The Bible and Science – Wounds

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(Note to the reader – This may be my first true “think out loud” post. But given the topic, I don’t think it is a problem.)

I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17a (NIV)

The different names and types of wounds.

There are many words that our Biblical translators call “wounds” so use a concordance if you are going into a deeper study of a verse. Here are other phrases/words that are associated with wound: stabs, racked with hungry, bruises, welts, dead, slain, casualties, plague, affliction, calamity, blows, slaughter, pain, sorrow, grief.

Causes of wounds.

  • Accidents
  • Disease
  • Enemies
  • Friends
  • Self-inflected – careless or intentionally
  • God allowed

Functions of wounds in the Bible.

  • To hurt
  • To get your attention
  • To heal you
  • To heal someone else

Medical plans for wound care.

  • Primary intention (intention is a planned thing and in medicine, it is the healing process) – This is when a wound is closed by “sewing” it together
  • Secondary intention – The wound is allowed to stay open so infection can drain.
  • Tertiary intention (tertiary is the third plan) – The wound is cleaned and purposely left opened for a time before closing it.

Facts about “natural” healing.

  • Your body has a complicated process for healing that is marked by certain stages. This process can be interrupted by outside causes or other personal issues such as disease in your body.
  • Depth and size of the wound can control the healing process.
  • Wound care can influence the healing process. Cleaning and ointments can speed the process, or at least keep it on course.
  • Wounds can cause visible scars at the point of injury.

∞ Jesus, thank you for the promise in Jeremiah 30: 17. Heal my wounds so that I can be a benefit to the body of Christ. Amen.

See the post – Jesus as Master Healer

The Bible and Science – Newton’s First Law

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I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:11(NIV)

Newton’s First of Motion states that an object in motion wants to stay in motion unless Newtonacted on by an outside force. This is known as inertia and the same concept also covers an object at rest. The ubiquitous forces of friction and gravity are always acting on objects here on earth and they do influence motion.

Sitting in a car and you go around a corner, most people have experienced this, and you move slightly away from the direction you are turning. What has happened is your body is trying to go straight while the seatbelt moves you with the car into the turn. A great example of Newton’s First Law; your body followed its initial motion before you started to turn.

What does this have to do Jesus and the Holy Spirit? When you have given control of your life to Jesus and you are moving straight ahead with Him, He will try to keep you in that path. If you start to curve out of that path the Holy Spirit will pull you back in the direction you were going. You can leave the path but you are going to have to work at it.

∞Jesus, thank you for directing our path and leading us in the way we should go. Amen.

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/K-12/airplane/newton.html

Bends in the Road vs. A Straight Path

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curves in the roadA “bend” in a road is often a literary signal for a change, either good or bad. Adventure is waiting, danger and destruction are lurking, or a golden opportunity awaits the noble wayfarer who is on the journey of a lifetime. Contrast this to the “straight” road where things are peaceful and the future is visible, if only you will lift your head and look.

David in Psalm 4: 8 is asking for just such a straight road because of his enemies. It is interesting that we want a straight road from God but we always want the bend if means adventure and excitement. A contrast here is Isaiah 40:3 where WE are to make straight paths for God. Part of this “preparing” is to knock down hills and fill in valleys.

Hills, valleys, bends in the road, and straight paths so many paradigms and graphic straight roadimages. All the words preached and ink spilled on paper using these icons can they be combined? Maybe! I tend to think horizontally and probably need to think more vertically (ah, more graphic images). If Jesus is in control and I do not purposely choose to bend off of His path why should our paths be anything but straight to God? WELL, what about all the tough times we encounter?

Join me now in a vertical look at a straight road that goes through hilly country. Do you rollercoasterbend down to go into a valley and then bend up to go to a hilltop? But I can’t see everything in front of me on that road! No, God never promised that you could always see everything in front of you He just said, “Follow Me.”

What about Isaiah 40: 3? Since the command there is that we make level paths so that God’s glory will be revealed; may I suggest that as we knock off high spots and fill in the low spots on the path for people behind us, it will be smoother and a little more level for them.

 

https://openclipart.org/detail/177913/on-the-road

https://openclipart.org/detail/25003/curves-ahead-sign

https://openclipart.org/detail/153769/roller-coaster

Psalm 103 – Musings

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David starting and ending Psalm 103 with “Barak the Lord, O my soul” shows what was important to David and where his heart was. But I have grown to appreciate all the topics he covered between his praising and blessing.

He captures (hooks) the reader/singers with why you should praise the Lord. I think the idea of “benefits” is a great attention grabber. In our age, we worry about benefits and want them as part of our compensation for doing something we are expected to do (our jobs). So in just doing what we should (praise God), we get some serious compensation – forgiveness, healing, satisfaction, etc.

I used The New Layman’s Parallel Bible to compare phrases and check on words that I looked up in my KJV concordance. I noticed how the different translations separated the various sections of Psalm 103. KJV and the Living Bible had no separations but the NIV and Revised Standard did arrange the verses into sections. The Revised Standard divided 1-5, 6-14, 15-18, and 19 -22 the NIV divided almost the same except verses 6 and 19 are by themselves and form breaks between the sections. That is always a minor thing but it is interesting to see how the various translators interpret and arrange Scripture.

My biggest take away maybe that leaders (Moses) need to ask to see God’s highway. His “Ways and Deeds” form quite a road for the people to be lead on.

Psalm 103 – Benefits

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Benefits:

  1. Forgives
  2. Heals
  3. Redeems
  4. Crowns
  5. Satisfies
  6. Works for the oppressed

His Ways and Deeds:

  1. Compassionate
  2. Gracious
  3. Slow to anger
  4. Abounding in love
  5. Removed our transgression
  6. Has compassion
  7. He knows us
  8. His love is with those who fear Him

I am going to deal with the word “righteousness”, as it appears with the “Benefits” and “His Ways and Deeds.” It is in verse 6 and 17 and both times it is used it is the feminine form – tsdaqah.   The Strong’s Concordance states that it is used 157 in the Old Testament but is not found in Exodus, Leviticus, 2 Kings, Eccl, Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Tsedeq is the masculine form and is used 119 times mainly in poetic literature. Both of these words have a figurative usage of “prosperity.” The conclusion of many exegetes is that the terms have a relational and legal significance.

In verse 6 He is working for the oppressed while in verse 17 it is with those who fear the Lord and their children. At least in these verses, the relationship is the stronger with the weaker thus reflecting the Bridegroom/Bride relationship Jesus has with His Church.

See Psalm103 – Praise and Moses

I used the 1990 NIV for this study.