The Great Physician VII: Homeostasis

In the Old Testament there are two main verb roots, with related nouns and adjectives, used to convey the concept of disease, sickness, and illness: namely, the Hebrew verb וַיֶּחֱלֶ֣א ‘chala’ “to be or become sick, diseased” (2 Chronicles 16:12) and the verb חָלָ֖ה ‘chalah’ “to be diseased, weak, sick” (1 Kings 15:23). If “to be sick” in the Old Testament was intrinsically “to be weak”, then “to be healthy” was “to be whole” or ‘salem’, an adjective related to the noun ‘salom’ (more popularly shalom a noun meaning “soundness, completeness, welfare, or well-being”). Between sickness and health, of course, there lies the divider healing. The main Hebrew verb in the Old Testament utilized for physical healing is ‘rapa’ “to heal” (Genesis 20:17; Zechariah 11:16). This verb also has numerous cognates or variations.

Although the ancient Israelites were likely not fully aware of the connection between inward bodily functions or dysfunctions and the role of their interacting harmoniously with their environment, all functioning life was considered under the care and direction of God, the Great Physician. All kept under His watchful eye. God the sustainer of all life (Hebrews 1:1-3). Not only the omniscient Judge but also the all-merciful Healer (Exodus 15:26; Psalms 103:3). God not only sent health and longevity of life to humanity as an act of grace/gift but also sickness and hardship as retribution for disobedience. Illness and malady were also for the testing of faith as any reading of Job or James will readily reveal.

In the final analysis illness, healing, resuscitation and restoration were bound up with the dynamics of the divine/human relationship. Indeed, to consult some earthly “physician” devoid of the knowledge of God or some “other god”, constituted a grave insult upon God Himself. That isn’t to say visiting a doctor is sinful. Visiting a doctor thinking he can help you and God can’t is the insult. Going to a physician with the idea that God led you and that God can work through said physician…essentially means you realize God is working through said physician. It is always an issue of the heart’s intent. (2 Chronicles 16:12; 2 Kings 1:2-17).

Apart from a few popular remedies like Jeremiah 8:22, there remains extant no outline for the treatment or care of a specific disease in the Old Testament. However, far too often healthcare in the ancient past has been portrayed in a negative, minimalist fashion akin to butchery (amputations, bleeding, etc). Although it is true these methods were used by ancient ‘physicians’ the Bible sought to avoid disease outright seeking “wholeness” of body and soul. A healthy person was described as one who lives “righteously” or “wholesomely” in varied relationships that were constituted by balance, wholeness and harmony.

The idea of righteousness and wholeness can be epitomized in three words. The three epitomizing words that come to mind are “self”, “sabbath”, and “salom” (or shalom). Modern medicine/science attempts to over-simplify them all with one word: Homeostasis or Stasis. In doing so it removes the spirituality and makes wholeness cold and clinical. I prefer to deal with the three Judaic ideas as a spiritual homeostasis. I will do so individually. I will deal with the 'self' first and then cover the latter two in the next posts.