God as the Life of the Body 707
Elihu related to job the chastening of God and its after effects.
Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual
strife in his bones; so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite
dainty food. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen;
and his bones which were not seen stick out. His soul draws near
the Pit, and his life to those who bring death. If there be for him
an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what
is right for him; and he is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him
from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom; let his flesh
become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his
youthful vigor.’ (Job 33.19-25)This signifies how the life of God can be manifest in one who is
near the gate of death.
The prophet Isaiah too bears testimony concerning this matter:
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become
my salvation. (12.2) He gives power to the faint, and to him who
has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be
weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for
the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with
wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall
walk and not faint. (40.29-31)All this stamina is shown in the body, for the power of God is
generated in those who wait on Him.
When Daniel beheld the vision of God he whispered: “No strength
was left in me; my radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I
retained no strength” (10.8). But God sent His angel to increase
Daniel’s strength. So in recording this incident Daniel explained how
“again one having the appearance of a man touched me and
strengthened me. And he said, ‘O man, greatly beloved, fear not,
peace be with you; be strong and of good courage. ’ And when he
spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for