Christ, Our Healer Detailed
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
Jehovah Rapha
Jehovah Rapha
Exodus 15:22–26 “Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.””
Jehovah Rapha is a compound name that the Lord has used to reveal a part of His character.
Jehovah Rapha, more accurately transliterated as Yahweh-Rapha, is a compound name for God meaning "Yahweh who heals"[1]. This name appears in Exodus 15:26, where God assures Israel that He will prevent the diseases of Egypt from affecting them if they obey His commandments[1]. The Hebrew word "rapha" (רָפָא) is a verb meaning to cure, heal, or restore health[2]. It can refer to physical healing of ailments or injuries, as well as the repair of inanimate objects[2]. Importantly, when used in relation to God (Yahweh), "rapha" often carries a deeper spiritual significance, indicating forgiveness of misdeeds and restoration of the relationship between God and His people[1][2]. While the specific name "Yahweh-Rapha" is used only once in the Bible, the concept of God as a healer is frequently praised and called upon throughout the scriptures[1].
[1] Gerard Van Groningen, “God, Names Of,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 884–885.
[2] J. David Stark, “Forgiveness,” in Lexham Theological Wordbook, ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
Lexham Theological Wordbook Lexical Information
Lexical Information
Old Testament
רָפָא (rāpāʾ). vb. to heal. To restore something to a condition of health or wholeness.
By far the most common term for healing in the OT, rāpāʾ is frequently used to describe physical healing or recovery (e.g.,
Emmanuel
Emmanuel
Jesus, who was fully God and man, came and revealed the character of God.
Hebrews 1:1–3 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
John 14:7–14 “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
These two passages establish the truth that Jesus, Emmanuel, came and revealed the eternal and unchangeable nature of God to sinful humans.
As it pertains to Divine Healing what did Jesus’s life and ministry reveal about our Father, Yahweh Rapha?
Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Does the Lord Jesus Christ change his mind about being Yahweh Rapha?
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Does our Lord show favoritism?
Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
He is Yahweh Rapha, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, Christ, the Healer!
How do we cooperate with the Lord in the ministry of Divine healing?
How do we cooperate with the Lord in the ministry of Divine healing?
Answer: The Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus has given Himself, Yahweh Rapha, the Eternal Living Word, to us in written form. He invites us to partake of Him at all times.
How do we do this?
20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. 21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. (Marpe)
What does this attention to the Word look like for the New Testament believer?
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
When we do this, Proverbs says it will be health to our whole body. The word health is marpe.
Marpe is a word which has it’s origins in Rapha.
Yahweh Rapha was the Word who was made flesh. As we abide in Him and His Words abide in us, Yahweh Rapha, the living Word will, will manifest in our flesh.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Proverbs C. Protecting the Heart (4:20–27)
4:20–22. In a third appeal to his son, the father calls once more for close attention to his important words. The message coming in the next few verses is crucial, so you should keep it central in your thoughts. Don’t let it out of your sight; keep it within your heart, in the center of your soul. Solomon promised life in verses 4, 10, and 13, and he returns to the theme here. If you want life, pay attention to wisdom. And he promises that you will not only enjoy life, but you will flourish in your physical health. Like many other promises in Proverbs, this does not guarantee total immunity from illness, but it does reflect the fact that many maladies stem from foolish choices.
Some additional ways in which healing is ministered is by the laying on of hands as well as anointing with oil and praying the prayer of faith.
Let’s be doers of the Word today!
Let’s be doers of the Word today!
Scriptures to “attend to”.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. 26 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.
16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
