Warning Against Spiritualist Physicians
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shall recover of this disease.” On the way they met Elijah, and instead
of a message from the idol, the king heard the awful denunciation from
the God of Israel, “Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which
thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.”
2 Kings 1:2, 6
.
It was Christ that bade Elijah speak these words to the apostate king.
Jehovah Immanuel had cause to be greatly displeased at Ahaziah’s
impiety. What had Christ not done to win the hearts of Israel and to
inspire them with unwavering confidence in Himself? For ages He
had visited His people with manifestations of the most condescending
kindness and unexampled love. From the time of the patriarchs, He
had shown how His “delights were with the sons of men.”
Proverbs
8:31
. He had been a very present help to all who sought Him in
sincerity. “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His
presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them.”
Isaiah 63:9
. Yet Israel had revolted from God and turned for help to
the Lord’s worst enemy.
The Hebrews were the only nation favored with a knowledge of
the true God. When the king of Israel sent to inquire of a pagan oracle,
he proclaimed to the heathen that he had more confidence in their idols
than in the God of his people, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
In the same manner do those who profess to have a knowledge of
God’s word dishonor Him when they turn from the Source of strength
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and wisdom, to ask help or counsel from the powers of darkness. If
God’s wrath was kindled by such a course on the part of a wicked,
idolatrous king, how must He regard a similar course pursued by those
who profess to be His servants?
Unwise Confidence
Many are unwilling to put forth the needed effort to obtain a knowl-
edge of the laws of life and the simple means to be employed for the
restoration of health. They do not place themselves in right relation
to life. When sickness is the result of their transgression of natural
law, they do not seek to correct their errors and then ask the blessing
of God, but they resort to the physicians. If they recover health, they
give to drugs and doctors all the honor. They are ever ready to idolize
human power and wisdom, seeming to know no other god than the
creature—dust and ashes.