Job 33:19-21
‘He (viz. man) is chastened also with pain upon his bed — and the multitude of his bones with strong pain. So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, so that it cannot be seen. And his bones, that were not seen — stick out!’ Job 33:19-21.
God also chastens man with pain on his sickbed. The affliction is graphically presented. There is strong pain in man’s many bones. Continual strife. Even while the multitude of his bones are still strong.
Live but sick, man’s desire or appetite makes him abhor even bread. His flesh is being so eaten away, that it cannot be seen.
The sick man’s bones, which previously could not be seen at all — now stick out of his body. Job’s elephantiasis now raged, loud and clear!
Thus, another and a more severe lessen by which God teaches man, is by painful sickness. He get chastens with pain even on his sickbed. — even in his previously vigorous bones.
For he now has unceasing pain in all his many limbs, where there is constant tumult. Disease consists of a disturbance of the equilibrium; in the dissolution of their harmony and in the excitement of one against another.
Sick man’s stinking life causes him to loathe even simple bread as dirty and stenching! He now feels disgust even at dainty meat!
It is very clearly expressed, that when it is inwardly consumed by disease, the vital psychic power gives one a loathing for that which it otherwise likes — namely bread and meat. Even though such were necessary conditions of one’s very existence.
For health produces an appetite. Sickness, however, causes nausea.. The soul that is in an uninjured normal state, longs for food. That which is severely weakened by sickness, turns the desire for dainties into loathing and aversion!
Flesh now vanishes from sight. It is seen no longer. For flesh and bone are now being consumed, and are wasting away. By being scraped and scratched and constantly rubbed. — they are now shrivelling up. They have now lost their former pleasing form. The wasting limbs are diminished, until they become invisible.
Awful was Job’s elephantiasis! His soul drew near to the grave, and his life to destruction. His flesh just kept on being consumed away. But God, Who is rich in mercy, had by no means yet finished speaking to Job!
