“So, they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the land; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.” (verse 3)

The context of the passage is the return of Jews to Jerusalem from their Babylonian exile. When they arrived back home in Jerusalem, they set themselves to rebuild Solomon’s Temple that had been destroyed 70 years earlier by the Babylonian army.

If you remember the history, God sent them into exile for their shameless sexual perversions, for killing their children, for blasphemies against God – the list reads like a 21st century newspaper.

The point? Twelve months ago, the world began reeling under the coronavirus pandemic. Twelve months later, little has changed. Some might say things are worse.

At that time, twelve months ago, I wrote in the margin of my Bible this statement next to that third verse: “The people were terrified, which is why they appealed to God for protection. So, why today do we not so the same?”

Twelve months ago, our nation was terrified. We shuttered businesses. Schools closed. Few left their homes without a mask. Many, even while driving alone, did so with their mouth and nose covered, as if a new Bubonic Plague had overtaken us. We kept our distance from each other. We canceled celebrations, even weddings, and limited family gatherings to a scant few.

Terror on every side.

Today, twelve months later, I ask myself the same question I asked back then: When terror is on every side, why have we still not awakened to our only true refuge? Why do we still give only a cursory glance at God for help – and before He can speak, we look to doctors and politicians and social media moguls for protection?

Why is it that Christians – of all people – do we not make public appeal to God for help?

Twelve months ago Christians often quoted Second Chronicles chapter 7: “If My people, who are called by My name . . ..” But rarely did I hear anyone focus our collective attention on the hard part of that text: “If My people humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Who knows when this current crisis will end? Who knows where this nation will be in another twelve months? Only God knows.

And it is only His mercy that He continues to wait for His people – those who alone are called by His name – to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face – and turn from our wicked ways.