i

August 20 Daily Devotional

In Days of Sickness

Frans Bakker

Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. —Psalm 41:3b

Bible Reading

Psalm 41

Devotional

Every sickbed is a reminder of our own deathbed. Man can be cast down on a sickbed and have no strength left. In spite of all his efforts to raise himself up, he has to succumb to the power of his sickness. One day man will also have to surrender to the power of death. In this way a sickbed illustrates an urgent call to all of us. It is like a sermon that can be more powerful than one preached from a pulpit.

Sickness can be a gift of God that man does not wish to exchange for all the wealth or even health of the world. In sickness man is led to ponder his spiritual condition. In charismatic circles, where “faith healers” are at work, it is taught that sickness is of the devil. But have they never understood that sickness can be such a blessing of God that you would never want to exclude it from your life? David testifies in Psalm 41 that it can be more advantageous to have a sickbed than to be healthy.

At times the Lord can cast people on a sickbed to honor them with a visit from heaven. He can then draw them out of their daily as well as their religious routine, in order to reveal Himself to them. At times God desires to have His people alone for Himself. Then the words of our text become reality: “Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”

One could also translate this verse as follows: “Thou wilt change all his bed in his illness.” Where God descends He changes everything. When God is present everything is different. Then even the experience of a sickbed is totally changed. Who then would wish to be relieved from his sickbed? In sickness one can experience such sweet moments with the Savior that he does not desire to return to the daily routine of this world with all its commotion. One would rather remain on his sickbed under an open heaven. Heaven can be very near to the ground, and these heavenly visits are most precious. What a miracle of grace that the Lord can pay visits to unworthy and corrupt people who have fallen so low! How is it possible that the Most High descends so low, to draw up a people that in themselves can only sink deeper and deeper? When God comes so low, then everything changes, for then the light of His favor shines on everything. It shines on a sick body, on deep ways, on a lonely path, and even on a life that must condemn itself. Then all is well, because the Lord is present. “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee” (Ps. 63:3).

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

CONTACT US

+1 215 830 0900

Contact Form

Find a Church