For many years I have liked this wording in the liturgy for the Visitation of the Sick in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:
Dearly beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is God’s visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience, for the example of others, and that your faith may be found, in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you, to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God’s mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ’s sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will; it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life.
I believe it reflects a biblical worldview that God is pulling all the strings and that he consents to everything that happens. We are not living in a universe where God and Satan are battling each other on equal terms, as if at certain times one of them dominates, while at other times the other one gains the upper hand. I find it very comforting to believe that nothing bad can happen to me by bad luck or random chance or by unfettered powers of evil.
But there are a few verses in the Bible which I find difficult to reconcile with this worldview and I would be grateful if you would please offer your comments on what I have written above and outline your interpretation of these verses below. Thank you.
[Jesus said:] "Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years - shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?" (Luke 13:16)
[Paul wrote:] "We greatly desired and made every effort to return and see you face to face. So we wanted to come to you - even I, Paul, time and again - but Satan hindered us." (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18)
You will be far from oppression, you will certainly not be afraid;
you will be far from terror, it will certainly not come near you.
If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me. (Isaiah 54:14-15)
I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. (Zechariah 1:15)
Dearly beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is God’s visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience, for the example of others, and that your faith may be found, in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you, to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God’s mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ’s sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will; it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life.
I believe it reflects a biblical worldview that God is pulling all the strings and that he consents to everything that happens. We are not living in a universe where God and Satan are battling each other on equal terms, as if at certain times one of them dominates, while at other times the other one gains the upper hand. I find it very comforting to believe that nothing bad can happen to me by bad luck or random chance or by unfettered powers of evil.
But there are a few verses in the Bible which I find difficult to reconcile with this worldview and I would be grateful if you would please offer your comments on what I have written above and outline your interpretation of these verses below. Thank you.
[Jesus said:] "Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years - shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?" (Luke 13:16)
[Paul wrote:] "We greatly desired and made every effort to return and see you face to face. So we wanted to come to you - even I, Paul, time and again - but Satan hindered us." (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18)
You will be far from oppression, you will certainly not be afraid;
you will be far from terror, it will certainly not come near you.
If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me. (Isaiah 54:14-15)
I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. (Zechariah 1:15)
