The Great Physician

Scriptures: Jeremiah 8:21-22 (CSB)- I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people.  I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.  Is there no balm in Gilead?  Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?

I Thessalonians 5:23 – May your whole spirit, soul, body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. 

Gilead, east of Jordan, was known for its medicinal balm/salve.  Jeremiah warned that Gilead’s balm could not heal the sin sick soul.  Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, had a very negative message to God’s people.  His message was about their wickedness and idolatry, and that's why they needed to repent.  Because of the peoples’ refusal to repent, God allowed/caused the Babylonian Captivity of His people.  Although the peoples’ suffering was the result of their sins, Jeremiah longed for God to apply healing balm to their wounds.  We, as the Church of Jesus Christ, should continually be weeping/praying and being concerned for the healing of those who are not saved – especially as the time of Jesus return is certainly near.

Aren’t you glad that our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, can and does still heal us from inside out – our spirit, soul, and body!!  The Lord heals us spiritually!  Isaiah 53:5 says “The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed.”  He heals us emotionally!  When Jeremiah was overwhelmed by the thought of war, when he thought about God’s unfailing mercy, his hope/peace returned to him.  Lamentations 3:21 – 24 says “Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope.  Because of the Lord’s faithful love, we do not perish. For His mercy never ends.  They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.  I say the Lord is my portion.  Therefore, I will put my hope in Him.”  He heals us physically!  God sometimes heals us miraculously and others He heals through medicine.  Sometimes He doesn’t grant physical healing.  It may depend on His purpose for our physical infirmity.  II Corinthians 12:9-10 says “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

God will complete what He has started in us.  (I Thessalonians 5:23)  Philippians 1:6 says “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  He will sanctify us completely as we yield/allow Him to change/transform us from inside out  -- spirit, soul (mind, will, emotion), and body!  I am also comforted in knowing that when no one exactly knows  how I feel about what I am going through, God knows, understands, and can do something about my infirmities – according to His perfect will.  Hebrews 4:16 – “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  I will continue to take my burden, infirmities, cares and concerns to the Lord in prayer, because I trust Him.  My life is in Your hand.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  Thank You for being the Great Physician (Jehovah Rophe)!  Thank You for healing me from inside out!  I pray that those in my family, church, and in the world, who are not saved will cry out to you for salvation before it is too late.  Help me to keep a short account of sin – realizing that there are consequences to sins. I am trusting You.  My life is in Your hand.   All this I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)