“And strengthen your bones…” (Isa. 58:11 NKJ).
This word strengthen has quite a few interesting definitions which can speak to us today. Chalats (kwaw-lats’) is the original Hebrew word used by Isaiah. The King James translators rendered it “make fat” your bones.
As people get older, their bones get brittle and break easily. This promise to “make fat your bones” is an assurance of plenty of moisture or marrow in the bones throughout life. Instead of our bones getting old and brittle, this word guarantees that we will remain limber and pliable all our days. For the child of God, the aging process can be reversed by this word from the Lord.
One translator reads chalets: “He will arm your bones.” This translation has a military overtone. Not only are we Christians marching through life, we are traveling as soldiers to fight a war. To “arm the bones” is the same as to provide with protective armor so as to render us invulnerable to attack.
Chalats is also used in the sense of stripping off excess baggage, cargo, or unnecessary weight. A person who is going on a long journey is not going to overload himself with useless and cumbersome burdens. Most wilderness backpackers learn to carry only vital provisions so they can travel light.
Our God has promised to lighten our load and free us for unimpeded travel. What a wonderful word for the Lord’s traveling soldiers: Plenty of moisture for the bones, arming and fortifying for battles, lightening the load so the bones can be agile and limber. It’s all there to help us reach our destination and accomplish our mission.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.