More Teacher Thoughts and Prayers
Psalm 88 • Psalm 91, 92
Esther 8:1-8, 15-17 or Judith 13:1-20 • Acts 19:21-41 • Luke 4:31-37
I am a teacher who is still teaching my students.
In person.
During the pandemic in the fall of 2020. (I’ve lasted a whole month so far!)
I am also still praying from Psalm 86 asking God to keep watch over me and my family and my students.
Imagine my wonder when I am asked to reflect on Psalm 91, the psalm of protection also known as ‘the song of plagues.’
How providential! Today, in the face of Covid-19, I can pray to the Lord:
"You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I put my trust."
And with confidence I can read how the Lord Most High
Shall deliver me...from the deadly pestilence.
And…
I shall not be afraid of any terror by night…
Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
No evil shall happen to me,
Neither shall any plague come near my dwelling.
That is a very applicable prayer!
But then I read:
For he shall give his angels charge over you,
to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you in their hands,
lest you dash your foot against a stone. (91:11-12)
I realize I’ve heard that before. That one’s in the Gospels. When Jesus is tempted to jump from a great height and see how God saves him, the tempter quotes Psalm 91 to make his argument stick.
Of course, Jesus’ answer to such a wild dare is to quote Deuteronomy:
Do not put the Lord, your God, to the test. (6:16)
The Teacher knows: yes, there will be a test. Lots of tests. God will help you, but you have to actually take each test yourself. So don’t make the test harder by needing a miracle to get out of it.
Covid-19 is a test. How are we doing? Are we praying for angels to bear us and others in their hands lest our immune systems are dashed against stones of this virus? Are we reading our psalms and hoping that even though
A thousand shall fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
but it shall not come near you. (91:7)
God, I hope not.
If 2020 is our time in the wilderness, my hope is that we can hold out and keep from chewing on stones and giving in to the voice of temptation.
And more than washing hands, maintaining physical distance, taking our temperatures, covering our faces—I hope we can take care of one another.
I believe in prayer and I believe in God’s protection. It’s how I get through the day. I also recognize that trusting in God is not magic. I’m not invulnerable or bulletproof or novel-virus-immune because of my faith. Knowing that God is helping me allows me to get up and go out there and help someone else. At least today.
I don’t know if I’m getting an ‘A’ but I think I’m passing this test. Won’t know until it’s over, I guess.
I certainly would like it to be sooner than later.
Written by Troy Schremmer
Troy works with preschool age children as an enrichment teacher in music and movement. He and his wife Jonny (who teaches older children) are both still at work. Prayers for our family (and students and co-workers) are certainly appreciated.