Topical Bible: Prayer for Healing

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Topical Encyclopedia

Prayer for healing is a significant theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the deep human desire for physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration. The act of seeking divine intervention for healing is rooted in the belief in God's power and willingness to heal, as well as His compassion for human suffering.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of prayer for healing, emphasizing God's role as the ultimate healer. In Exodus 15:26, God declares to the Israelites, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." This passage highlights the conditional nature of divine healing, linked to obedience and faithfulness.

The account of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:1-6 illustrates personal prayer for healing. When Hezekiah was ill and near death, he prayed earnestly to the Lord, who responded by granting him an additional fifteen years of life. This narrative underscores the power of sincere prayer and God's responsiveness to the pleas of His people.

Psalms and Prophetic Literature

The Psalms frequently express prayers for healing, often intertwined with pleas for deliverance and forgiveness. Psalm 103:2-3 praises God, saying, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds—He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases." This passage connects physical healing with spiritual restoration, reflecting a holistic view of health.

The prophetic books also contain promises of healing, often linked to the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah 53:5 prophesies, "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His stripes we are healed." This verse is interpreted by Christians as a foretelling of Christ's atoning sacrifice, which brings ultimate healing to humanity.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, Jesus' ministry is marked by numerous healings, demonstrating His authority over sickness and His compassion for the afflicted. In Matthew 8:16-17, it is recorded, "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took on our infirmities and carried our diseases.'"

The early church continued this ministry of healing through prayer. In James 5:14-16, believers are instructed, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." This passage emphasizes the communal aspect of prayer for healing and the importance of faith and confession.

Theological Considerations

Prayer for healing is not merely a request for physical restoration but is deeply connected to spiritual well-being and faith in God's sovereignty. While God is capable of miraculous healing, the Bible also acknowledges that not all prayers for healing result in immediate or visible outcomes. The Apostle Paul, for instance, speaks of a "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, which he prayed to be removed, yet God responded, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness."

Ultimately, prayer for healing is an expression of trust in God's perfect will, whether that results in physical healing, spiritual growth, or the grace to endure suffering. It is a reminder of the hope found in Christ, who offers eternal healing and restoration.

Topical Bible Verses

James 5:14-16
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
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Library

Leroy's Healing.
... To the first question she answered, "Yes; God made him," and to the second, "Thy
will be done, O God." Then she breathed an earnest prayer for his healing. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter xv leroys healing.htm

The Return to Capernaum - Healing of the Centurion's Servant.
... a prophet, he expressly repudiated any prophetic knowledge, far more any supernatural
power of healing, and explained that liberty in prayer always indicated ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xix the return to.htm

Healing of the Heathen Centurion's Slave at Capernaum. --The ...
... lowered him, by presuming that his corporeal presence is necessary to the healing
of thy ... [421] We cannot admit Dr. Strauss's assertion that the prayer sent by ...
/.../section 160 healing of the.htm

September the Second Prayer and Revolution
... Prayer was corroborated by belief. "The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto
him." By our faith we cut the channels along which the healing energy will ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/september the second prayer and.htm

Elucidations.
... together." In James 5:16 the "confession to one another" seems to refer to this
public discipline, as also the prayer for healing enjoined on one another. St. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on modesty/elucidations.htm

James v. 14-18
... if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." We see that James ascribes
the healing power, not to the anointing with oil, but to the prayer of faith ...
/.../neander/the epistle of james practically explained/james v 14-18.htm

Divine Healing.
... The "gifts of healing" were placed in the church ... the church; and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter ix divine healing.htm

Of a Holy Brother to whom the Mother of Christ Appeared when He ...
... CHRIST APPEARED WHEN HE WAS ILL, AND BROUGHT HIM THREE VASES OF HEALING OINTMENT. ...
He was a man wholly devoted to prayer and contemplation, and the brothers held ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xlvii of a holy.htm

Healing and Service
... because we have wrong notions as to the sphere and limits of prayer, and partly ... that
we can gather from the variety of Christ's methods of healing is this ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/healing and service.htm

Second Journey through Galilee - the Healing of the Leper.
... But to have heard Him teach, to have seen or known Him as healing all manner of ... help:
If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.' It is not a prayer, but the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv second journey through.htm