Scurvy was – and is still – a truly appalling disease. It is progressively debilitating, horribly painful, disfiguring to its victims, and ultimately fatal. While we don’t consider it much today, at one time in human history it was responsible for the agonizing deaths of up to 2 million people, almost all sailors. Vasco da Gama lost 116 out of 170 men on one voyage to India; losses of up to 90% of a ship’s crew were common. Consider this first-hand description of the disease:
“The symptoms of scurvy do not necessarily occur in a regular order, but generally the first sign is an inflamed, swollen condition of the gums. The whitish pink tinge next the teeth is replaced by an angry red; as the disease gains ground the gums become more spongy and turn to a purplish colour, the teeth become loose and the gums sore. Spots appear on the legs, and pain is felt in old wounds and bruises; later, from a slight oedema, the legs, and then the arms, swell to a great size and become blackened behind the joints. After this the patient is soon incapacitated, and the last horrible stages of the disease set in, from which death is a merciful release.”
Scurvy is caused by a lack of Vitamin C in an individual’s diet, a particular problem for sailors prior to the 18th century who embarked on cruises lasting five or more months when fresh food of any kind was rare. In 1747, Scottish physician James Lind discovered the inclusion of citrus, even in small amounts, in the form of lemon juice mixed with a sailor’s daily ration of grog completely prevented, and could even cure, scurvy. This discovery, in no small part, contributed to the dominance of the British navy for succeeding decades. Even though they didn’t understand the biochemistry involved, it was clear proper nourishment was the key to maintaining health.
This is no less true of our spiritual health than it is of our physical bodies. Psalm 1:3 says, “That person [who delights in the law of the Lord] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.” Let’s consider what this verse tells us about spiritual nourishment.
1. There is a source of nourishment. The tree is planted by streams of water, providing it with a constant source of nourishment. If we are to grow spiritually, we must have access to a source of nourishment. The psalmist indicates in the previous verse this source of nourishment is delighting in and meditating on God’s law. In addition to God’s Word, the Holy Spirit uses worship, godly community, prayer, the sacraments, and fasting to provide nourishment to His people.
2. A nourished tree bears fruit. A tree, properly nourished, will naturally produce fruit. In our spiritual lives, this fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It is useless to suppose this fruit can be produced without access to the nourishment necessary for its growth. Plant yourself by streams of water, and fruit will come.
3. A nourished tree prospers. It is not to be supposed this means a spiritually healthy individual will, ipso facto, be materially prosperous. The Hebrew word used here, saleah, means to push forward, to succeed, or make progress. It is likely this is connected to the preceding phrase in the Psalm – that the tree’s leaf does not wither, but rather prospers, or continues to grow and bloom.
Matthew Meade, one of the great Puritan preachers and authors, once wrote, “O take head that you are not found overvaluing other things and undervaluing your soul. Shall your flesh be loved and shall your soul be slighted? Will you clothe and pamper your body and yet take no care of your soul? This is as if a man should feed his dog and starve his child.”
Eighteenth century British sailors understood the importance of nurturing their physical health through proper nourishment; let us be sure we are equally diligent in nourishing our spiritual health, planting ourselves by streams of living water (John 7:37-39).