JEHOVAH-RAPHA - The Lord Who Heals!

Baruch Ha Shem Adonai!
(Blessed be the Name of the Lord!)

This is the eighth in The CRIB's presentation of the Twelve Jewels of God ... a look at the wonderful, powerful, inspirational names of God.

As I write this post on Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals, I am confronted with the need for healing on a scale not often seen in this country! Hurricane Katrina took place one week ago and the devastation is jaw dropping. Literally a million people and more need the hand of God in their life now, today ... or they will all too soon. The timing of this Jewel of God could not be more opportune.

The name before us is Jehovah Rapha, "The Lord Who Heals"; it appears only once in this exact form in Scripture; this name is second in order of the compound redemptive names of God. The Great Physician of the New Testament is the Jehovah Rapha of the Old Testament.

Though some argue the name is related to an earthly covenant with the nation Israel alone, I will not delve into that theology here. Just remember the Great Healing of God is done in our souls when we allow Him to "restore" us to a right relationship with Him.

The Hebrews had just been liberated from over four centuries of bondage and were on a journey of faith with Jehovah leading them, day and night. But unrighteousness had hardened hearts even in the midst of slavery. It was not long before sins of the heart began to bear fruit in their lives; complaining and murmuring became commonplace. In context, it was the bitter water of Marah of which they were complaining; as a result, Israel would soon get to know Jehovah Rapha in new and painful way.

And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD, your healer."

Exodus 15:26

However, the name or the attribute behind the name appear in other forms throughout the Bible. For example ...

A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits (lit. treatments, ministrations, or services);

Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Psalms 103:1-5

Clearly this jewel, when placed in a setting with Jehovah-Jireh, becomes a precious jewel.

Rapha (râpâ') means "to restore", "to heal" or "to make healthful" in Hebrew. When the two words are combined — Jehovah Rapha — it can be translated as "Jehovah Who Heals." (see Isa 30:26; Jer 30:17; Jer 3:22 below). Jehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people, as well as their nation.

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.

Isaiah 30:26

"Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to You; For You are the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 3:22

"For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds," declares the LORD, "Because they have called you an outcast, saying: 'It is Zion; no one cares for her.'"

Jeremiah 30:17

Time upon time the people of Israel came to Jehovah for His healing; the book of Judges speaks to these people crying out in their affliction and God responding. Jeremiah and Lamentations are as a whole a plea to Jehovah Rapha to heal the land.

Israel was, and we (on a minor scale and for different reasons) now are, in need of healing.

God's revelation of Himself is progressive; as the people of God took His hand and surrendered to His will, He revealed another aspect of His nature to them. It was out of this that the names of God arose; each name a jewel of infinite value to His people.

When we associate His name "Elohim" with creative work, we see great truths about His power as originator of the universe. When we understand that the name "Jehovah" is used of God in His covenant relationship [with His creation], we receive a deep insight into His goodness, His mercy, and His grace. [Paul R. Van Gorder's RBC (Radio Bible Class) pamphlet "Who Is Jehovah?" (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1977; p. 9) no longer in print]

I fear we have lost the sense of this value in His name and and their relationship to His attributes.

I love how Kay Arthur describes her salvation experience;

"On that day ... He applied the Cross to the bitter waters of my life, and I was healed of sin's mortal wounds (Galatians 3:13-14; 1 Peter 2:24). I had turned to Jehovah-rapha, the Shepherd and Guardian of my soul (1 Peter 2:25)." [Kay Arthur's coffee table book, "The Peace & Power of Knowing God's Name"; Waterbrook Press, 2002]

Now America is confronted with the bitter waters of national sin and unfaithfulness; 2 Chron 7:14 screams in our ears ...

and [if] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Consider well this from the Apostle Paul the next time you attend the Lord's Supper and receive from Him the body and the blood ...

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.

1 Corinthians 11:26-30

Again and again Jesus told those He healed, "Your faith has made you whole." We will not all be healed but many who would be healed are not because they do not come in faith, believing. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, it is He who has taken your strips upon Himself and healed you ... claim the power and authority of Jesus over what afflicts you and trust His will for your life.

And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick."

Luke 5:31

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

1 Peter 2:24

America is sick, the world is sick ... Hurricane Sin passed through our Garden several millennia ago and we have been in recovery mode since. God wants to heal us but because of shameful pride, we fight Him.

Jesus said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness ... ." [Matthew 6:33] The only way to do that is to love the Lord our God with all our being. Then he will heal our land.