PSALMS
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Psalms 106: 19 – 48 and 107: 1 – 22
Psalms 107: 17 – 22
If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness. Sinners are fools. They hurt their bodily health by intemperance and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites. This their way is their folly. The weakness of the body is the effect of sickness. It is by the power and mercy of GOD that we are recovered from sickness, and it is our duty to be thankful. All of CHRIST’s miraculous cures were emblems of His healing diseases of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritual cures in which the Spirit of grace works. HE sends His word, and heals souls; convinces, converts them, makes them holy, and all by the word. Even in common cases of recovery from sickness, GOD in His providence speaks, and it is done; by His word and Spirit the soul is restored to health and holiness.

OLD TESTAMENT
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Ezra 8: 10 – 29
Ezra 8: 21
I proclaimed a fast.
Fasting entails abstaining from food for a limited period of time. GOD’s Old Testament people fasted in order to express humility, self-denial and submission to GOD, and to seek His grace, help, protection and favour.

To seek HIM the right way for us. It is always appropriate to pray to GOD for HIS care and protection when setting out on a journey. GOD’s help should not be taken for granted, for His guidance and protection are mediated to us through our prayers, and when we arrive safely at our destination, we should never forget to give HIM thanks.

NEW TESTAMENT
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Hebrews 12: 1 – 13
Hebrews 12: 1
The race must be run by throwing off the sin which doth so easily beset us and by looking unto JESUS who persevered to the end by enduring the cross. The race must be run with an awareness that our greatest danger is the temptation to give up and yield to sin.