Condemned not ∙

Condemned not ∙

From this day on, I will bless you. – Haggai 2:19

John 8:3-11

 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Charles Dederich was a reformed alcoholic and a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. In his day, Alcoholics Anonymous did not accept people who were addicted to anything other than alcohol. Dederich wanted to help everyone with any drug addiction, so he started his own program named Synanon. During this time, he coined the phrase, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” (https://theredheadriter.com/).

The story in John 8 relates to the woman caught in the act of adultery and presented to Jesus for judgment. Most readers of the New Testament are familiar with it. There was no question about the crime or the guilt. The issue was what to do next. The Lord Jesus Christ reset the clock and gave her the opportunity for a do-over. Essentially, he said, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

John 8:11 Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on, sin no more.”

Consider for a moment, “As the judge in her case, He showed more interest in her prosecutors than in her guilt. Without prosecutors, Jesus dismissed the case. This was His prerogative as her judge. He only issued her a warning. She would have to stand before Him again in the future, but this was not the time that He wanted to pass judgment on her (cf. John 3:17). He gave her mercy and time to change her ways” (Constable).

Through redemption and forgiveness, each child of the King is given the same opportunity. What you make of that opportunity is yours to decide.

REFLECT & PRAY

Because of His great love, the Father often issues only warnings rather than tickets. What an example He sets for His children.

Father thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and allowing me to begin anew, change my ways and make better choices.

INSIGHT

Having been given a second chance, what will we do with it? Modifying our lives and changing our patterns of thinking and behavior are uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Even though we are often chained to our old habit patterns, and they make us miserable, they still die hard. Starting over and creating new patterns of behavior are often more frightening and disconcerting than continuing in the misery that we have grown accustomed to and comfortable with. The degree of difficulty increases with age and the harder it is to make changes.

Several requirements must be met to overcome our old life patterns.

  • You must recognize the need for change.
  • You must be humble enough to admit the need to change.
  • You must seek help to make the change and allow others to help you.
  • You must stop doing whatever you are trying to abolish from your life.
  • You must constantly think about the process of changing to ensure you don’t let your guard down to old habits.
  • You have to forgive yourself for the past.
  • You have to replace the old with the new (https://theredheadriter.com/).

Each of us is allowed to go and sin no more.

At the time of Haggai, the children of Israel found themselves in challenging circumstances. As a result of their disobedience, the Father cursed their land and their husbandry.

But in due time, they repented. They experienced a change of heart and direction. Because of their inner heart transformation and their new direction, their future is brighter than their past.

Psalms 103:8-14

 8 The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love.

 9 He will not constantly accuse us nor remain angry forever.

 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

 13 The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

The Father asks for our obedience today so that He may bless us tomorrow. The Father’s blessings for obedience usually do not appear as soon as we obey. But the Father works for those who wait for Him (Stanley).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-04-2

© Dr. H 2022

He loved them to the end

He loved them to the end ∙

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end. – John 13:1

Galatians 6:2-9

 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool [mocked]. For a person will reap what he sows. You will always harvest what you plant.

 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not give up.

Most everyone is familiar with what are called Soap Operas. The term soap opera originated from radio dramas there were actually sponsored by soap manufacturers. They are serial melodramas with multiple principal characters. Real-life situations and challenges are transformed into long-term storylines. They are often very sentimental, filled with unexpected twists and turns and cliffhangers that keep the viewers coming back for more.

“Love to the End” is a 2018 Korean soap opera with 104 episodes.

It told the story of unrequited love, which finally ended up for the best. The main female character falls in love. But the object of her love is uninterested. He has a girlfriend and does not return her love. But the protagonist remains true in her love for him, faithfully to the end. Because of her enduring love, she fights for and holds onto her love and perseveres. She never gives up, no matter what obstacles she faces. Finally, her love and determination are rewarded, and her love is reciprocated.

Often in real life, our challenges are so overwhelming that we are tempted to throw in the towel. We continually strive to do the right thing, but things seem to last only a short time. And things seem to revert, and we are back where we started. We seem to move three steps forward and then two steps backward. It tends to be tedious and highly discouraging. We get bogged down in the middle of dense woods. We cannot see the forest because of the trees. We cannot grasp the big picture because we focus primarily on the details, particularly those that annoy us.

But the view from above is quite different. Looking down and back, we can see how much forward progress we have made. This should be the source of renewed determination to love to the end and not give up. This is the perspective of the Father. He not only sees the progress, but He also sees the end result. And that is what He is determined to achieve in each of His children’s lives.

John 13:1 Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.

The Greek text reveals the subtle sublimity of this short sentence. The verb translated as loved is agapao. Agape is the noun form of this verb. In the first instance, having loved is an aorist participle in Greek. It sums up the Lord Jesus Christ’s relationship with His disciples. He continually loved them throughout His time with them. He had always loved them(UBS). He never stopped loving them, no matter what.

The second time the apostle John uses the term, he indicates that during the final hours of His life, the Lord Jesus Christ loved them to the very end.

John adds the phrase, the very end. The Greek words are eis telos. To the end has a dual meaning. In the temporal sense, He loved them until the very end. In modern English, until His last breath. It also has an adverbial quality. He loved them completely or utterly. We might say, to the greatest extent possible (Michaels).

The Lord Jesus Christ never stopped loving His disciples. He loved them completely right up until the very end.

This is the same love He has for each child of the King. He will never stop loving us.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Lord Jesus Christ always finishes what He starts. He never drops someone in midstream or gives up on a person halfway to the finish line (Stanley).

Father it is such a comfort to know that You will never stop loving me. I cannot make You love me more, and I cannot make You love me less.

INSIGHT

Contemplate for a moment the historical circumstances. The Lord Jesus Christ was about to be betrayed; He would soon be captured and arrested. All of his followers would then abandon Him. This would be followed by a mock trial, beatings, humiliation, and a horrid death by crucifixion.

Was He overwhelmed or distraught? Was He angry or bitter? Absolutely not. Instead, He saw this as the moment of His greatest achievement. It was the moment in which He would be glorified (John 17:2). It was the fulfillment of His reason for coming into the world. He came to die for the sins of the entire world and make redemption possible. He was carrying out the Father’s ultimate purpose for His life.

There was no moping about or sadness. Instead, He demonstrated the full extent of His love to the end. Knowing everything was about to take place, He did a totally unexpected and extraordinary thing.

John 13:4-5

 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,

 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

This is how the quintessential servant of the King lived, served, and died. He always thought of others and put them first (Philippians 2:3).

John 13:12-15

 12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?

 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.

 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

Remember that night when you are tempted to give up and throw in the tongue because of seemingly unbearable circumstances.

Instead of throwing in the towel, wrap it around your waist and dig in.

Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-02-2

© Dr. H 2022

Harps on the willows ∙∙

Harps on the willows ∙∙

The LORD said, “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins. Jackals will make their home there. I will destroy the towns of Judah so that no one will be able to live in them.” Jeremiah 9:11

Psalms 137:1-4

 1 Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.

 2 On the willows there we hung up our harps.

 3 For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”

 4 How can we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

“The problem is that many bitter people don’t know they are bitter. since they are so convinced that they are right, they can’t see their own wrong in the mirror. And the longer the root of bitterness grows, the more difficult it is to remove” (Craig Groeschel).

“The most bitter of all sorrows are the sorrows that we bring on ourselves. Truly we reap what we sow. We are left chapfallen. Laughter and joy have turned to tears. As these sad Hebrews hung up their harps on the willows and could sing no more, we too ‘Hang it up.’”

“This is the bitterest of all, to know that suffering need not have been that it resulted from indiscretion and inconsistency; that it is the harvest of one’s own sowing; that the vulture which feeds on the vitals is a nestling of one’s own rearing. Ah me! This is pain!”

“There is an inevitable Nemesis in life. The laws of the heart and home, of the soul and human life, cannot be violated with impunity. Sin may be forgiven; the fire of penalty may be changed into the fire of trial: the love of God may seem nearer and dearer than ever, and yet there is the awful pressure of pain; the trembling heart; the failing of eyes and pining of soul; the harp on the willows; the refusal of the lip to sing the Lord’s song” (F. B. Meyer).

Galatians 6:7-8

 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Hosea 8:7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.

For almost 800 years, the Jewish people lived in the land of Israel. They were divided into two groups: the northern ten tribes were called Israel, and the two southern tribes were called Judah. The Scriptures made it clear that they had unique privileges.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

Regrettably, the people acquired a sense of invincibility and entitlement. They figured that no matter how bad and rebellious they lived, they were always just a little bit better than everybody else. The Father would always protect them. Jerusalem was the city of David, a man after God’s heart. Jerusalem was the holy city.

On top of that, the Jewish temple was there. The glory of God resided in the temple in the holy of holies. They smugly thought to themselves, surely, they were safe no matter what.

Indeed they were chosen and special. They were in a unique covenant relationship with the living God. It was as though they had signed a contract with the Father Himself. But there was a catch. It was clearly stipulated that the contract had many terms and conditions. And they were in bold print. If they obeyed the Father’s laws, wonderful things would happen, and they would be blessed. But if they broke His laws, awful things would happen, and they would be cursed. They signed the contract.

Deuteronomy 26:18-19

 18 The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.

 19 And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a holy nation to the LORD your God, just as he promised.

During the 800 years, there were good times and bad times. There were good kings and awful kings. But more often than not, the people defied the Father and did not keep His commandments.

Repeatedly, prophets were sent to warn them. Many of the Old Testament books bear their names: Isaiah, Micah, Joel, Amos, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Sometimes the people repented, at least for a while. But most of the time, the people of Israel played the fool and refused to keep their part of the contract.

Finally, in 722 B.C., the ten northern tribes were defeated and taken into captivity by the Assyrians. Between 605 and 586 B.C., the Babylonians invaded Judah three times. They overran Jerusalem. They took thousands of Jews captive. They brought them to the land of Babylon. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. The Father executed His part when the people failed to live up to their part of the contract they had agreed to. Tragically, the stipulated curses were carried out.

REFLECT & PRAY

A false sense of entitlement often does not work out too well for those who maintain one.

Father in the difficult times, allow me to see past the darkness and gloom. Your loving kindness never ceases, and Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.

INSIGHT

Jeremiah was there when Jerusalem was destroyed. What great sorrow and anguish filled his soul. He was totally dejected and clinically depressed. When we find ourselves in tragic, seemingly impossible situations, our personal sentiments undoubtedly echo those of Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:1-20). His world had gone dark. His way was blocked at every turn. He was filled with bitterness, and his prayers seemed to bounce off the ceiling.

“The problem is that many bitter people don’t know they are bitter. since they are so convinced that they are right, they can’t see their own wrong in the mirror. And the longer the root of bitterness grows, the more difficult it is to remove” (Craig Groeschel).

By faith, in the darkest of times, he had a 180° turnaround.

He remembered that sowing and reaping are a two-way street. His hope was in the Father. He remembered the Father’s loyal-love. A new day would dawn. Restoration would come. The sorrow and suffering would last for 70 years, as he himself prophesied (Jeremiah 25:11-12). But then, it would come to an end. Restoration would follow. His mourning and sorrow are transformed into renewed faith and hope.

Lamentations 3:21-25

 21 This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope.

 22 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.

 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.

What could possibly be worse? All that he loved and cherished was lost. And it was Jeremiah’s own prophecies and those of Ezekiel that had predicted exactly this would happen. But no one listened.

Jeremiah’s faith and hope were renewed because he remembered what the Father was like. Because of the Father’s promises and loyal-love, things would be made right, and the people would sing again.

So can we! Grab your harp and let the Lord’s song again fill your heart.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-09-1

© Dr. H 2022

Soulhacker ∙

Soulhacker ∙

I have become all things to all men, so that I may, by all means, save some. – 1 Corinthians 9:22

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

 19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too, lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.

 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I, too, live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Biohacker is a relatively new word in the English language. A biohacker seeks to find ways to extend their personal capacity and stretch their capabilities. They experiment with ways to optimize their body and intellectual abilities. Sometimes it involves major internal and external transformations. Biohacking comes under the general category of regenerative science or regenerative medicine. Regenerative science aims to biohack the body’s natural cellular function and up-regulate it. Biohackers come from all walks of life.

Perhaps one of the first biohackers was the apostle Paul. His human limitations were continually exceeded through the power of the Holy Spirit within. He was able to become whatever he needed to be to reach people with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was, in many ways, a soul or spirit chameleon. He was a soulhacker.

Paul was “all in” in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Once he made that primary and ultimate decision, the rest was easy. He was willing to serve anyone and everyone, wherever Father took him. Although he had complete freedom, he chose to become a servant to others to win all he could for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19).

He was willing to become all things to all people. He was able to live without partiality, prejudice, or bias. He had that rare ability to get along with people. He adapted his method and content as needed for different groups. He found common ground and was able to meet people wherever they happened to be. Yet he never compromised his integrity, his convictions, or his doctrine. He never watered down the gospel nor the truth of the word of God.

Some people puzzle over his methodology; to the Jews, he became as a Jew; to those who are under the law, he became as under the law; to those who are without law, as without law; to the weak, I became weak. What exactly did he mean?

Many people overthink this. It is really quite simple. Paul identified with people. He adopted their appearance and customs when he was with them. As much as possible, he fitted in.

Timothy had a Jewish mother and a Greek father. But Timothy did not follow the Jewish faith and never became circumcised. By Jewish law, the child of a Gentile father and Jewish mother was considered Jewish. As such, Timothy being uncircumcised was offensive, if not insulting. To work among the Jews and assist Paul, he had to be acceptable to them; he needed to be circumcised (Acts 16:3).

A simple illustration much closer to home is dressing appropriately for the occasion and circumstance. If you are invited to a formal event, dress up. If you are going to a casual situation, dress down. It is a matter of simply fitting in. Of course, there needs to be a bit of shrewd wisdom here and knowing your own limits. For some, tongue piercing and colorful tattoos might be appropriate, but for others, not so much. Your demeanor, confidence, discernment, affability, and the Father’s wisdom and presence are the most remarkable thing about you.

REFLECT & PRAY

Choosing to be someone else’s spiritual servant for the sake of their eternal destiny is never easy, but when the Father asks this of you, it is the right thing to do.

Father I want to be all things to all people. Encourage me and strengthen me to be just that.

INSIGHT

He was not bound by man-made culture, customs, or tradition. Therefore, Paul was able to set aside his own rights and expectations and freely serve others. He adapted his approach to different groups . . . When he preached to Jews, he started with the Old Testament patriarchs; but when he preached to Gentiles, he began with the God of Creation. Paul did not have a “stock sermon” for all occasions (Wiersbe).

If Paul had a singular, overarching motto, it probably would have been, “For me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). But Paul’s motto for practically working this out may well have been, “I do all the things I have mentioned because I want the gospel to go forward …” or “I do all these things to help the Good News about Jesus to spread” (USB).

A good ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ builds bridges, not walls. “It is worth noting that our Lord followed the same approach. To the highborn Jew, Nicodemus, He talked about spiritual birth (John 3); but to the Samaritan woman, He spoke about living water (John 4). Jesus was flexible and adaptable, and Paul followed His example. Neither Jesus nor Paul had an inflexible ‘evangelistic formula’ used in every situation (Wiersbe). 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 9-21-2

© Dr. H 2022

Psychological health and aging

Psychological health and aging

A tranquil heart leads to a healthy body; envy is rottenness to the bones. – Proverbs 14:30

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Proverbs 18:14 The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?

A 2022 study, “Aged by Sadness and Loneliness,” suggests that feeling unhappy or lonely could speed up aging. Worry and brokenness are more deleterious than smoking or even some diseases. It turns out that people have both an actual age and a biological age. Our biological age is a measure of wear and tear on the body. Our biological age can reduce or increase life expectancy, regardless of our actual age.

“Using data scientists from nearly 5,000 Chinese adults, scientists built a so-called aging clock. This analyzed 16 biomarkers, along with pressure, body mass index, and lung function, to provide a biological age. When the researchers used this model to assess an additional group of Chinese adults, those who smoked had a biological age 1.25 years higher than the healthy control group, and those with a history of smoke, liver damage, or lung conditions had a biological age of 1.5 years higher.”

“But the biological age of those who reported strong feelings of unhappiness and loneliness were even higher. “Taking care of your psychological health is the greatest contributor that you can have slowing down your pace of aging.” Study co-author Fedor Galkin tells The Guardian. ‘Your body and soul are connected – that is our main message.’” (The Week Magazine, October 14, 1922).

The Scriptures reveal a connection between the human spirit and physical well-being. “The internal psyche has the power to heal as well as to destroy the body. One’s internal demeanor affects physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health” (Bland).

Psychological well-being and health discoveries of the 21st century correspond to what the Scriptures revealed regarding the human spirit. The Scriptures contrast a healthy spirit with a crushed or downcast spirit.

Proverbs 18:14 The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?

What differentiates a healthy spirit that supports mental and emotional health from a broken spirit?

The Hebrew word translated as spirit is ruach. Ruach is typically translated as breath, wind, or spirit. Here it is used in the special sense of an individual’s inner life or mental attitude. So by analogy, ruach refers to an individual’s emotional, mental, or spiritual condition. TEV has translated spirit as the will to live. It has the sense of “desire to go on living” or “desire to stay alive” (UBS).

The implied answer to the question posed in Proverbs 18:14b (but a crushed spirit who can bear?) is “no one” (Miller).

REFLECT & PRAY

Laughter “is a bodily exercise precious to health” (Aristotle).

Father I long to experience Your joy in the depths of my heart. May my face reflect the deep joy and pleasure that You provide my innermost being. Thank You for repairing my crushed and wounded heart.

INSIGHT

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

A downcast or crushed spirittranslates the Hebrew word nakhe. Nakhe literally means defeated or beaten. It refers to something subdued or brought low in condition or status. It comes from the Hebrew verb naka, meaning to whip, flog, strike, scorch, or conflict. Here it is a word picture of being emotionally and spiritually beat up and brought low. It connotes despair or discouragement.

The Hebrew word translated as joyful or cheerful is sameach. Sameach has the sense of being happy, joyful, merry, full of, or producing joy.

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a happy face.

A joyful are glad heart is like a fountain within the innermost being. When the joy of the Lord is present, it overflows and bubbles up. It makes a happy or cheerful face. A glad heart is the key to a full, healthy life (Garrett).

Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.

A cheerful look [lit., the light of the eyes] indicates a positive attitude toward life. Can bring joy to the heart, in the same way that good news gives health to the bones [lit., makes the bones fat] (Proverbs 15:30). A happy heart is especially conducive to good health (Proverbs 15:13, 15, 30; 17:22) (Miller). Inner joy becomes their precious possession all the time (Proverbs 15:15b).  

The Hebrew expression meor-enayim is translated as a cheerful look or bright eyes. Meor-enayim literally means the light of the eyes. This metaphor connotes the outward manifestation of inward vitality and joy.

The light of the eyes refers to the radiant glow on the face of a happy person (UBS). Bright eyes are indicative of deep inward joy. Cheerful looks uplift and encourage others. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart. The eyes speak louder than words (Waltke).

This idea has been translated as “Smiling faces make you happy” (TEV) or “A friendly smile makes you happy” (CEV). Rejoices the heart connotes the idea of lifting the spirits of those that observe a joyful, cheerful countenance.

The Hebrew metaphor refreshes the bones may be translated as makes for good health, puts fat on the bones, or gives health to the body is the translation of tedasheb-atsem. Tedasheb-atsem in Hebrew literally means it makes the bones fat. Fat bones are considered healthy bones. Refreshes the bones is a figurative expression connoting well-being. It includes an individual’s physical and psychological health and well-being (Constable, UBS, Waltke).

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

The Hebrew word translated as good medicine is geha. Geha is only used once in the Old Testament. It connotes healing or a cure. Good medicine is literally written as “does good to the gehah.” It connotes, “A cheerful heart [joyful] causes good healing.” This can be expressed as “causes a sick person to recover,” “makes for good health,” and “helps and heals.” This thought may be expressed as “If you are always happy, sickness will not spoil your life” (UBS).

A downcast spirit has a sense of “despair” or “discouragement.” Dries up the bones contrasts with “makes for good healing” and means “to lose energy,” “go downhill in health,” or even “to die away,” that is, “to die slowly.” It may be rendered as “a despairing heart takes away a person’s strength” (UBS). A crushed spirit weakens or degenerates the whole being.

A joyful heart will not reverse aging, but it may well slow it down a bit.

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© Dr. H 2022