This is the fifth part in a six part series using Sacred Scripture to defend against allegations by some members of the Catholic hierarchy who wrongly assert that God does not send plague, pestilence and famine to show His righteous indignation and, ultimately, for the good of souls.
The first four parts can be found by clicking the relevant link:
- Heresy among the Hierarchy? Part I: vs. The Torah (Pentateuch)
- Heresy among the Hierarchy? Part II: vs. Samuel, Kings and Chronicles
- Heresy among the Hierarchy? Part III: vs. Jeremiah (and Isaiah)
- Heresy among the Hierarchy? Part IV: vs. Ezekiel and 5 of the minor prophets
This Part V will cover the few mentions in Psalms and in the Gospels and ACTS. The next and final section, Part VI, will be vs. Revelation, which of course exposes from the somewhat different perspective of the end times, rather than as a punishment to be endured and from which to repent and recover; then, the call to repentance is much more for saving our souls, rather than our bodies. (The vs. in the titles indicates that the position of heretical hierarchs, disavowing God’s very relevant role; versus means being against what is explicitly revealed in Sacred Scripture.)
There is no claim in these excerpts to comprehensively cover ALL the mentions of plague, pestilence and/or famine. For example, the Book of Ruth records there was a famine in the land, which led Naomi, and her husband and sons to migrate to seek food, but we don’t know what caused the famine. Therefore it, and other verses, are left out where the plague or famine isn’t presented as retribution from God, or assertion of the Power of God. That is, of course, not to ignore that everything that happens does so within the permissive Will of God, to allow punishment or to protect.
Psalms
Psalm 33:19: “…that He may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine.”
Psalm 37:19: “…they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.”
Psalm 38:11: “My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen stand afar off.”
Psalm 78:50: “He made a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague.”
Psalm 91:3: “For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;…”
Psalm 91:6 : “…nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”
Psalm 105:16: “… When He summoned a famine on the land, and broke every staff of bread, ….”
Psalms 106:29-30: “… they provoked the LORD to anger with their doings, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phin’ehas stood up and interposed, and the plague was stayed (and that has been reckoned to him as righteousness….)”
Gospels, ACTS, Romans
Many of the Gospel verses mentioning plagues and famines include end times warnings, or demonstrate Christ’s (God’s) power over plague and famine.
Matt 24:7: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places…”
Mark 13:8: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.”
Luke 7:21: “In that hour He cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind He bestowed sight.”
Luke 15:14: “And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.”
Luke 21:11: “… there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
Acts 11:28: “And one of them named Ag’abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius.”
And, although not part of the Gospels or ACTS, it seems well to end on the quote from Romans which elevates our Hope:
Rom 8:35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”