Heal (2390)(iaomai) means to cure, to heal, to restore. Iaomai is used literally of deliverance from physical diseases and afflictions and so to make whole, restore to bodily health or heal. To cause someone to achieve health after having been sick. In the passive it means to be healed or cured. Figuratively, iaomai speaks of deliverance from sin and its evil consequences and thus to restore (to spiritual good health), make whole, renew (Mt 13.15). In the passive, iaomai figuratively means to be restored, to recover or to be healed as in 1Pe 2.24.
Iaomai refers primarily to physical healing in the NT (although clearly there is overlap because some of these instances involved demonic oppression - Lk 9:42), and much less commonly to spiritual healing or healing (saving) from "moral illnesses" and the consequences of sin. When used in this sense iaomai has much the same meaning as sozo, to save, make whole, restore to spiritual health. Here are the uses of iaomai used with a spiritual meaning = Mt 13:15, John 12:40, Acts 28:27 - preceding quotes from Isa 6:10, 1Pe 2:24 = quote from Isa 53:5.
It is interesting that most of the NT uses in the Gospels refer to physical healing by Jesus (excepting the physical healing that resulted by release from demonic oppression). However in the OT (Lxx) uses iaomai refers primarily to spiritual healing by the Messiah (Isa 53:5, Isa 61:1, et al).
Presumably the fact that Luke was a physician explains why he made frequent use of iaomai (14/26x). The related word iatros (Mt 9:12 Mk 2:17 5:26 Lk 4:23, 5:31, 8:43, Col 4:14) is derived from iaomai and is actually the word used for "medical doctor" in modern Greece (cf English "iatrogenic" illness or malady caused by or secondary to medical treatment)! In ancient Greece this word group was extended from it's medical use to convey a sense of restoration or to making good. The word iatros is also ascribed to several Grecian deities (Here is an interesting background article = Healing deities, healing cults).
The Septuagint (Lxx) translates Rapha in Ex 15:26 with the verb iaomai. It is interesting that the first use of iaomai in the Lxx is in answer to Abraham's prayer for Abimelech's wife, and both were "healed...so that they bore children." (Ge 20:17). In Lev 14:3 iaomai refers to healing "in the leper." In Nu 12:13 Moses interceded for Miriam when she sinned asking "O God, heal her, I pray!" but He did not immediately heal her but had her shut up 7 days to bear her shame (Nu 12:14-15). In the cursings to Israel for their breaking the Mosaic covenant God promised boils that "cannot be healed." (Dt 28:27, 35" class="scriptRef">35). In Dt 30:3 Moses wrote that Jehovah would "restore you (Israel) from captivity," where restore (Heb = shub) is translated "heal" (iaomai) in the Lxx. Clearly this has to do primarily with "spiritual" healing, resulting in restoration. In 2Ki 2:21 after salt was thrown in the spring, Jehovah said "I have purified (rapha; iaomai - also in 2Ki 2:22) these waters." While a number of OT uses of iaomai signify physical healing, the majority use iaomai primarily of spiritual healing (although some uses are difficult to classify and/or overlap with physical healing, eg, Nu 12:13, Dt 28:27, 35) - Dt 30:3, 2Chr 7:14, Ps 6:2, Ps 30:2, Ps 41:4, Ps 147:3, Pr 12:18, Isa 6:10, Isa 19:22, Isa 30:26, Isa 53:5, Isa 57:18, 19, 61:1, Jer 3:22, 6:14, Jer 15:18, Jer 17:14, Jer 51:8-9, Lam 2:13, Hos 5:13, 6:1, 7:1, 11:3, 14:4, Zech 11:16.
One of the most familiar OT verses uses iaomai...
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal (rapha; iaomai) their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)
In one of the most important OT passages Isaiah writes of Messiah...
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed (rapha, iaomai). (Isaiah 53:5)
Comment: Healing here refers to forgiveness of sins and that is how 1Peter 2:24 interprets iaomai.
God emphasizes His sovereignty declaring...
'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded (Heb = machats = smite, wound severely) and it is I who heal (Heb = rapha, Lxx = iaomai), And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. (Deut 32:39, Job 5:18)
Iaomai - uses in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Ge 20:17; Ex 15:26; Lev 14:3, 8" class="scriptRef">48; Nu 12:13; Dt 28:27, 35; 30:3; 32:39; 1Sa 6:3; 1Kgs 18:30; 2Kgs 2:21f; 20:5, 8; 2Chr 7:14; 30:20; Job 5:18; 12:21; Ps 6:2; 30:2; 41:4; 60:2; 103:3; 107:20; 147:3; Pr 12:18; 18:9; 26:18; Eccl 3:3; Isa 6:10; 7:4; 19:22; 30:26; 53:5; 57:18f; 61:1; Jer 3:22; 6:14; 15:18; 17:14; 19:11; 51:8, 9; Lam 2:13; Hos 5:13; 6:1; 7:1; 11:3; 14:4; Zech 11:16.
Septuagint Lexicon - to heal Ge 20:17; to repair, to restore Hos 14:5; to quench 4Macc 3:10; to soothe (of pain) Isa 30:26; to purify 2Ki 2:21; to deliver 2Chr 7:14; to forgive 2Chr 30:20. Passive - to be removed from (of a disease) Lev 14:3; to be healed, to recover 1Sa 6:3, those who need correction Pr 26:18; your healer Ex 15:26; Is 7:4 I will heal
Iaomai - 26x in 26v in the NT - NAS Usage: curing(1), heal(4), healed(16), healing(2), heals(1), perform healing(2).
NOTE: (P) representing physical healing and (S) representing spiritual healing precede each of the NT verses below that use iaomai -
(P) Matthew 8:8 But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(P) 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.
(S) Matthew 13:15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'
(P) Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
(P) Mark 5:29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
(P) Luke 5:17 One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform hea (P)ling.
(P) Luke 6:18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.
(P) Luke 7:7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(P) Luke 8:47 When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.
(P) Luke 9:2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.
42 While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
(P) Luke 14:4 But they kept silent. And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away.
(P) Luke 17:15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,
(P) Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered and said, "Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him.
(P) John 4:47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
(P) John 5:13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.
(S) John 12:40 "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM."
(P) Acts 9:34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed." Immediately he got up.
(P) Acts 10:38 "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
(P) Acts 28:8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.
(S) Acts 28:27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'
(S) Hebrews 12:13-note and (continues from the exhortation in Heb 12:12-note) make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Wuest - The exhortation is to the born-again Jews who had left the temple, to live such consistent saintly lives, and to cling so tenaciously to their new-found faith, that the unsaved Jews who had also left the temple and had outwardly embraced the NT truth, would be encouraged to go on to faith in Messiah as High Priest, instead of returning to the abrogated sacrifices of the Levitical system (Ed: Those who returned to the Law were never truly born again. And to do so would make them "spiritually sick" and would result in eternal death if they were never healed by the wounds of Messiah - 1Pe 2:24). These truly born-again Jews are warned that a limping Christian life would cause these unsaved Jews to be turned out of the way. These latter had made a start towards salvation by leaving the Temple and making a profession of Messiah (Ed: Without possession of the life giving, indwelling Spirit of Christ). But they needed the encouraging example and testimony of the saved Jews. The words “turned out of the way” are the translation of another medical term, ektrepo “to turn or twist out. (Ed: So clearly "be healed" in this context speaks of "being healed" of the tendency to go back to the ritual of the Temple sacrifices and the keeping of the Law of Moses as supposed means of meriting salvation or of growing in grace and the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.)
MacArthur says "The writer of Hebrews also used it (iaomai) metaphorically to speak of spiritual restoration."
(P/S)? James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Comment: Here while the healing may be physical, it is associated with spiritual intervention (prayer) and with the implication that the healed party is restored to spiritual soundness.
MacArthur says "James uses it to refer to God's forgiveness, making the repentant believer spiritually whole again."
(S) 1 Peter 2:24-note and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Comment: By simple observation of the context one can discern that Peter is not referring to physical healing in this verse as some interpreters claim. Peter explains ("for") in the next verse that the healing was "for" or "because" (see term of explanation) his readers were continually straying like sheep, clearly a picture of "sin sickness" not physical sickness. In fairness, there is a sense in which Christ's substitutionary death did bring about the potential for "physical" healing -- in the sense that it guaranteed our future glorification when we receive our new resurrection bodies and when all sickness will be forever eradicated and believers will experience no sickness, pain, suffering, or death (Rev 21:1-4-note, Rev 22:1-3-note). Some falsely teach that physical healing is present in the atonement making reference to Isaiah 53:5 passage and the passage from Matthew 8 where we read...
And when evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill 17 in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES." (Mt 8:16-17)
Observe that the context of Mt 8:17 is clearly Jesus' healing activity during His earthly ministry so that the prophecy in Isaiah 53:4 was fulfilled (note that verse 17 begins "in order that" indicating the healing just mentioned was in order to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy). When did Jesus perform this healing which fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy? It was clearly before the atoning work of Christ on the cross. The point is that physical healing in this life is not inherent or promised in the atoning work of Christ. There is a false doctrine that teaches one should expect to be physically healed because of Christ's work on the Cross. If physical healing does not occur, the problem is that the ill or sick individual lacks the faith necessary to invoke God's healing power. The upshot of this false teaching is that the faith they teach about is faith in "faith" not in Christ. As already alluded to, clearly when believers die our physical bodies are delivered from the presence of disease in the future resurrection life. Furthermore God can and still does heal physical illnesses because He is a God of lovingkindness and mercy and it is His sovereign pleasure to chose to heal or not to heal. He alone is God, even if He chooses to not heal in answer to our fervent prayers for healing (and we all understand this statement, because we have all prayed passionately for healing of some loved one, and healing did not come about. We must NOT allow anyone to say the reason it did not come about is because we did not have enough faith or the right kind of faith, but because it was the good, acceptable and perfect will of the All Wise, In Control God of life and death, the God of Dt 32:39!).
Jehovah-Rophi.
I Am the Lord That Healeth Thee
by William Cowper
Heal us, Emmanuel! here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair
And, Saviour, we are such.
Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?
Be that far from Thee, Lord!
Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;
"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried,
"Oh, help my unbelief!"
She too, who touch'd Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole."
Conceal'd amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunn'd Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.
Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee, if we may;
Oh! send us not despairing home,
Send none unheal'd away!
What do you learn from Miriam's being smitten with leprosy? for context read entire chapter Numbers 12:1-16
"So the anger of the LORD burned against them and He departed. 10 But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous. 11 Then Aaron said to Moses "Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 "Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother's womb!" 13 Moses cried out to Jehovah, saying, "O Elohim, heal (rapha) her, I pray!"
King Hezekiah's Illness: 2 Kings 20:1-6:
"In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' (2) Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, (3) "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly (4) Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, (5) "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal (rapha) you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. (6) "I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake".
God's Appearance to Solomon after the dedication of the Temple of God: 2Chronicles 7:12, 1314:
"Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal (rapha) their land.
A "Negative" Example on the occasion of the Word of God coming to King Asa through the prophet Hanani on the occasion of King Asa's failure to rely on Jehovah to fight the Arameans (contrast King David's example below)
2 Chronicles 16:9, 10, 11, 12:
"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. 11 Now, the acts of Asa from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek Jehovah, (as Jehovah Rapha) but the physicians (rapha)."
Contrast King David with King Asa above Psalm 30:2
"O Jehovah my Elohim, I cried to Thee for help, and Thou didst heal (rapha) me."
"David sent up prayers for himself and for his people when visited with the pestilence. He went at once to head quarters, and not roundabout to fallible means. God is the best physician, even for our bodily infirmities. We do very wickedly and foolishly when we forget God. It was a sin in Asa that he trusted to physicians and not to God. If we must have a physician, let it be so, but still let us go to our God first of all; and, above all, remember that there can be no power to heal in medicine of itself; the healing energy must flow from the divine hand. If our watch is out of order, we take it to the watchmaker; if our body or soul be in an evil plight, let us resort to him who created them, and has unfailing skill to put them in right condition. As for our spiritual diseases, nothing can heal these evils but the touch of the Lord Christ: if we do but touch the hem of his garment, we shall be made whole, while if we embrace all other physicians in our arms, they can do us no service. "O Lord my God." Observe the covenant name which faith uses -- "my God." Thrice happy is he who can claim the Lord himself to be his portion. Note how David's faith ascends the scale; he sang "O Lord" in the first verse, but it is "O Lord my God," in the second. Heavenly heart music is an ascending thing, like the pillars of smoke which rose from the altar of incense. I cried unto thee. I could hardly pray, but I cried; I poured out my soul as a little child pours out its desires. I cried to my God: I knew to whom to cry; I did not cry to my friends, or to any arm of flesh. Hence the sure and satisfactory result -- Thou hast healed me. I know it. I am sure of it. I have the evidence of spiritual health within me now: glory be to thy name! Every humble suppliant with God who seeks release from the disease of sin, shall speed as well as the Psalmists did, but those who will not so much as seek a cure, need not wonder if their wounds putrefy and their soul dies. (Treasury of David)
How is Israel's sin described by Isaiah? Isaiah 1:4-note, Is 1:5, 6-note
"Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Jehovah. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from Him. 5 Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts and raw wounds, not pressed out or bandaged, nor softened with oil.
God's Words to Jeremiah regarding His promises to Israel for future restoration (physical & spiritual healing): Jeremiah 30:13, 14, 15, 16, 17 (Read entire chapter of Jeremiah 30:1-24 for proper context):
'There is no one to plead your cause. No healing (participle of rapha) for your sore, no recovery for you. 14 'All your lovers have forgotten you, They do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy (cf Dt 32:39) , With the punishment of a cruel one, because your iniquity is great & your sins are numerous. 15 'Why do you cry out over your injury ? Your pain is incurable. Because your iniquity is great & your sins are numerous, I have done these things to you. 16 'Therefore all who devour you will be devoured & all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity & those who plunder you will be for plunder, And all who prey upon you I will give for prey. 17 'For I will restore you to health & I will heal (rapha) you of your wounds,' declares the Jehovah, (Jehovah Rapha) 'because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."
The prophet is reminding Israel of her sin and its consequences comparing it to the metaphor of an incurable wound & yet promising future restoration to the land of Israel and spiritual healing by Jehovah Rapha.
Notice the order in Ps 103:3 - pardoning precedes healing:
"Who pardons all your iniquities, Who [Jehovah] heals (rapha) all your diseases."
C H Spurgeon commenting on this verse notes that...
When the cause is gone, namely, iniquity, the effect ceases. Sicknesses of body and soul came into the world by sin, and as sin is eradicated, diseases bodily, mental, and spiritual will vanish, till "the inhabitant shall no more say, I am sick." Many-sided is the character of our heavenly Father, for, having forgiven as a judge, he then cures as a physician. He is all things to us, as our needs call for him, and our infirmities do but reveal him in new characters.
"In him is only good,
In me is only ill,
My ill but draws his goodness forth,
And me he loveth still."
God gives efficacy to medicine for the body, and his grace sanctifies the soul. Spiritually we are daily under his care, and he visits us, as the surgeon does his patient; healing still (for that is the exact word) each malady as it arises. No disease of our soul baffles his skill, he goes on healing all, and he will do so till the last trace of taint has gone from our nature. The two alls of this verse are further reasons for all that is within us praising the Lord. (Treasury of David)
One Other Tower...
JEHOVAH-ROPHI
"The Lord will provide,"—
The Tower of Healing
by John MacDuff
From his book - COMMUNION MEMORIES and the chapter entitled The Great Resolve
Among those who partook of the Holy Sacrament, doubtless there were not a few members of the ever wide family of affliction. Some, experiencing soul-sorrows—hidden, unspoken griefs, too deep for utterance or for tears. In the case of others, trials, the nature of which is only too patent to fellow-worshipers and fellow-communicants, from the sable attire and symbols of mourning. It is blessed for you to think of Him whose love you commemorated, as Himself the King of sorrows—the Prince of sufferers—who, just because He was thus "acquainted with grief," is pre-eminently able to heal the broken in heart, and to bind up their wounds. He proclaims as His Name (and He suffered, and wept, and bled, and died, that He might have a right to say it) JEHOVAH-ROPHI," I am the Lord that heals you." He is the true "Healing-tree," which, cast into your bitterest Marah-pool, will make its waters sweet.
Brethren, if other earthly portions have perished, cleave to Him Who is unfailing and imperishable (Joshua 1:5)—Whose Name survives, when prized earthly names have either faded in oblivion, or are whispered through tears. When, let me ask, is the name of God most comforting? "I have remembered," says the Psalmist, "Your name, O Lord, in the night" (Ps.119:55). It was at Jacob's fierce struggle-hour, as at many of our own, he was led to prompt the earnest question to Him who was wrestling with him, "What is your name?" And, as with the Patriarch, He blesses us there. That Name of God is like a lighthouse, with its six-sided revolving lamps, it shines brightest in the gloom of trial. If some of the loopholes of your Tower be darkened—if the sun has set; and the midnight sky be over and around you; be it yours to sing—"You will light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness," "God our Maker gives songs in the night."
My closing communion wish and prayer is, that that Name, which is above every name, may be to all of you as "Ointment poured forth." "The name of the Lord!" it is spoken of as the badge at a more enduring Feast in the Church of the glorified. "His name," we read, "shall be upon their foreheads." No more; that Name is to form the theme of the saints' everlasting song. For what is the ascription of the Church triumphant—the ransomed conquerors beheld by John in vision, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God? "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify YOUR NAME?"
O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Three in One in covenant for our salvation—Send us help from the Sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Zion! that the resolve following a transient season of Communion on earth, may form at once the vow and the joy of Eternity—
"We will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." (Micah 4:5)
From Henry Law (1877)...
A Shepherd heals the ailments of the sheep. His heart is tender love. It is, moreover, skillful care. The flock is subject to variety of ills. Inclement seasons bring disease: contagion may be contracted; injuries from accidents occur, and sickness from many causes weakens. The well-trained Shepherd knows how to use the suitable relief. He watches anxiously, he diligently tends, he wisely nurses, he administers right remedies, and so effects a cure. It is his pride to have a healthy flock.
Here the Good Shepherd cannot be hidden. Jehovah-Rophi—"I am the Lord who heals you"—is His chosen name. (Ex 15:26) Is it not written,
"Who heals all your diseases." (Ps 103:3-note)
And again,
"He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds." (Ps 147:3-note)
In the kingdom of grace the lament is never heard,
"Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?" (Je 8:22)
Over His flock the Sun of Righteousness ever
"shines with healing in His wings." (Mal 4:2)
When He came to procure for His people everlasting health, miracles of bodily healing were foremost in His credentials. His reply to the disciples of John is,
"Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised." (Lk 7:22)
At His word all maladies took flight. No case was too inveterate or too severe. As many as touched the very hem of His garment were made perfectly whole. So, also, He heals the sickness of the soul. His present kingdom is a spiritual Bethesda.
"From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores." (Isa. 1:6)
Each believer is in himself loathsome, as the man "full of leprosy." (Lk 5:12) But let the cry ascend,
"Lord, if You will, You can make me clean."
"Heal me, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved for You are my praise." (Je 17:14)
The Good Shepherd will put forth His power, and spiritual health shall be restored. (Gleanings from the Book of Life -see chapter on God as our Shepherd)
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON
JEHOVAH RAPHA
The first time we see Jehovah rapha mentioned it is in connection with BITTERNESS in Exodus 15. This is a bitter situation -- do you see how this is so applicable to real life situations? It doesn't matter whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual. Bitter is still bitter. And then the tree in the water makes the water sweet. How does this relate to (Ga 3:13)? As discussed above the Greek word xulon (word study) used to translate the Hebrew word for "tree" in Ex 15:25 is also used for the Cross of Christ n the NT(1Pe2:24-note). So the picture in the bitter situation in Exodus 15 certainly seems to foreshadow the healing power of the Cross in the NT. It seems fair to suggest that when we encounter a bitter situation and flee to the cross of Jesus Christ, then the bitter can be made "sweet" by Jehovah Rapha. The circumstances may still be present but remember what Paul said in Ro 8 that "IN all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." Jehovah Rapha desires for us all to be "super conquerors" even IN THE MIDST of those situations that can otherwise potentially produce bitterness in our soul and spirit (see Ro 8:35) So anytime I have "sickness" of spirit, soul, mind or body, I should to run into is the strong tower of Jehovah Rapha. Run to the Great Physician and to the "tree", the Cross, where He Who knew no sin was made sin for us. This does not mean to suggest that we should never go to human physicians. In fact we should always seek wise counsel from trained medical practitioners in these situations. The point is don't bypass the Great Physician on your way to the doctor's office. And remember you can get an appointment with the Great Physician Jehovah Rapha anytime day or night and He always makes "house calls"!
All through Jeremiah we find the phrase "you did not listen" (click link for examples) (compare "if you give earnest heed" in Ex15:26?). How often we too are like Judah, unable to hear the voice of the Lord. Instead they listened to false prophets who had
"healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, 'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace." (Jer 6:11, 8:14).
The balm of Gilead is needed.
"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored? (Jer 8:22)
God was not the problem. Judah was. They refused to listen to God or His prophet. Gilead was a city of refuge, where fugitives could go to find refuge. Balm was used for medicinal purposes and cosmetic purposes. Take the balm of Gilead and you not only heal a sin sick soul but you have a beauty which shows forth on that person's countenance. Is there a balm in Gilead? Yes, there is. The "balm" that is always available to the humble heart, the one who has ears to hear His Word and the truth about Jehovah Rapha Who healed Israel when they cried out by sending "balm" in the form of His word (Ps107:19, 20).
So what do we do when we need healing? If we are hurting…bitterness, trauma, even from the sins we have committed. Run to Jehovah Rapha, to Calvary and find the "balm in Gilead". And lay hold of the "balm" -- lay hold of truth in His Word (the "balm of Gilead"), truth like "God causes all things to work together for good" (Ro 8:28) and then hold fast the Word of life for it is your balm that brings healing to your soul and spirit. When you need healing from bitterness -- Run to Jehovah Rapha. Go to Him first. Cry out to Him "God what shall I do? Is there sin I am unaware of" (Ps 139:23, 24, 1Cor4:4). If so, confess and forsake the sin (Pr 28:13, 1Jn1:9). Go to His Word of promise (Ro 9:9) and saturate yourself with the "balm" of His Word, laying hold of His "precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2Peter 1:4)
Effects of Sin
on Mankind's "Health"
from Names of God by Nathan Stone - see below
The moral & spiritual sickness of mankind is an open, running sore. The heart of man is desperately sick, says Jeremiah ("The heart is more deceitful than all else & is desperately sick; who can understand it?
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