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Divine Healing, August 22
2 Kings 20:1-11
;
Isaiah 38:1-8
I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in
truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy
sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
2 Kings 20:3
.
In the midst of his prosperous reign King Hezekiah was suddenly stricken
with a fatal malady. “Sick unto death,” his case was beyond the power of man
to help. And the last vestige of hope seemed removed when the prophet Isaiah
appeared before him with the message, “Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in
order: for thou shalt die, and not live.”
The outlook seemed utterly dark; yet the king could still pray to the One
who had hitherto been his “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
(
Psalm 46:1
). And so “he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord.”
...
He whose “compassions fail not,” heard the prayer of His servant. “It came
to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord
came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people,
Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I
have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee....” Gladly the prophet returned with
the words of assurance and hope. Directing that a lump of figs be laid upon
the diseased part, Isaiah delivered to the king the message of God’s mercy and
protecting care
Those who seek healing by prayer should not neglect to make use of the
remedial agencies within their reach. It is not a denial of faith to use such
remedies as God has provided to alleviate pain and to aid nature in her work
of restoration.... God has put it in our power to obtain a knowledge of the
laws of life. This knowledge has been placed within our reach for use. We
should employ every facility for the restoration of health, taking every advantage
possible, working in harmony with natural laws. When we have prayed for the
recovery of the sick, we can work with all the more energy, thanking God that
we have the privilege of co-operating with Him, and asking His blessing on the
means which He Himself has provided
[241]
32
Ibid., 340-342
.
33
The Ministry of Healing, 231, 232
.
249