I. Epidemics and the Fear of Death
Human beings inherently live with the fear of death. As Psalm 62 reminds us, people are fragile, prone to wavering and trembling at times, and when even the slightest shadow of death appears, they can quickly become consumed by anxiety. Pastor David Jang points out in his sermon that this human fear of death becomes all the more evident during times of epidemic. Indeed, looking back through history, people in every age have been helpless before periodic outbreaks of contagious disease, trembling with dread. During the Black Death in Europe, countless lives were lost, and repeated occurrences of epidemics in both East and West subsequently left humanity scarred by fear. Even in an age of advanced science and medicine, we remain vulnerable to unexpected viral threats, compelling people to practice social distancing or go into quarantine for fear of infection. When such circumstances repeat themselves, we inevitably ask: What can possibly comfort us?
An epidemic powerfully reveals just how easily humans feel threatened. When fear of contracting a fatal illness sweeps through the world, even modern people accustomed to a comfortable lifestyle become paralyzed with anxiety and are forced to forfeit their usual prosperity. Confronting the threshold of death triggers our most fundamental sense of insecurity—everyone comes to see firsthand that the fear of death is the most primal. Thus, the anxiety of facing an epidemic is not merely about physical suffering or economic loss; it also reflects the existential question: “What if I die?” Prideful humans inevitably become humble and recognize their frailty in the face of natural disasters and infectious diseases.
Pastor David Jang shares an anecdote about someone who was about to be executed by beheading in a certain country, only for lightning to strike at that very moment and kill the executioner instead. The focus of this story is: “Ultimately, our lives depend on God.” Recognizing that life and death lie entirely in God’s hands brings human pride crashing down and compels us to confess that our own efforts to protect ourselves have limits. Believing that God reigns over all life enables believers to experience a measure of freedom from the terror of death. Yet the reality is that many people are still gripped by the fear of death, so the more urgent question becomes: “Where do we place our hope?” For Christians, one of the sermon’s key messages is to hold firmly to the words of Psalm 62: “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my hope is from Him.”
Humans may pride themselves on having superior intelligence compared to animals, but sometimes we hear that animals detect changes in nature and escape danger sooner than humans do. For example, before a tsunami hits, animals on the beach supposedly flee toward the inland, and before an earthquake, rats often sense it coming and run away. While these cases seem extraordinary, they also highlight how late humans sometimes realize danger from natural disasters or epidemics—and how, as a result, we end up suffering even greater harm. In the end, despite our advanced civilization and our intellect that we so proudly tout, we still appear powerless before epidemics and natural disasters.
Confronted by this helplessness, we again face the reality of death. Moments like an epidemic expose how reason, pride, and worldly technology cannot fully guard us from death. Even if science develops vaccines or suggests some treatments, humanity does not hold the ultimate power to eradicate death altogether. Historically, around the time of World War I, liberal theology was widespread, relying heavily on human reason, and society was fervent with faith in civilization, science, and progress. Yet the widespread destruction and countless deaths caused by war shattered this pride, toppling human-centered optimism in an instant. Pastor David Jang asserts that this historical lesson remains just as relevant for us today. Precisely at the moment when humanity feels most invincible, cataclysmic events like epidemics or wars can appear.
Hence, the outbreak of an epidemic serves as a renewed reminder of how powerless humans still are before nature and death. This triggers people’s fear—“What if I die?”—and causes them to shrink back from all gatherings and events, even to the point of limiting in-person worship services. Many refrain from going out, and on a societal level, measures like mandatory mask-wearing and handwashing become standard. Churches, too, must consider limiting gatherings or adopting online services in accordance with government quarantine guidelines. The issue here is that believers must examine themselves: “Are we so afraid of death that we even abandon worship?” Of course, this does not mean needlessly exposing believers to danger. Rather, Pastor David Jang stresses that while we should obey government directives, we must not cut off our spiritual life, including Sunday worship. The essence of the church lies in worship and serving God as a community. Epidemics pass. We may endure tough times for a while, but the message is that in the process, we should examine ourselves more closely before God.
Looking back on church history and the Bible, whenever the shadow of death loomed large, God still opened a path of hope for humanity. In the Book of Exodus, when plagues and disasters struck Egypt, the Israelites put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, and the angel of death passed over their homes. We, too, in our own time, find ourselves contemplating life, death, and God’s protection anew. Once again, the confession arises from our lips: “Life belongs entirely to God.”Observing how deer or wild boars descend to seek food and refuge, or how animals detect and flee from tsunamis in advance, we recognize our own longing to live—and ultimately acknowledge that only in God’s embrace is there true salvation. Pastor David Jang points out that epidemics can serve as a tool to rein in human pride, urging us to become more humble in our fear and anxiety.
Ultimately, the fear of death most starkly exposes human limitations. An epidemic threatens not only our external environment but also forces us to confront how helpless we are within. At this crossroads, people generally see two possible routes. One leads to total despair, the other leads to hope in God. Believers trust that only God can give us the power to overcome our fears. The psalmist laments, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” but also simultaneously confesses, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” Convinced that life and death lie in God’s hands, we believe that death itself need not be the ultimate end, but can become a doorway to eternal life.
II. Only God Is the Rock and Our Salvation
Psalm 62 repeatedly emphasizes the core message: “Wait for God alone.” Representative verses include “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation” and “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Pastor David Jang explains that this psalm declares that only God can be the perfect source of deliverance from all that makes life unstable, including our fear of death. Especially when we realize anew that we are vulnerable before an epidemic, the psalmist’s confession resonates more strongly.
By referring to God as “the rock,” the psalmist underscores that God is a firm, unshakeable foundation. A rock symbolizes hardness that does not easily crack under external force. In Old Testament times, the Israelites, who lived in deserts or the rugged terrain of Palestine, would have clearly understood that a “rock” signified stability, protection, and support.Likewise, for modern believers, God functions as a “rock.” Even if epidemics break out, wars erupt, or economic systems crumble, we believe that God remains our unshakeable foundation. Human institutions and empires may topple over time, but God is eternally unchanging.
Moreover, the psalmist uses the image of a “fortress” or “refuge” to illustrate who God is. A fortress is a defensive stronghold that guarantees safety from enemy attack. Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as a refuge and a strong tower for His people to run to in times of crisis. This is not merely poetic language but a statement of faith built on repeated experiences throughout Israel’s history. When death looms through epidemics, people naturally seek a fortress that can protect them. If worldly methods can no longer provide security, many finally turn their eyes toward the church or toward God. No one but God, who governs life and death, can grant eternal security.
Pointing us to John 11, Pastor David Jang highlights Jesus’ declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, though they may die, they shall live.” Jesus arrived only after His friend Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, causing Lazarus’ family profound grief. Yet Jesus ultimately raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:35 records that Jesus wept upon seeing their sorrow. This reveals that the Lord fully empathizes with our pain, fear, and sadness, mourning our human limits. At the same time, Jesus proclaims Himself to be the sovereign Lord over resurrection and life, revealing that He holds power even greater than death.
Jesus further says, “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” squarely confronting the essence of faith. If all life and death truly belong to God, then even in the face of death, humans can cling to an eternal hope. As the One who overcomes death, and before whom death’s power is ineffectual, Jesus grants believers the ability to transcend the terror commonly evoked by “death.” The Apostle Paul also exults in 1 Corinthians 15, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” His challenge to death underscores the conviction, rooted in Christ’s death and resurrection, that death’s dominion has been nullified.
Ultimately, the biblical perspectives on death in Psalm 62, John 11, and 1 Corinthians 15 converge on a single conclusion: God alone is the author of life, and through Jesus Christ, death need not be the ultimate end. Even if an epidemic spreads fear of death far and wide, believers need not fall into total despair or remain captive to worry and dread. Rather, as Pastor David Jang proclaims, it is in these times that we must draw nearer to God, humbling ourselves before the One who rules life and death. This is the central significance of confessing, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
Even if we were to contract a virus and physically die, we have the assurance that such death does not determine our eternal destiny. Trusting that Jesus is the resurrection and the life grants us a measure of freedom from the world’s pervasive fears. Though we still feel human anxiety, we can hold onto the promise that “the Lord is resurrection and life.” The church, built on this faith, must proclaim the gospel of “living even in death” more urgently in times of epidemic. If there was ever a moment when fearful hearts most needed the message of life, this is it. For some, this may be their most critical window to find the way to true life.
In this context, Psalm 62 dramatically describes who God is through the words “rock,” “fortress,” and “refuge.” Because our salvation and glory come from Him, even if the world is shaken and epidemics spread, our hope remains unshaken as we fix our eyes on God. As it says, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” For those who are discouraged and anxious, the message the church should proclaim is: “Draw nearer to God. Only He can save us.”
Scripture teaches that when plagues, wars, famines, or natural disasters occur, these are not to be dismissed as mere misfortune; rather, they are opportunities to examine ourselves before God. After King Solomon dedicated the temple, God declared that if famine or pestilence were to come upon the land, and people would repent and return to Him, He would hear their prayers and heal their land (as in 2 Chronicles 7). This imagery is powerfully symbolic. It shows that when a society filled with sin and pride is confronted by the threat of an epidemic, if they humble themselves, confess their sins, and ask God for mercy, then God will provide healing. The same principle applies to this day. As an epidemic spreads, the church and believers should do more than just observe hygiene protocols to safeguard the body. We should also reflect spiritually, confess our sins, and ask for God’s mercy. Pastor David Jang preaches that times of crisis are precisely the moments for deeper repentance, closer devotion to the Word, and returning to the One who governs life.
Psalm 62 depicts the kind of God for whom this is all worthwhile. He is the Creator of the entire universe, the sovereign Lord of history, and the One who holds and preserves each individual life. Because He holds the keys to life and death, He prevents the threats of death from having the final say. Without faith, this claim may be hard to accept, but once we taste His mighty power and lovingkindness, we inevitably join the psalmist in confessing, “My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.” In other words, even if an epidemic or other disaster exposes our limitations, it can become a springboard for us to draw nearer to God. If so, we will possess a spiritual foundation that no storm can shake.
Faced with the root problem of death, the grim reality of epidemics and calamities, the only recourse a believer has is “God the Rock” and “the Lord who saves.” The cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ decisively demonstrate His victory over the power of sin and death. The cross reveals God’s love, and the resurrection confirms His power. Even when we feel how helpless we are before an epidemic, we can cling to that love and power, trusting in “the goodness and eternity of the Lord’s will for us.”
III. The Role of the Church—Prayer and Practice
An epidemic clearly shows the kind of posture the church and believers must assume. Pastor David Jang, referencing Romans 13, emphasizes that we must obey the authorities placed over us and carefully consider others’ safety. Therefore, measures like social distancing or switching to online services, using modern technology to protect the well-being of church members, can be wise moves—demonstrating respect for both the constitution and government guidelines while preserving the essence of faith. However, it’s crucial that we do not entirely abandon Sunday worship or the communal nature of the church in the process.
Faith must be expressed not only in public worship but in every sphere of life, and the church is called to be salt and light. When an epidemic sweeps across the globe and anxieties run high, people may look toward the church in search of spiritual refuge. At such a time, if the church remains faithful in worship, if believers move forward with bold faith, and at the same time serve the broader society with humility and obedience, then the world will ask, “How are they able to stand firm, unshaken by the fear of death?” This very question opens the door to proclaim, “Only God is our rock, fortress, and refuge.” The church must not miss this moment to fulfill its mission.
Still, within the church itself, many believers may feel overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. This is precisely why mutual encouragement and collective prayer are so essential. James 5 exhorts anyone suffering to pray, instructs the sick to call the elders of the church to pray, and advises believers to confess sins to one another as they pray for healing—stressing the importance of a community of care. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.” Elijah is mentioned as an example of how one individual’s prayer can greatly affect an entire community and society (1 Kings 17–18). How much more, then, should we, who have the privilege of praying in Jesus’ name, take responsibility and seize this opportunity to pray for the healing of our land as an epidemic spreads? Pastor David Jang reminds us that this is precisely when the church must repent, intercede, and offer up petitions for the land.
Additionally, Pastor David Jang encourages believers to treat the experience of quarantines and social distancing as a form of spiritual training. In our normally hurried lives, many fail to find sufficient time for reading Scripture and praying. Now that we are forced to stay home, we can slow down and cultivate a deeper inner life before God. Parents can also use the unexpected time with children at home to hold family worship services and engage in spiritual discipleship. When the church cannot gather as usual, each household can function as a “small church,” sustaining worship and prayer.
Jesus once mourned over Jerusalem, saying, “How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matthew 23). This picture reveals how passionately God wants to protect and forgive His people, enfolding them under His wings. Yet if people refuse, He will not compel them. When an epidemic wreaks havoc, perhaps God is inviting us to draw nearer, urging us to take shelter beneath His wings. If the church instead chases after worldly values or succumbs solely to fear, we lose the chance to rest under the Lord’s protection. Thus, the church must not miss this call but boldly extend the invitation: “Come under the Lord’s wings.”
Another practical lesson we can derive is humility. The more we boast of our progress in science and civilization, the more we are exposed as powerless when faced with unforeseen disasters. Just as influenza claims tens of thousands of lives every year, epidemics have never really disappeared from our world. When a major outbreak unfolds, humans return to the most basic rules—like “wash your hands frequently.” No matter how advanced our civilization becomes, if we fail to keep to these foundational principles, it can all crumble in an instant. For believers, furthermore, there’s the added acknowledgment that “without God’s permission, my very breath can be cut short in a day.” In response, we should earnestly come before God in prayer, striving to avoid infection while also remembering that life and death ultimately rest in His sovereign hands. True humility means embracing both diligent human effort and dependence on God’s authority over life.
During times of crisis, the church can radiate the aroma of Christ by acting in bold faith and love when the world trembles in fear. Yet boldness does not mean recklessly ignoring quarantine guidelines or irresponsibly insisting on meeting in person at all costs. True boldness means adhering to government directives, washing our hands often, maintaining appropriate distance—and yet refusing to abandon worship and prayer. The church should not generate needless hostility; rather, it must become an instrument of comfort and hope for the world. Every believer should bear in mind that they represent the church in their local community, reaching out to neighbors who close their hearts in fear, and sharing the gospel and love of Christ with them.
Pastor David Jang repeatedly emphasizes the importance of fully trusting Jesus’ proclamation that “Those who believe in Me, even if they die, will live.” As the prospect of losing our lives becomes more palpable in a season of epidemic, we must ask ourselves, “Do I truly believe I will live, even if I die?” “Am I looking forward to the hope of resurrection beyond death?” This is not a mere abstract concept; it is a reality that can only be genuinely experienced when life and death are at stake. When the church clings unwaveringly to this hope, the world witnesses the spiritual power within the church—and that witness becomes the pivotal opportunity for evangelism.
Therefore, an epidemic is a time for the church to pray more earnestly and to show the world where true peace and salvation can be found. Believers can repent of their sins, consecrate their lives, and share in family prayer and the Word, experiencing spiritual revival in their homes. As this deepens, once the epidemic subsides, churches will emerge as stronger communities of faith, setting an example for the world. Pastor David Jang says, “Rather than blaming God or trembling with fear, what believers need is repentance, service, and steadfast worship.” Even if we’re physically separated, we can remain spiritually united—praising God and sharing His Word through online services or family worship. When we cannot gather face-to-face, we stay connected by phone or video calls, caring for one another. In this way, being apart physically does not have to mean a spiritual void.
According to Pastor David Jang, such practices can help us remember that all disasters, including epidemics, are under God’s sovereignty. When we confess our sins, forgive each other, and obey God’s Word, God promises to heal the land. Countless historical instances of plagues, wars, and disasters bear witness to this principle. When heartfelt repentance and ceaseless prayer accumulate, the Lord bestows grace, causing the calamity to pass, and grants us restoration and healing. This is the integrated lesson given by the interplay of Psalm 62, John 11, and James 5.
Finally, the period of an epidemic will eventually pass. But how we spend that time can significantly determine our spiritual growth and outlook on life. If during the epidemic believers drift away from God and resort solely to worldly strategies for survival, they will have forsaken the path of faith. On the other hand, if they treat that same period as an opportunity for spiritual renewal—committing themselves to prayer, the Word, repentance, and humility—then once the epidemic is over, they will emerge as a more mature community that offers a signpost to the world. Their declaration, “God is my rock and fortress; I shall not be shaken,” will then ring true, not merely as a slogan but as lived testimony. Such a renewed church will rediscover the preciousness of the gatherings, worship, and ministry that it once took for granted and rekindle its passion for loving neighbors and spreading the gospel, giving the world a glimpse of God’s Kingdom and the hope it holds.
In sum, Pastor David Jang urges us not only to acknowledge the fear of death and human frailty that become so apparent in an epidemic, but to proclaim the hope that transcends those fears—the hope found only in God. By holding fast to Jesus’ words, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and echoing the psalmist’s conviction in Psalm 62 that God is our rock, salvation, and fortress, we can stand firm. Moreover, following James 5, if the church stays alert and prays—confessing sins to one another and interceding for the sick—we believe in the power of the prayer of the righteous. While respecting government health policies and societal order, we must not abandon our commitment to worship. Instead, we should treat this challenging time as an opportunity for spiritual growth and a fresh chance to share the gospel. Through such actions, the church and believers alike become salt and light in the world, declaring that death does not have the final say and that resurrection hope is offered to all. Above all, we must remember that life and death, prosperity and adversity, are fully under God’s sovereign hand. In these difficult days, we are called to humble ourselves before Him, trusting that He will heal our land and strengthen His church. When fear grips the world, the church must keep its doors of the gospel open, welcoming those scattered and those who do not yet believe. We must never forget that those who stand on the Lord’s rock will never be shaken—and that this simple yet powerful truth is the reason we have been called to serve in a time of epidemic.