International
08 November 07
Psalm 107 – Life
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
As sportspeople we’re very aware of the importance of physical health. In being passionate about sport we love to be able to exercise our gifts in playing, but doing that requires health and freedom from injury. I suppose that’s why it’s so hard for us as Christian sports people to cope with injuries; we feel like the very thing we’re made to do has been taken away from us. There’s also something deep in us that when we get injured niggles away making us wonder if God is punishing us for something we’ve done wrong. We may not put it quite like that but the question ‘why me?’ often belies a view that ‘I’ve done nothing wrong so why am I being punished’.
At first glance this passage seems to draw a tight link between physical well-being and our relationship with God. Verse 17 is clear that rejecting God has consequences on our health saying some ‘suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.’ However we need to be clear that this is not teaching us Karma – the view that claims specific physical diseases or injuries are linked to specific wrong-doing in our lives, Jesus categorically rejects such a view in John chapter 9 when the disciples ask him ‘“who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus answered “It was not that this man sinned or his parents”’.
Yet just because there isn’t a link between specific acts and specific physical afflictions, doesn’t mean there isn’t a general link between our rejection of God and world that’s full of injury, disease and death. Elsewhere we’re told that ‘death came into the world through sin’, and injuries and disease are if you like part of a world where death rules because of humanity’s general rejection of God.
It is this shadow of death hanging over our world that is the reason we get ill and injured. Death unpicks the seams on life until the fabric of the world is in tatters and every cough, and every hamstring strain is just one more strand coming undone. This is why the thing that the psalmist says we need rescuing from is the grave (vs. 20).
Sometimes Christian players get injured – and though God loves every one of his people God hasn’t promised anywhere that Christians will have injury free careers. Sometimes Christian players get healed or are injury free and are able to play. However whether injured or healthy God’s great concern is that through his word we come to trust in a saviour who can give us ‘life in his name’ and that whether injured or healthy we keep giving thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love.
Pete
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