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Job 33:19-22
19 He is chastened [yakach] also with pain [mak'ob]
upon his bed [mishkab], and the multitude [rob] [riyb] of his bones [`etsem] with strong ['eythan] pain:
20 So that his life [chay] abhorreth [zaham] bread [lechem], and his soul [nephesh]
dainty [ta'avah] meat [ma'akal].
21 His flesh [basar] is consumed
away [kalah], that it cannot be seen [ro'iy]; and his bones [`etsem]
that were not seen [ra'ah] stick out [shaphah] [shaphiy].
22 Yea, his soul [nephesh] draweth near [qarab] unto
the grave [shachath], and his life [chay] to the destroyers [muwth]. KJV-Interlinear
19 'Man is also chastened with
pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones; 20 So that his life loathes bread, And his
soul favorite food. 21 'His flesh wastes
away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out. 22 'Then his soul draws near to the pit, And
his life to those who bring death. NASB
Providence, fate, chance, external circumstances,
luck, outside influences, all of these and more from our daily lives, will have
an impact on our lives. All of which
point to Gods message to us which we can either consider or ignore.
Here Elihu's example is that of a man who is deathly
sick. Illness can fall upon each one of
us. None of us are exempt from the many
illnesses that this world has to offer.
Sometimes it may be a simple cold.
Other times we may succumb to something far more deadly.
And in our illness, our education, our intellect, our
far advanced logic concerning life, do us no good. Our treatments may vary from throughout the
ages. Instead of rubbing leaves and
ointments on ourselves as in ancient times, we may take medicines, get shots, undergo
surgical treatments and such. But there
are still many illnesses for which we have no cure. Even a simply cold can turn into pneumonia
and then sudden death if untreated.
But the treatments which have changed over the
centuries are not the issue, it is our exposure to illness which has never been
defeated, even in these times of advanced medical science.
The common cold, the flu, cancers of various types,
genetic disorders and so forth, all pose a very real threat to each one of us.
And often times it takes a real tough illness, one
that lays us on our back, sicker than a dog, as it goes, in order to get us to
realize that we are not invincible, that we are not the one in ultimate control
over our life.
Even death can come knocking, pushing us right up to
its edge, before some folks get the message.
Life is not confined to this world alone, but extends
on into the next life. And, it is that
next life which will last far longer than this one. And, it is that next life for which we should
prepare ourselves while we are living in this one.
Ageing and illness, these two characteristics of life
are two things over which we have no control.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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