I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. (Psalm 22:14-15)
The Bible says that “a good report makes the bones healthy” (Proverbs 15:30) and so it stands to reason that the bones are negatively affected when we receive a bad report. Recall how Israel reacted when they heard the evil report given by the ten unbelieving spies — they went into their tents wailing, grumbling and resigned to the idea that they were going to die. Although he doesn’t take things as far as his ancestors did in the wilderness, David’s reaction to his situation is similar. Being surrounded by enemies intent on killing him, he feels as if his insides have melted and there is no substance left, only water. His mouth goes dry and his entire body feels disjointed.
All of us, at one time or another have received distressing news — news that caused the same physical response that David describes here. Immense fear can cause our insides to feel as if they have melted within us, and frankly, upset stomachs are evidence that this is literally true on occasion. In extreme cases, bad news has been the cause of heart attacks, miscarriages and a host of other physical manifestations due to the level of stress the news provoked within us. In short, evil reports are hazardous to the emotional, mental and even physical well being of God’s people. Knowing this, perhaps we should consider just how much we are to allow such reports to infiltrate our being.
Obviously, it is unwise to stick our head in the sand and ignore the reality that is going on around us. At the same time, we must hold on to what we know the LORD has already spoken to us before we receive these evil reports. To wholly embrace the world’s report is to provide the Adversary an inroad into our soul and spirit which can, in turn, affect our body. So then, it behooves us — and especially in these last days — to discipline ourselves not to esteem the world’s report above the word of the LORD.
As Paul said, we are to focus on things that true, just, pure and lovely — “whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). And so then, whose report shall we believe? Let us believe the report of the LORD so that, as it is written, “All my bones shall say, ‘Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him’ ” (Psalm 35:10).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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