In Psalm 12, David describes the alarm we sense when accosted by the noise filling the air around us: “Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak…those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own—who is our master?” (Psalm 12:1-4 NRSV).

What are we seeing in these days? We can be sure that our God has not forgotten us or gone on a vacation. He is not quarantining in fear of being infected by COVID-19. He is acting to awaken His people to the real war that  is going on, and He is empowering them to wake up and shine as lights in a dark world.