Sick to Death
I am bent over and greatly bowed down; I go in mourning all day long. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no healthy part in my flesh. I feel faint and badly crushed; I groan because of the agitation of my heart. Psalm 38:6-8 NASB
No healthy part – Despite the fact that the idea is theologically untenable, the culture of the ancient world (and some moderns as well) believed that illness was a symptom of divine displeasure. You got sick because the gods were upset with you. Illness was punishment, plain and simple. As you know, this is the tact taken by Job’s friends. His defense of his innocence is dismissed because everyone knew that illness meant the person had sinned. Of course, our theological view (centuries later) confirms that illness is not necessarily a sign of divine outrage. It can be, of course, as witnessed by the plagues that affected the Israelites in the wilderness, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s Job’s position. “I’m ill, no doubt, but it’s not because I am guilty.” In this psalm, the connection between lack of health and divine retribution seems apparent. The psalmist describes his condition like a doctor would. Everything about his physical state is a mess—and there’s no apparent relief. In fact, his physical condition is also the reason for his social ostracization. It’s the double whammy of the ancient world. Perhaps this idea isn’t quite as “ancient” as we’d like to believe. Far too often our spiritual standing before God is judged by our physical health and our social acceptance. You might want to reflect on that.
For the moment, let’s look carefully at the Hebrew phrase “no healthy part.” It consists of two words, ʾayin and mĕtōm. The translation attempts to capture an idiomatic idea. Literally, it means “nothing complete,” but there’s a lot of room for nuances.
ʾayin “is basically a negative substantive used most frequently in the construct form (ʾên). The word therefore has no single meaning and the exact translation must be determined in each context. The negative concept is always present wherever the word is used. It is characteristically used to negate a noun or noun clause,”[1]
mĕtōm is a derivative of tāmam, “to be complete.” Other derivatives include the ideas of integrity and perfection. You can see these meanings in verses like Psalm 101:2 and Psalm 7:8.
The combination here basically implies that shalom (šālôm) is absent, and since shalom covers every aspect of living, physically, ethically, and cognitively, the psalmist is describing that state where life is a continuous burden and heartache for reasons not entirely clear. Perhaps the cause is sin. Perhaps not. But the result is experientially certain. “I’m sick to death—literally.” What do you do when this happens to you? Repent? But, of what? You’ve already confessed. You’ve already sought forgiveness. But the ʾên mĕtōm continues. What now? Just bear it? Do the Job thing? Plead the “blood,” as my Pentecostal friends might advise? You know, sometimes life just kicks you in the groin and there doesn’t seem to be anything you can do about it. Well, maybe. We’ll see what Soloveitchik says about this tomorrow.
Topical Index: ʾên mĕtōm, no healthy part, illness, punishment, Psalm 38:6-8
[1] Scott, J. B. (1999). 81 אַיִן. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 37). Chicago: Moody Press.
