Causes of human sickness

[Jope]

The following is a list of causes of sickness from scripture.

If you can think of anymore additions to this list, please add.

Bread (Isa. 3:7; Acts 27:34).

Clothing (Isa. 3:7).

Envy (Prov. 14:30). (Sophocles said, that "despair often breeds disease").

Sin (James 5:14-15).

Poor social support (Prov. 12:25; 17:22; 13:20; Eccles. 4:10).

Testing from God (Job 1-2).

Physical object (Mark 16:18).

Ecclesiastes says that there are righteous men who are rewarded with what the evil deserve (Eccles. 8:14). Maybe this should fall in with Job 1-2 above though.​

 

[annsni]

I don't understand how Isaiah 3:7 says that bread or clothing causes sickness.

You also forgot the glory of God. Remember the blind man and Jesus. I believe that my daughter's pancreatic tumor was for God's glory.

 

[Scarlett O.]

And Acts 27:34 is Paul encouraging men who have gone for two weeks without eat TO eat some food for their survival's sake. Food here doesn't cause sickness, but preserves the body. Food is energy.

 

[Jope]

And Acts 27:34 is Paul encouraging men who have gone for two weeks without eat TO eat some food for their survival's sake. Food here doesn't cause sickness, but preserves the body. Food is energy.

Hey there Scarlett.

If food was their health, what would have happened if they didn't eat food?

 

[Jope]

I don't understand how Isaiah 3:7 says that bread or clothing causes sickness.

I guess it varies in different translations. I was going by the KJV. It has the word "for". The ESV doesn't have the word "for":

Isaiah 3:7 KJV
In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.​

The word "for" shows us that the way in which this man would "heal" was by bread and clothing. That all being said, I still think it is implied in the ESV.

If these things to provide health weren't available, sickness would surely have ensued, right?

You also forgot the glory of God. Remember the blind man and Jesus. I believe that my daughter's pancreatic tumor was for God's glory.

You're right. I did forget that one. You've got me interested about your daughter now though. Care to share how it was for God's glory? It's fine with me if you (or she) doesn't want to.

+++++++++++++++++++++++​

There's also another one I forgot to put in: to suppress pride (2 Cor. 12). In the case of Paul, the sickness happened so that he wouldn't become conceited (v. 7).

 

[annsni]

Here is the story written out. This was over two years ago and my daughter has been healthy ever since, finished college and will be teaching this fall, God willing.

http://lifeonthesound.blogspot.com/2011/05/solid-pseudopapillary-neoplasm.html?m=1

 

[Scarlett O.]

Hey there Scarlett.

If food was their health, what would have happened if they didn't eat food?

Yes, but you said that bread was the cause of human sickness in this passage. It's just the opposite. Bread was the cause of their healing.

Also, I don't think the "thorn" in Paul's flesh is defined as sickness. He called it a "messenger of Satan". It could have been sickness - I don't know. But there are a lot of things that it could have been that aren't dealing with personal sickness.

 

[Jope]

Yes, but you said that bread was the cause of human sickness in this passage. It's just the opposite. Bread was the cause of their healing.

Woops, I guess it does say that.

Sorry folks, I meant that the lack of food causes sickness.

Teehee.

 

[Jope]

It could have been sickness - I don't know.

We know that it was a sickness from verse 9.

 

[Jope]

Here is the story written out. This was over two years ago and my daughter has been healthy ever since, finished college and will be teaching this fall, God willing.

Good to hear!

Don't think I'll have time right now, but if I get the chance, I definitely want to read it all.

 

[Deacon]

Here are a few I've found:

1. Sent by God. De 28:59–61; 32:39; 2 Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23.
2. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict. Job 2:6, 7; Lu 9:39; 13:16.
3. Often brought on by intemperance. Ho 7:5.
4. Often sent as a punishment of sin. Le 26:14–16; 2 Ch 21:12–15; 1 Co 11:30.
5. One of God’s four sore judgments on a guilty land. Eze 14:19–21.
6. Illustrative of sin. Le 13:45, 46; Isa 1:5; Jer 8:22; Mt 9:12.
[from R. A. Torrey, The New Topical Text Book (2001).]

Here are a few more I'll add to this list:

7. Bacteria laden water– 1 Timothy 5.23
8. Bacteria laden gourds - 2 Kings 4:38–40
9. Sin – Psalm 38.3 (Deut. 28:22, 27–28, 35, 59–61; but also see John 9.1-3)
10. Harmful spirits - 1 Sam. 16:23
11. Pride – Daniel 4
12. Worms – Acts 12.23
13. Injury – 2 Kings 1.2

Rob

 

[Jope]

Here are a few I've found:

1. Sent by God. De 28:59–61; 32:39; 2 Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23.
2. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict. Job 2:6, 7; Lu 9:39; 13:16.
3. Often brought on by intemperance. Ho 7:5.
4. Often sent as a punishment of sin. Le 26:14–16; 2 Ch 21:12–15; 1 Co 11:30.
5. One of God’s four sore judgments on a guilty land. Eze 14:19–21.
6. Illustrative of sin. Le 13:45, 46; Isa 1:5; Jer 8:22; Mt 9:12.
[from R. A. Torrey, The New Topical Text Book (2001).]

Here are a few more I'll add to this list:

7. Bacteria laden water– 1 Timothy 5.23
8. Bacteria laden gourds - 2 Kings 4:38–40
9. Sin – Psalm 38.3 (Deut. 28:22, 27–28, 35, 59–61; but also see John 9.1-3)
10. Harmful spirits - 1 Sam. 16:23
11. Pride – Daniel 4
12. Worms – Acts 12.23
13. Injury – 2 Kings 1.2

Rob

Wow man.

Thanks for this post!!

 

[Jope]

Here is the story written out. This was over two years ago and my daughter has been healthy ever since, finished college and will be teaching this fall, God willing.

http://lifeonthesound.blogspot.com/2011/05/solid-pseudopapillary-neoplasm.html?m=1

I read through it. Great story, glad to hear how everything worked. (To God be the glory!).

I definitely think that angels play a role in health of mankind (Prov. 13:17; Dan. 4; 10:19; 11:1). And they are very present at hospitals.

Prov. 13:17, NKJV
A wicked messenger [demon] falls into trouble,
But a faithful ambassador [angel] brings health.

Daniel 11:1, NKJV
“Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.​

This angel strengthened this man.

Ryrie says, about this man who was strengthened by the angel, that "His identity is uncertain. He may have been Gubaru, a governor under Cyrus the king of Persia; or Darius may be another name for Cyrus himself; or he may have been Cambyses, son of Cyrus, who served as a ruler of Babylon".

Ryrie, C. C. (1994). The Ryrie KJV Study Bible. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute. p. 1278.​

If my memory serves me right, history tells us that Cyrus was very healthy.

 

[annsni]

I read through it.

I definitely think that angels play a role in health of mankind (Prov. 13:17; Dan. 4). And they are very present at hospitals.

I don't understand. What did angels have to do with my daughter's healing?

 

[Jope]

I don't understand. What did angels have to do with my daughter's healing?

Chiefly, God brought about the healing, but He used angels to do the healing. I edited my post after you replied.

The angel gave health (or strength) to Daniel (Dan. 10:19). The Proverb (13:17) also teaches this. This can also be seen in other passages like John 5:4, Daniel 4 and Job 33:14-30.

Daniel 10:19, KJV, bold emphasis mine
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

John 5:4, KJV, bold emphases mine
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.​

I think that this is why the gospel of Luke, the beloved physician, contains so much spiritual content.

 

[Aaron]

The root cause of all sickness and death is sin. The question should be, what is the remedy?

 

[Jope]

And they are very present at hospitals.

Luke 16:22 tells us that it is an angel that carries the soul/spirit of men away at their death. That's one reason why I think angels are very present at hospitals.

Angels are present at near death experiences. An angel was present and strengthening the Lord when He was "in agony" (Luke 22:43-44, KJV). "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground".

After The Lord fasted for forty days (maybe a near death experience...), the devil left Him, and "angels came and ministered unto him" (Mt. 4:11, KJV).

To digress a little off topic (a thought popped in my head), I think that these near death experiences of not only the Lord, but of His Church, are at least one thing that the ministry of angels is speaking of in Hebrews (1:14), who are "For [His] sake...killed all the day long...accounted as sheep for the slaughter" (Rom. 8:36, KJV).

 

[saturneptune]

The question should be, what is the remedy?

In your case, I would suggest staying away from mirrors. You might end up looking like your avatar.

 

[quantumfaith]

Illness is caused by bacteria,spores,prions,viruses and other pathogens.
Disease can also in many cases be caused by the same, but can also have a genetic components.

Both can be caused by lifestyle factors and diet.

Can God be the directing agent of such be visited upon us....of course.

Consider the plagues of Egypt recorded in Exodus, particularly the plagues visited upon cattle and boils upon the Egyptians.

 

[saturneptune]

Illness is caused by bacteria,spores,prions,viruses and other pathogens.
Disease can also in many cases be caused by the same, but can also have a genetic components.

Both can be caused by lifestyle factors and diet.

Can God be the directing agent of such be visited upon us....of course.

Consider the plagues of Egypt recorded in Exodus, particularly the plagues visited upon cattle and boils upon the Egyptians.

You have to admit though, individual genes and DNA have a big effect on health. For example, we are warned about smoking and lung cancer. I have known people who got lung cancer and never smoked. I have literally known others 90 years old that smoked all of their lives. I certainly would not advocate smoking to test your resistance, but that is a fact.