds us that all this will be meaningless unless we continue fear God and keep His commandments.
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV
During this “lockdown”, remember to keep His commandments, hide His Word in your heart, do what is responsible and necessary and you will find meaning and peace being in God’s side. As quoted by Oswald Chambers, “Trust God and do the next thing…”
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