Healthy Navels

(Proverbs 3:8 KJV)  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

There are times when you have to love the KJV.  Wouldn’t this be a great slogan for an advertising campaign?  No?

What is “it”?  Fear.  Fear can bring “healing” (7500).  That is just the opposite of what our modern culture teaches.  This brings to mind a verse out of the KJV:

Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

This was a specific, one-time promise but it brings up interesting possibilities if we imagine that the church is the people of God and the world is our Egypt.  There is a book called None of These Diseases that explores this idea.  I am not sure if it is in print any more.  It explores in great detail all of the health issues that are significantly less frequent in Godly people.  The kosher laws had a reason.  The washing rituals had a purpose.  God’s way has rewards.

It is also interesting that obedience and fear of the Lord can bring “refreshment” (8250).  I think it may tie in to the idea of balanced health.  There used to be commercials that started like, “Fear of God is part of a healthy breakfast.”  If our physical life is one sided we tend to fatigue, why not the same with our spiritual life.

So don’t be afraid of fear.  It alters us and keeps us on our toes.  It can wake us up at a time of crisis.  Just understand it is balanced with grace and mercy.