Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Psalm 6 – Disease As Enemy
Disease as Enemy
If the last enemy is death (1 Corinthians 15:26), can we understand disease, birth detects, trauma, and other such attacks on our bodies likewise as enemies?
No death existed in Eden. Doesn’t that imply there were no diseases either? Wouldn’t access to the tree of life inhibit such defilement since disease leads (often) to death?
If we can view attacks on our bodies as “enemies”, then that gives an application from the Psalms to our very real problems.
Notice Psalm 6 (CSB):
1) LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath.
• Sometimes when suffering, we experience emotions we wish we hadn’t. People blame God, for example, for all their problems. They wonder where God is when they are hurting. Let us pray for God’s forgiveness we speak denying God’s goodness.
2) Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak; heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;
• An alternative translation for “weak” is sick.
3) my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, LORD — how long?
• Attacks on our bodies can be terrifying. These lead to attacks on God, too often – “Don’t you care?”
4) Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love.
• Prayers for healing ultimately are based upon God’s covenant mercy, grace, and love. Ultimately, it is His choice to heal or not.
5) For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol?
• The last enemy captures us in death. Serving God in His kingdom must be the number one reason why we plead for healing.
6) I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.
• Pain and suffering have an impact on our emotions and bodies beyond the malady itself.
7) My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies.
• If disease is an enemy that leads to the last enemy, see this enemy in application as disease, birth defects, mental illness, and the like.
8) Depart from me, all evildoers, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
• What a blessing to be healed!
9) The LORD has heard my plea for help; the LORD accepts my prayer.
• What a blessing to be heard!
10) All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
• One day when the last enemy is conquered, our bodies will be resurrected. Now notice how these bodies are described: 1 Corinthians 15:42) “So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption” – disease is a corruption of the body. No more disease!
A day is coming when the last enemy will be defeated. Until then, we fight the enemies that likewise attack our wholeness – disease, mental illness, physical brokenness, and physical defects.
Ultimately, all this pain and suffering comes from sin entering in this world. We live in a cursed environment. If you hate death, disease, mental illness, birth defects, and suffering from these; then hate sin. It too is our enemy.
Comments