Proverbs 17:22 Meaning of a Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. ESV A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries ... SkiptocontentSearchMenuProverbs17:22“Acheerfulheartisgoodmedicine,butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones.”ExplanationandCommentaryofProverbs17:22Thereisamysteriouspowerthatmoodhasoverphysicalhealth.Whenonehasa“crushedspirit”itcannotbuthelphurtingthebody.UnlikePlatonicheresiesthatseparatethebodyfromthesoul,theChristianiscreatedsoulandbodybyGod.Lifeisholisticandthebodyandsoulareinterlinked.Indeed,evenintheNewHeavensandEarthattheendoftheage,ourphysicalbodieswillriseandbetransformedintoanewbodythatisSpiritual,butalsophysical.Sothereshouldbenomisunderstandingthatsaysthesoulisallgood,andthebodyisallevil.ThismisleadsChristiansintothinkingthattheywillbeablesseddisembodiedspiritforeternity.Thisisuntrue.Jesuscameinbodilyformtosanctifythephysicalrealmbyhisperfectlifeandthephysicalsheddingofhisactualbloodfortheforgivenessofsins.Practically,itmeansthatwhatisgoingonspiritually/emotionallyaffectsthebody,andwhatisgoingonphysicallyinthebodyaffectsthespirit.Anapproachtolivingagodlylifeshouldincludeconsiderationofbothphysicalandspiritualhealth.Evenwhenoneissick,acheerfulheartthatisfocusedonthetruthcanleadtoaspeedierrecovery.Acrushedspiritcanleadtosickness.BreakingDowntheKeyPartsofProverbs17:22#1“Acheerfulheart…”JoyistheinheritanceoftheChristian.Whileitisoftentruethatthemostmatureofbelieverscanfallintosomesortofdepressedstate,moreoftenthanmostrealize,itisbecausetheyarenotincompleteconsciousnessoftherealityoftheirlifeinChrist.Thisisnotafakedjoyoramomentarygleeatcircumstances,butadeepknowingandabiding,trustinginthesovereignGodoftheuniverseonwhomwehavecastorburdens(Ps55:22).#2“…isgoodmedicine,”Thetruthbelievedandlivedwillhaveapositiveeffectonthephysicalhealthofaperson.Sciencehasproventhistobetrue(asitalwayseventuallydoeswiththeBible).Patientswhosimplythoughtpositivethoughtsabouttheirillnessrecoveredatamuchfasterratethanthosewhodidnot.Godblessthosemedicalworkerswhobringcheerintothehospitalenvironment.Theirgiftalongwiththeirexpertisehassavedmanylives.#3“butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones.”Alternatively,onewhoisdespondentwilloftendevelopanillness.Manyhavediedprematurelyasaresultoflivingalieandincontradictionwithwhattheyaresupposedtobelieve.TheBiblehasencouragementforanyhardsituationabelievercouldfindhimorherselfin.Toholdbyfaithtothetruthwillprotectthebodyaswellasanything.Itshouldbenotedthatinafallenworld,eventhemostcheerfulofpeoplecanstilldevelopanillness.OurultimatehopeisinJesusChrist,thegreathealerwhowillcomebringinganendtoallsicknessandcheerlessness(Rev21:4).ExpertOverviewofProverbsSharePinTweetBiblicalTranslationsofProverbs17:22NIVAcheerfulheartisgoodmedicine,butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones.NLTAcheerfulheartisgoodmedicine,butabrokenspiritsapsaperson’sstrength.ESVAjoyfulheartisgoodmedicine,butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones.KJVAmerryheartdoethgoodlikeamedicine:butabrokenspiritdrieththebones.NKJVAmerryheartdoesgood,likemedicine,Butabrokenspiritdriesthebones.SharePinTweetAuthorBioNatalieRegoliisachildofGod,devotedwife,andmotheroftwoboys.ShehasaMaster'sDegreeinLawfromTheUniversityofTexas.Nataliehasbeenpublishedinseveralnationaljournalsandhasbeenpracticinglawfor18years.OurFreeBibleStudiesRecentPosts50BiblicallyAccurateFactsAboutAngelsintheBible50MostProfitableYouthGroupFundraisingIdeasforYourChurch50BestVersesfromPsalmsforFunerals250IceBreakerQuestionsforTeenYouthGroups25ImportantExamplesofPrideintheBibleRecentPosts50BiblicallyAccurateFactsAboutAngelsintheBible50MostProfitableYouthGroupFundraisingIdeasforYourChurch50BestVersesfromPsalmsforFunerals250IceBreakerQuestionsforTeenYouthGroups25ImportantExamplesofPrideintheBible10PowerfulWaystoDrawNeartoGod50GreatExamplesofGraceintheBible25WaystoSetYourMindonThingsAboveWhyJesusWeptand11LessonsfromHisTears25DifferentWaystoWorshipGodandPraisetheLordCategoriesBibleCommentaryBibleVersesDevotionalsFaithPrayersColoringPagesProsandConsArchivesArchivesSelectMonthJune2022April2022March2022February2022January2022December2021November2021October2021September2021August2021July2021June2021May2021April2021March2021February2021January2021December2020November2020October2020September2020August2020July2020June2020May2020April2020March2020February2020January2020December2019November2019October2019September2019August2019July2019June2019May2019April2019March2019February2019January2019December2018November2018October2018September2018July2018June2018May2018March2018February2018January2018December2017November2017October2017September2017August2017July2017June2017May2017April2017March2017February2017January2017December2016November2016October2016September2016August2016July2016June2016May2016April2016March2016February2016January2016December2015November2015October2015September2015August2015July2015June2015May2015