Verse 18. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat ] A natural description of a sick man: appetite is gone, and all desire for foodfails; nutriment is no longer necessary, for death has seized upon the whole frame. See a similar image, Job xxxiii. 20.
Verses 17-22 - If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness. Sinners are fools. The hurt their bodily health by intemperance, and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites. This their way is their folly. The weaknes 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 Christ's miraculous cures were emblems of his healin diseases of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritualcure which the Spirit of grace works. He sends his word, and healssouls 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 healt and holiness.
