2020 Facing COVID-19
Goliath: A David's Perspective
Vera Lim
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The respiratory illness, which started in China in late 2019 had spread to a number of countries across Asia and the world.
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On Sunday 9 February 2020, I strolled into Paya Lebar Methodist Church with my family. This was my first time back in church after the CNY break as we had been away in Indonesia to visit my in-laws.
Given the number of cases in Singapore, it was reasonable to expect an atmosphere of fear and speculation of how potent the virus could be and how fast it would spread. Yet, as I entered the Sanctuary on that morning, the believers who were present did not seem too perturbed or concerned.
My sense of calm dissipated into concern that very same evening as the Ministry of Health reported Case 41 as an elderly man who had “visited Paya Lebar Methodist Church prior to his hospital admission”.
Immediately, questions raced through my mind and I wondered, "Why did this incident take place in this Sanctuary? Why did it happen?"
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As I prayed and I sought the Lord over the next few days, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the story of David and Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17:4, we were told that a champion named Goliath came out of the Philistine camp.
Goliath was not your average enemy; he was over nine feet tall and had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing more than 58 kilograms; he even had protections for his legs. He challenged the Israelites. He taunted them and asked for one of Saul’s men to come down and fight him. Upon hearing these challenges, Saul and all the Israelites “were dismayed and terrified” (1 Sam 17:11).
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The COVID-19 is, in many ways, similar to Goliath.
COVID-19 is a corona-virus and it has a “crown” which allows it to attach to the host. It looks formidable, like Goliath, but the fatality has been relatively low (less than 2% worldwide).
Yet, who can come against this Goliath? Who do we have in our camp?
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In the story of 1 Samuel 17, a little shepherd boy David assured King Saul, “let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him”.
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What did this shepherd boy bring to fight Goliath? Was it with the coat of armour and the bronze helmet that Saul gifted him?
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This shepherd boy went in the name of the Lord and in verse 45, he said to Goliath, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel”.
Truly, our battle with this Goliath will be won, for this battle is the Lord’s.
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Be encouraged and know that as David the shepherd boy defeated Goliath, our God will save us. May we have the childlike faith of a shepherd boy in facing this Goliath.
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