Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, sickness is often depicted as a tool used by God to execute judgment and bring about repentance among the wicked. This concept is rooted in the understanding of God as a just and righteous judge who uses various means to correct and discipline those who stray from His commandments.Divine Retribution and Sickness The Bible contains numerous instances where sickness is portrayed as a direct consequence of sin and disobedience. In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience to His covenant. Among the curses, He warns of various diseases and afflictions that will befall those who turn away from His statutes: "The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has exterminated you from the land you are entering to possess" (Deuteronomy 28:21). Sickness as a Form of Judgment In the prophetic literature, sickness is frequently used as a metaphor for the spiritual and moral decay of the people. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the nation of Israel as being sick from head to toe due to their rebellion against God: "Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint" (Isaiah 1:5). Here, physical sickness symbolizes the deeper spiritual malaise that has resulted from persistent sin. Examples of Sickness as Divine Punishment Several biblical accounts illustrate the use of sickness as a means of divine punishment. In the account of King Uzziah, his pride and unfaithfulness led to his affliction with leprosy: "But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense" (2 Chronicles 26:16). As a result, God struck him with leprosy, which remained with him until his death. Similarly, in the New Testament, Herod Agrippa I is struck down by an angel of the Lord and dies a gruesome death, "eaten by worms," because he did not give glory to God (Acts 12:23). This incident underscores the belief that God actively intervenes in the affairs of humanity to uphold His righteousness and justice. Sickness Leading to Repentance While sickness can be a form of punishment, it also serves as a catalyst for repentance and restoration. The account of King Hezekiah illustrates this dual purpose. When Hezekiah fell ill, he turned to God in prayer, and God granted him healing and an extension of his life (2 Kings 20:1-6). This narrative highlights the possibility of divine mercy and healing when individuals acknowledge their sins and seek God's forgiveness. Theological Implications The use of sickness as a divine instrument raises important theological questions about the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and His commitment to justice, while also affirming His desire for repentance and reconciliation. The biblical portrayal of sickness as a consequence of sin serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of disobedience and the need for a life aligned with God's will. Torrey's Topical Textbook Jeremiah 29:18And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations where I have driven them: Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487. part viii. The Romance of M. Renan. By Napoleon Roussel. Extracts No. vii. Three Homilies. On Our Lord. Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers. part i part ii Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: Resources Is it sometimes God's will for believers to be sick? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is kingdom theology? | GotQuestions.org Why does God allow birth defects? | GotQuestions.org Sickness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Sickness: Christ Compassionate Those In Sickness: Christ Healed by Imposition of Hands Sickness: Christ Healed with a Touch Sickness: Christ Healed with a Word Sickness: Christ Healed: Being Present Sickness: Christ Healed: Not Being Present Sickness: Christ Healed: Through the Touch of his Garment Sickness: Faith Required in Those Healed of, by Christ Sickness: God: Abandons the Wicked To Sickness: God: Comforts Saints In Sickness: God: Exhibits his Love in Healing Sickness: God: Exhibits his Mercy in Healing Sickness: God: Exhibits his Power in Healing Sickness: God: Hears the Prayers of Those In Sickness: God: Often Manifests Saving Grace to Sinners During Sickness: God: Permits Saints to be Tried By Sickness: God: Persecutes the Wicked By Sickness: God: Preserves Saints in Time of Sickness: God: Promises to Heal Sickness: God: Strengthens Saints In Sickness: God's Aid should be Sought In Sickness: Healing of, Lawful on the Sabbath Sickness: Not Visiting Those In, an Evidence of not Belonging to Christ Sickness: Often Brought on by Intemperance Sickness: Often Incurable by Human Means Sickness: Often Sent As a Punishment of Sin Sickness: One of God's Four Sore Judgments on a Guilty Land Sickness: Pray for Those Afflicted With Sickness: Saints are Resigned Under Sickness: Saints: Acknowledge That, Comes from God Sickness: Saints: Ascribe Recovery From, to God Sickness: Saints: Feel for Others In Sickness: Saints: Mourn Under, With Prayer Sickness: Saints: Praise God for Recovery From Sickness: Saints: Pray for Recovery From Sickness: Saints: Thank God Publicly for Recovery Form Sickness: Saints: Visit Those In Sickness: The Apostles Were Endued With Power to Heal Sickness: The Devil Sometimes Permitted to Inflict Sickness: The Power of Healing: One of the Miraculous Gifts Bestowed on the Early Church Sickness: The Wicked: Forsake Those In Sickness: The Wicked: Have Much Sorrow, With Sickness: The Wicked: Visit not Those In Sickness: Visiting Those In, an Evidence of Belonging to Christ Related Terms |
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