Proverbs 17:22 - Let God Be True!

But if you are joyful, loving, thankful, peaceful, forgiving, and full of praise, you will find the blessing of God and a therapeutic balm for ... Skiptocontent Home/ProverbCommentaries/Chapter17/Proverbs17:22 Proverbs17:22 Proverbs17:22 Amerryheartdoethgoodlikeamedicine:butabrokenspiritdrieththebones. PlayAudio: Youaffectyourhealthbymorethandiet,nutrition,exercise,exposure,andsleep.Youaffectitbyyourattitudeandspirit.Ahappyandcheerfulspiritwillimproveyourhealth,butawoundedandnegativespiritcanruinit.Howisyourattitudetoday?Doyourselfafavor!ConsiderthewisdomhereandchoosetobecheerfulintheLord!Doitnow! Theproverb’ssimile,“likeamedicine,”andsynecdoche,“drieththebones,”shouldnotbepervertedtoridiculeantibioticsorexplainthecauseofleukemia.Theyarefiguresofspeechteachingthegeneralhealthandvalueofahappyoutlookandattitudetowardlife.Thereisagreatlessonhere,buttheproverbisnotteachingapanaceaforallsickness. RecentmedicalstudiesconfirmthisfacttaughtbySolomon3000yearsago.Thosewholaughandenjoylifewilllivelonger.Thereisnowawholecategoryofsicknessesandbodymaladiescalledpsychosomatic(psycho=mind;somatic=body)illnesses,wherethemindcancausephysicalproblemsinyourbody.GiveGodthegloryforthisproverb. Amerryheartorbrokenspiritisachoice!TheyarenotresultsofFate,temperament,genetics,orhealth.Andtheyarenottheresultofcircumstances,foracheerfulpersoncanchoosetobehappyinhorribledifficulties,andamorosepersoncanruinawonderfulevent.Youcanhaveacontinualfeastthroughlife,ifyouhaveajoyfulheart;butapersonwithanegativeattitudecanfindsomethingwrongwitheveryday(Pr15:15).Considerit. Christianjoyisacommand(Phil4:4;IThess5:16),butthelaughteroffoolsissin(Eph5:4;Eccl7:6).Follyisnomedicine;jestingisnobalm.Bothareperverseanddestructive.Solomoncalledthemmadness(Eccl2:2;10:13).Theproverbisnotteachingafoolishornaïveapproachtolife.Itpromisesnaturalblessingsforjoy,whichisbothaspiritualfruitandacommandment;anditcondemnsanegative,critical,orunthankfulheart. Sindestroysamerryheart,forachildofGodcannotbehappyoutoffellowshipwithHisFather.Davidoftendescribedabrokenspiritcausedbysin(Ps6:1-6;38:1-11;51:8-11).Itdriedhimup,brokehisbones,andmiserablytormentedhimfromtheinsideout.Hespenthistimecryingandgrieving,ratherthanrejoicingandliving.Sothesimplefirststeptoamerryheartandgoodhealthistoliveaholy,blamelesslifehappyintheLord. Discontentmentwillruinhealth,forallyoucanthinkaboutiswhatyoudonothave,evenwhenyouhavemuch.Ahab’slifewasruinedbecausehecouldnothaveNaboth’svineyard(IKgs21:1-4),andAmnonfellsickoutoflustforhissister(IISam13:1-4).NowondertheHolySpiritteachestruesuccessisgodlinesswithcontentment(ITim6:6). Ifyouallowenvy,bitterness,lust,resentment,orangerinyourlife,youarebeggingforthejudgmentofGodandserioushealthproblems.Thesewickedthoughtswillpursueyoudayandnight;theywillnotletyouevensleepinpeace.Ifyoudonotforgiveothers,Godwillnotforgiveyou,andyouwilldryupyourhealthbysuchanevil,wickeddisposition. Butifyouarejoyful,loving,thankful,peaceful,forgiving,andfullofpraise,youwillfindtheblessingofGodandatherapeuticbalmforyourbody.IfyoumaketheLordthejoyofyourlife,youwillhaveaconstantreasontobemerry,regardlessofcircumstances.Yournightswillbepeacefulandpleasant,becauseyourheart,soul,andmindarerelaxed. Reader,thePreachertellsyoutoenjoylifetoday(Eccl9:7-10).WillyouheedHisinspiredadvice,orwillyouletsinfulattitudesandthoughtscorruptyoursoulandbody?Itisyourchoice,forcontentmentandjoyarechoices.Circumstancesarenottheissue,foryoucanbehappyanywhere.Buttheconsequencesofyourchoicewillbeonlyyours! TheLordJesuscametobindupthebroken-hearted(Is61:1-3).WhatmoremustHedotobringjoytoyourheart,abouncetoyourstep,aglowtoyourface,andhealthtoyourbones?HeisagloriousSaviourandFriend,andthosewhoknowHimareforeverhappy.ThegraceofGodinChristJesusisanunspeakablegiftandunsearchableriches.Rejoice! Thereisnothingmorerefreshingandhealthfulthantoexamineyourself,confessyoursinsinprivateprayer,andthenofferHimthesacrificesofpraiseandsinging,eitheraloneorintheassembly.Davidhadlearnedthiswell(Ps32:11;68:3;Hab3:17-19).Youwillneverdancewithallyourmightuntilyoulearnthesethings.Takeyourmedicine,reader! FreeDailyProverbsCommentaryEmail admin2019-11-09T17:04:50-05:00