THE MEDICINE OF GOD’S WORD

“For they are life to those who find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh” – Proverbs 4:22

Life and Power reside abundantly in the MEDICINE OF GOD’S WORD: “For they are life to those who find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh” (Pro.4:22). Here, the Hebrew word for “health” is “medicine.” God’s Word is medicine to all our flesh. The Bible goes to work when we apply it to the affected areas of life – spiritual, mental or physical. His Word is a prescription for holistic or whole person health. When we apply God’s principles, found in Scriptures, then we can enjoy abundant life in alignment to His perfect will (Rom. 12:2).

Jehovah introduced Himself as “the LORD who heals you” (Exo.15:26). The medicine He prescribes is His Word. However, belief in healing cannot replace the actual taking of God’s medicine – His Word. It is futile to say, “I believe in healing” without actually taking the medicine. What good would it do to believe in food without actually eating it? Such could result in starvation. What good would it do to believe in water without really drinking any? Such a person could die of thirst. In order for medicine to work in us we need to swallow and internalize it. We must do the same with God’s Word: read it, get it inside, and internalize it. The more we are soaked in God’s Word, the more we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to apply it to our lives.

To refer to God’s Word as medicine does not imply that His Word negates recourse to conventional medicine. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Christian using conventional medicine. It is neither evil nor lack of faith in God to do so. God, in His infinite wisdom, created certain plants with medicinal properties; hence, we discover that almost all medicines derive from plants: “the herb that yields seed” (Gen.1:11). Revelation 22:2b says: “The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” God also imparted His wisdom and knowledge to humanity about the functioning and care of the human mind and body.

There are a few parallels between God’s medicine and conventional medicine.

First, His Word is a healing agent just as medicine is a healing agent or catalyst. That is, the medicine itself contains the capacity to produce healing. God’s Word has inherent ability, capacity, and energy to effect healing: “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psa.107:20). God’s Word is often sent on the Errand of Healing: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55: 11). God’s Word contains the power to produce what it says! Healing Scriptures are able to produce healing. The key to partaking of the life and healing in the Word is to feed on it until it penetrates the spirit and deposits that life and energy.

Secondly, medicine is no respecter of persons. It will work for anyone who takes it. It is not a matter of God willing or not willing for the healing of any individual, but whether or not the individual will receive healing by taking the medicine that produces it.

Thirdly, no matter how good the medicine is, it must be taken according to directions to be effective, such as: “Take internally,” “Take externally,” ”take befoe meals” or “specific dosage.” Not adhering to instructions will reduce its effectiveness. So it is with God’s medicine. It must be taken according to directions to work: Attend to them, incline your ear to them, don’t let them depart from before your eyes, and keep them in the midst of your heart (vv.20-21). It is as they abide in the heart that they produce healing in the body.

Ultimately, every medicine takes time and patience to work. People often diligently return the prescription for refills. We must keep taking God’s medicine – praisefully confessing and prayerfully meditating on the Scriptures and giving them time to work.