Divine Health
In Jeremiah 8, Jeremiah lamented for the daughter of Zion as they were afflicted and in distress. The people were oppressed and set for captivity because of the years of sin and disobedience. As he lamented, Jeremiah cried for the balm in Gilead and for a physician to bring healing. During a time of tribulation, Jeremiah made reference to it for use to cure both Israel's physical and spiritual wounds.
The balm of Gilead is a rare perfume, used for medicinal purposes and it got its name from the place where it is produced. This balm was clearly potent and well known for its ability to heal, that the knowledge of it has remained since the Old Testament. It has also been used in reference to Jesus Christ. Many Old Testament prophets wrote about healing and David blessed the Lord and recalled the benefits of serving him. “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” (Psalms 103:3).
In the Old Testament covenant between God and Israel, He promised to bless their bread and water and remove sickness from their midst (Exodus 23:25). God also promised that He would take away all sickness from his people and place none of the diseases, that were placed on the Egyptians on them (Deuteronomy 7:15). Jesus is the new covenant promise of God, since the law was unable to redeem us to God. The old covenant represented the law, which God’s people struggled to maintain. “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). Jesus’s death and wounding was for our sin and iniquity and by His stripes on the Cross, we receive healing (Isaiah 53:5).
There were things that we could not accomplish through the law, because of the weakness of our flesh. As a result, God sent Jesus Christ in the flesh to fulfill the law’s righteous requirements. During His time on earth, Jesus healed all who came to Him who were sick or who had infirmities. “Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them” (Matthew 15:30). Jesus had compassion on the crowds and for all who believed. He worked miracles. He didn’t perform many miracles in His own town, because they didn’t believe that He was sent by God. Jesus gave the authority to His disciples to heal others, through His name and promised that they would do even greater works than He did. As we live and follow the example of Jesus, we also have authority to pray and lay hands on the sick.
James instructed us to call for the elders of the church to pray and lay hands on the sick, so they can recover (James 5:14). I also believe that any believer who has the faith, can pray for someone to receive healing in the name of Jesus. Healing is a covenant promise, both in the Old and New Testament. God’s word and His promises never change and He wants us to believe and receive healing from infirmity. Miracles, healing, signs and wonders, should not be a strange phenomenon among believers. It should be the norm, as God wants His children to experience supernatural healing. We also have to regard and treat our bodies as temples, which means not defiling our bodies through over eating, excessive drinking, smoking, or prolonged exhaustion. God also prescribed rest and we have to use wisdom when it comes to caring for our physical and emotional well being.
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.” -- I Corinthians 3:16
Questions for Reflection:
1. Why does God want his children to experience health and healing?
2. How does it feel to know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?
3. Does knowing that Jesus died for your healing, make it easier for you to accept that God wants you to be healthy?
