May 18 ▪ Day 138

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 17:22
Ezekiel 27–28
James 4–5
Psalms 138

Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:22)

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
     but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Meditation

Proverbs 17:22 is one of the first proverbs that I ever loved. When I was in high school, I learned a song set to the King James Version of this verse. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.” The tune was jaunty, and to this day I cannot read this verse — no matter the translation — without hearing that song in my head. But the wisdom of this verse has stuck with me through all the years.

Perhaps you, too, have read the testimony of someone who was deathly ill, but used humor to beat incredible odds. In one story I read, the patient watched The Three Stooges on television. In another story, the patient read joke books. Whatever they could do to take their minds off their own problems and simply lighten their hearts through laughter was what they did. And they got well, beating “the odds.” Doctors will tell you that having a positive outlook — having hope or joy — makes a huge difference to wellness. Scientific research is also beginning to prove these benefits through clinical studies.

As far as the other half of the proverb goes, I have experienced firsthand the truth of the Scripture that “a broken spirit drieth up the bones.” Depression runs in my family. And I also have had serious struggles with darkness and depression. When battling depression, it is is very challenging to have hope or to find laughter. First, I would counsel getting the best medical and professional help you can. And, yes, this may involve medication. Beyond that, whatever you can do to bring light and laughter into your life will help — both in the short term, and in the long run. Music was a boon to me. You may not feel like being around family and friends, but you need them — in depression more than ever. And why not take a leaf out of the book of someone who was ill but got well by watching comedies? And, of course, let’s not forget the power of prayer.

By God’s grace, I no longer battle the kind of serious depression I dealt with when I was younger. But the lessons I learned during those years are still of benefit. Part of what I learned is that it’s important to cultivate a merry heart. When I was young I thought that having a joyful heart just “happened.” But as I’ve grown, I’ve learned that your emotions are affected by your choices and actions. Choosing to seek God first has a ripple effect.

Father God, thank you for this look at how our emotions affects our health. Please help us to make good choices and to develop and find joy in our lives. We pray this by the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ezekiel 27 continues with the prophecy against Tyre. Even though yesterday it wasn’t entirely clear what the charges were against this nation, today the Scripture references their pride — “I am perfect in beauty (v. 3)” — and their “great wealth of every kind (v. 12).” Of course, wealth in and of itself is not sinful, but Scripture frequently condemns the enjoyment of wealth at the expense of the poor. The chapter paints a picture of a sophisticated city at the height of international trade and culture — and when Tyre falls, the mariners weep and lament while the neighboring coastlands are appalled.

In Ezekiel 28, the prophet now focuses specifically upon the ruler of Tyre. This is believed to be Ithobaal III, who reigned from 591 to 573 BC. Nebuchadnezzar began a siege against Tyre more or less immediately after the fall of Jerusalem; it took 13 years, but Tyre also eventually fell.

Verse 1 refers to a “prince” (the Hebrew word also means “ruler”) of Tyre and verse 12 refers to the “king” of Tyre, but most scholars believe this is the same person. The king was excessively proud, and claimed divine powers (v. 1). Indeed, he was extremely wise — “wiser than Daniel (v. 3).” The Scripture is lavish in its praise of the king of Tyre — “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (v. 12).” The king was surrounded by riches of every kind, and appointed as a guardian angel — but the king became unrighteous and was cast away from God’s mountain. As verse 17 says, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.”

Obviously, with references to being a guardian angel in Eden, there is more going on here than a simple prophecy against the King of Tyre. On one level, it is exactly this — a prophecy against the Ithobaal III. But on another level, many commentators see this prophecy as a reference to the fall of Satan. But as verse 19 says, “You have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”

Chapter 28 then goes on to give a prophecy against Sidon. In the familiar refrain, verse 22 says, “And they shall know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments in her.”

The chapter ends with God’s promise that He will re-gather His scattered people, and they shall dwell securely in the land. Interestingly, however, it is God’s judgments on Israel’s neighbors “who have treated them with contempt (v. 26)” that will enable them to dwell securely — and then, “they will know that I am the LORD their God (v. 26).”

James chapter 4 warns believers against worldly passions that are the source of quarreling and fighting. Indeed, “friendship with the world is enmity with God,” James tells us in verse 4. Today, as I read this chapter, I hear the repeated refrain:

• Submit yourselves therefore to God (v. 7).
• Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you (v. 8).
• Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you (v. 10).

Verse 17 cuts me, as it always does.

James 5 contains a warning to the rich that could easily have been said to Tyre: “You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence (v. 5).” The second half of verse 5 is even more damning: “You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.” This is somewhat shocking, because we don’t think of ourselves as living in a time of judgment. But this is part of the point. The “slaughter” may not be for us, but to “fatten our hearts” when others are being destroyed speaks to a kind of willful obliviousness. If we but stop to think for a few minutes, we can easily come up with a half dozen different candidates for who is experiencing a “day of slaughter.” From the conflict in Palestine to warlords in Africa to overwhelmed hospitals and medical centers in India to animal abuse in our agricultural industry to the increasing numbers of homeless to the spiritual death of millions of people — there is deep suffering all around us. And to live comfortably and celebrate while ignoring that pain is reprehensible. I know it isn’t easy to know what to do, especially when some of these problems are far distant from our lives. But I know that God cares about these evils — and He has ways that we can make things better. The first step is in humbling ourselves before God as we recognize the lack of compassion in our hearts. James calls us to be responsible with the resources and wealth God gives to us. May we not get to heaven and find that we failed Christ through self-indulgence!

James also tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (v. 17).” Amazingly, he tells us that Elijah was a person just like us. We don’t think of ourselves in the same category as the great prophets and apostles and evangelists — but we are. If we submit to Him, God may use us just as powerfully. But whether our service is noticed or not is besides the point. And how “big” of a difference we think we can make is also besides the point. God can make your faithfulness multiply in ways you could never imagine. https://www.gbbconline.com/57-cents-that-made-history/

Psalm 138 is another prayer written by David. I was struck by the word “thanks” — verse 1, verse 2, and verse 4 all talk about giving “thanks” to the LORD. But when I looked at the psalm in a different translation, at first glance I thought I was looking at a completely different psalm. Where was the thanksgiving? Instead, the psalmist spoke of praising God. So I looked at what the Hebrew says. And apparently the word means both of these things: to give thanks, and to laud, to praise.

I’ve always known that praise and thanksgiving are connected. Today, I’ve learned that they may literally be the same thing as far as the Bible is concerned. Of course, there are other words in Hebrew to mean praise and at least one other that means to give thanks — but I wonder, now, how many times when I’ve read “praise” in the Bible was it also talking about giving thanks?

The reason David wants to give this thanksgiving and praise is told in verse 3: “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”

Verse 8 strikes me, both for its confidence in what the LORD will do, followed by the sudden and somewhat plaintive plea not to be abandoned. “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

Father God, we do thank and praise you for the work you have done in our lives. Thank you for calling us to your family, and cleansing us through the blood of Jesus. Lord God, we submit our lives to you. May we walk in a manner that is pleasing to you. Help us particularly to have wisdom about those who are perishing — use us in your fight against evil. Let the little we are able to contribute be multiplied for enormous good. Through your Son’s name, Amen.