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Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 18:14
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

like a medicine

Psalm 22:15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Psalm 32:3,4
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long…

Psalm 102:3-5
For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth…

but a broken spirit dries up the bones
A broken spirit refers to a state of deep despair or hopelessness, often resulting from prolonged suffering or sin. In ancient Hebrew culture, the bones were considered the core of one's physical being, and to have them "dried up" symbolizes a profound depletion of life and vitality. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages, such asPsalm 32:3, where David describes the physical effects of unconfessed sin: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away." The contrast between a joyful heart and a broken spirit highlights the importance of maintaining spiritual health through faith and repentance. The drying of the bones can also be seen as a metaphor for spiritual death, which is ultimately remedied through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who offers new life and restoration to the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1-3).

“A joyful heart” (Proverbs 17:22) pictures an inner attitude that delights in God’s goodness. It’s not a fleeting laugh but a settled gladness rooted in trusting Him (Psalm 5:11–12;Philippians 4:4).

• Such joy springs from remembering the Lord’s salvation (Isaiah 12:2–3) and His daily mercies (Lamentations 3:22–23).

• It thrives even in hardship, like Paul and Silas singing in prison (Acts 16:25), because the source is unchanging.

• Joyful believers become a refreshing presence to others (2 Corinthians 1:24).

Joy acts like “good medicine,” producing real, tangible benefits. Scripture shows joy:

• Strengthening the inner life—“the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

• Lifting anxiety—“A cheerful heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).

• Promoting peace—“A tranquil heart is life to the body” (Proverbs 14:30a).

God designed us so spiritual joy blesses body and soul. Modern research only confirms what the Word has long declared.

The contrast sharpens the warning: a “broken spirit” refers to deep discouragement or hopelessness that loses sight of God’s character (Psalm 42:5–6). Examples include:

• Elijah under the broom tree, overwhelmed until God renewed him (1 Kings 19:4–8).

• The exiles who “hung their harps on the willows” in Babylon (Psalm 137:1–2).

When hope in the Lord fades, the inner person crumbles.

Just as marrow dries in parched bones, prolonged despair saps vitality. Scripture links crushed spirits with physical decline:

• “My strength failed… my bones wasted away” when David kept silent about sin (Psalm 32:3–4).

• “A man’s spirit can endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14).

Despair is more debilitating than illness itself because it attacks from within.

Since joy heals, God directs us to nurture it:

• Focus on His Word—“Your testimonies… are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:111).

• Practice gratitude—“Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

• Serve others—refreshing others refreshes us (Proverbs 11:25).

• Stay in fellowship—“Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

These habits align our hearts with the Source of true joy.

Proverbs 17:22 teaches that inward joy anchored in the Lord works like healing medicine, strengthening body and spirit, while sustained discouragement saps life at its core. Embrace the joy God freely offers through trusting His goodness, practicing gratitude, and walking in fellowship, and you will experience the wholesome, renewing power He promises.

"A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a." So the rabbis enjoin, "Give ears no room in thine heart, for care hath killed many" (Dukes, p. 68). Religious gladness is a positive duty, and "low spirits," as Isaac Williams says, "are a sin." Asks the Greek moralist -

Ἄρ ἐστὶ συγγενές τι λύπη καὶ βίος And Lucretius (3:473) affirms -

"Nam dolor ac morbus leti fabricator uterque est."
"Workers of death are sorrow and disease."

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