Trusting in God's protection in the wake of COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global human predicament that has affected both rich and poor nations. It knows no racial nor gender boundaries; it does not discriminate between the innocent and sinful. It is, therefore, a common enemy that brings suffering and death. Consequently, professionals of diverse disciplines, including biblical theologians, interrogate themselves and reality and seek responses. In Ghana, where most people associate chronic diseases, suffering, and death with guilt or sin, and believe that the devil causes these, the situation becomes much more dramatic for religious leaders to offer a response of hope. What sin has humanity committed? Where is the merciful and forgiving God? Has God abandoned human race? Against this background, this paper studies Psalm 91 from a Ghanaian perspective to explore divine assurance and protection during adversities. The paper adopts Trible’s rhetorical criticism to interpret Ps. 91, and engages its perlocutionary effect: trusting in God’s protection, assurance, and deliverance during suffering.