DISTRESS AND THE WORD OF GOD (Part 3)

III. PHYSICAL DISTRESS AND THE WORD OF GOD- Psalm 119:83

We have been examining the multifaceted aspects of distress, which spans holistic distress (i.e., the entirety of the human being), mental distress, and now physical distress.

Christians can be guilty of neglecting the physical. Since the beginning of the church (and even before that), people have thought that the physical is evil and the spiritual is good. We can see this in seed-form in 1 John 1:1-3.

The Scriptures teach the opposite. God created physical matter in Genesis chapter one. When He saw this He pronounced it as good. Then God created mankind, both male and female (1:26-31; 2:7) and pronounced them very good (of course, they were created in His image)

As physically embodied beings (unique only to mankind), we have certain physical needs. We must have food or else we will starve and die. We must have water or else we will dehydrate and die. We must have rest or else our brains will stop functioning and our organs will shut down. We need oxygen or else we will suffocate. These needs are not sin, it is part of being human.

All of these needs, however, point us to our Creator. You see, God knew what we were because He created us, and our needs simply point us to our need for Him. Consider our need for food. Consider Deuteronomy 8:3 and how this informs us of a need that goes beyond physical nourishment to spiritual nourishment (this is also quoted by Jesus in Matthew 4:4). There are other examples of the Word of God being compared to food: John 4:34; 6:32, 35; and 1 Peter 2:2.

The need for water is equally applied to our need for Christ. John 4:13-14 says that anyone who drinks the water He offers will never thirst again. You can also look at Revelation 21:6 and 22:17 for this idea.

What about our need for rest? Well, the Bible illustrates this importance, most significantly in the 10 Commandments, the 4th Commandment (see Ex. 20:8-11). Gd tells Israel that He will give them rest through His presence in the wilderness journey (Ex. 33:14). Jesus ties a relationship with Him to rest (Matt. 11:28-30) as well as the rest provided through God’s good gift of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28).

You see how our physical needs point us to our greater need, God? This is all foundational to what we are discussing this evening. In our time tonight, we are looking at physical distress and its implications for our life with God.

A. THE PHYSICAL DISTRESS OF THE PSALMIST—Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke

The psalmist’s words here, as typical of his writing, provide a graphic picture of his physical distress. There is some debate on the meaning of this phrase, but it seems to indicate a wineskin that is damaged (dried out and brittle) from an overexposure to fire and smoke. The picture then, is brokenness, exhaustion, an inability to perform the task for which we are designed.

Physical distress is nothing new in the Scriptures. Let is look at two.

1. The disciples of Christ- Mark 6:30-52

In this passage, Christ instructs the disciples to get away and rest. They were commissioned by Christ for service (see verse 7-13). Now they returned and were exhausted, and Christ, recognizing this, commands them to rest. Then a large group comes and a new opportunity for ministry opens up.

After a miraculous feeding, the disciples go on a ship and the storm comes. In the midst of the storm they see Jesus walking on water. However, verses 51-52 are instructive for our point. (Read verses)

Why did they fail to “gain insight” from the miracle of the loaves? I believe it can be tied directly to their exhaustion.

Another example is found in a young man named Eutychus.

2. Eutychus- Acts 20:7-12

In this story, Paul is preaching to a group of believers, and in the course of his lengthy message, Eutychus falls asleep and falls out of the third-story window and dies. His lack of sleep brought his death! Physical distress can be detrimental.

The psalmist is experiencing some physical distress, and as a result he describes his state as being a wineskin in the smoke. He is in distress! Like many in the history of humanity, his distress had the potential to disrupt his relationship with God.

B. PHYSICAL DISTRESS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD—Though

Notice the wording, though. The idea is that it is possible to endure physical distress without losing or harming your relationship with God. And this is the heart of the matter.

Physical distress does indeed have the potential to disrupt our relationships with God. I want to spend a few moments looking at several individuals, some of whom worked through their physical distress and maintained a solid relationship with God, and others of whom allowed their physical distress to disrupt their relationship with God.

1. Individuals who suffered physically but continued to serve God- select Scriptures

The first individual that comes to mind is Abraham. This man of faith was unable to have children. He and his wife experienced infertility, and this is an enormous problem when you want to have children. What made it worse is that God promised Abraham to have children! You can see how great his faith truly was, because he believed God (Gen. 15:6).

Another individual is David. Look at his life in 1 and 2 Samuel, and you will see physical distress on many pages. The Psalms, many of which were written by David, describe his soul struggle in the midst of physical distress. Yet, David continued his walk with God, drawing strength from a daily walk with his Savior.

Job is also an example. In chapter one, Job loses oxen and donkey, has his servants killed, he lost his sheep to fire from heaven as well as the servants taking care of them, he lost his camels and the servants taking care of them were killed, and finally he lost all of his children (we do not know how many) in a freak act of nature. What was his response? “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (1:21) After receiving affliction in his body, he still followed God, saying, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Finally, Paul, one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the church, experienced terrible physical distress. 2 Cor. 11:23-28 describes the difficulties Paul faced. Yet Paul submitted to God’s sovereign hand and followed Him, regardless of the difficulties he faced.

The lesson for us, brothers and sisters, is that we can walk through physical distress without disrupting their relationship with God. In fact, they walked through the physical distress and it strengthened their walk with God! This is what Paul describes in the very next chapter. in 12:7-10 he shows how we can grow even during physical distress.

But not everyone responded right to God’s sovereign affliction.

2. Individuals who suffered physically and had their relationships with God disrupted- select Scriptures

This is a category of which we can find some solidarity. We, like these men and women before us, are given to doubt causing disruption in our relationship with God.

Elijah, in 1 Kings 17-19 experiences some incredible miracles at the hands of God, and then after an exhausting battle, he falls into depression. What was his response, when his life was threatened? “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” His relationship with God was disrupted, and God worked with Elijah to bring him back.

Job is also another example. You see, he responded in such a godly way at first, but then God allowed Satan to afflict him physically in chapter two.

After a period of seven days, Job began to question God. For many chapters Job and his friends go back and forth, his friends’ questioning his integrity, and Job questioning God’s.

A final example is the disciples, but we have already discussed them earlier. The Scriptures record many individuals, both men and women, who experience physical distress and either respond positively or negatively. Our question, then, is how can we respond positively in the midst of physical distress?

C. PHYSICAL DISTRESS SHOULD LEAD US TO GOD—I do not forget Your statutes

Just as hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and the need for air all point us back to God, so does physical distress. It is a tool, albeit painful at times, in the hands of our God to help us grow.

There are several steps that you and I can take in order to work our ways through physical distress.

1. Faithfully commit to following God’s Word before physical distress comes

Now, we can ascertain from the context that the psalmist was in the midst of physical distress. But we also know the psalmist’s intense love for God and His Word. Make a commitment now, in faith, before the physical distress comes, to stay faithful to God. Work into your mind and heart that biblical fact that God is working all things in accordance with his sovereign plan. This will enable you to view the physical distress differently, to view it as helpful rather than simply hurtful.

2. Routinely work to submit yourself to God’s leading

The psalmist states his unfailing belief in God’s Word. That is the attitude you and I must take. We must routinely work to submit ourselves to God’s leading. Look to His Word! It records His faithful guidance of His people. Though it is not always enjoyable, it is always fruitful. This requires a constant submission to God, for in the midst of pain and suffering we are always prone to doubt God’s goodness. This is why our minds must be brought under the submission of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

3. Constantly remember the graciousness of your God

One of the constant themes in the previous examples is God’s faithful love. It is most readily seen in those who allowed their physical distress to disrupt their relationship with God. Let these verses be your meditations in those periods of physical distress.

Psalm 78:38-39 and Hebrews 4:15-16