What does "loathed all food" in Psalm 107:18 signify about spiritual emptiness? The verse in focus “They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.” (Psalm 107:18) Literal picture • The psalmist records people so physically afflicted by their own rebellion that even the smell of food turns the stomach • Loss of appetite signals life ebbing away—one of the last stages before death Spiritual message behind the lost appetite • Sin dulls every healthy craving; rebellion replaces delight with disgust • What nourishment is to the body, fellowship with God is to the soul (Jeremiah 2:13) • When iniquity rules the heart, even the thought of Scripture, prayer, or worship can feel repellent Signs of soul starvation described by “loathed all food” • Disinterest in the Word that once gave joy (Psalm 119:103; Amos 8:11) • Cynicism toward worship, fellowship, and ministry opportunities • Growing fascination with what can never satisfy (Isaiah 55:2) • Emotional numbness—an existence “near the gates of death,” where hope seems out of reach (Ephesians 2:1) Why the soul reacts this way • Persistent sin erodes spiritual taste buds (Proverbs 27:7) • Unconfessed guilt breeds self-punishment—preferring emptiness to nourishment (Luke 15:16) • Pride insists it is “rich, prosperous, and in need of nothing,” blind to its wretched state (Revelation 3:17) God’s remedy for this emptiness • Crisis brings a cry: “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them” (Psalm 107:19) • He “sent forth His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20), reversing the appetite loss • Christ declares, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger” (John 6:35) • True satisfaction rests in receiving and obeying God’s Word (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 5:6) Living it out • Examine the heart for any unrepented sin that blunts spiritual hunger • Re-introduce steady portions of Scripture, even if taste is faint at first • Replace empty distractions with time in Christ’s presence; He alone revives appetite • Celebrate every restored desire for righteousness as evidence of God’s healing grace |
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