Pleasant Words are Health to the Bones
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,
and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and
health to the bones.
Proverbs 16:22f (Spoke 20, Cycle 1)
This passage expresses two themes that are interwoven with the Third Gospel.
First, there is the primary theme of health which is
particularly dominant in Doctor Luke's Gospel (as would be expected) but which also makes a surpising appearance
in the opening passage of 3 John.
It also distinctly marks Proverbs which declares health to be one of the primary purposes of the
wisdom taught within its pages:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them,
and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:20ff (Spoke 20, Cycle 1)
This exemplifies the gentle, caring, intimate, and parental spirit that permeates Proverbs, which is filled
with words of wisdom from a loving father to his son:
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and
long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:
bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good
understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Proverbs 3:1ff (Spoke 20, Cycle 1)
Proverbs and Luke share the same spirit, the same emotional tone. Note also the contextual integration of the
underlined words that form the KeyLink to Luke 2:52 based on the set (favour, "God and man") [Verify] as
discussed in Luke: The Proverbial Gospel.
The second theme interwoven with Luke is found in Proverbs 16:24, "Pleasant words
are as honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." This touches the essential character of
Luke's Gospel which is universally recognized as one of the most beautiful books ever written.
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Pleasant Words are Health to the Bones
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