Psalm 103:3(b)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.
With the advancement that has been made in the medical field, it is difficult to fully appreciate the world of the Psalmist and thus the weight of these words. Unlike today, when we can easily attribute the healing of our bodies to some medical procedure or drug, the options for David and his contemporaries were limited. Therefore, many of the illnesses that today are easily treatable were actually life-threatening. And as he reflects on his many years on the earth, and the various diseases he had contracted along the way, he couldn’t help but see God’s hand of healing. Thus, he gives thanks and praise to God for healing ALL of his diseases.
Yet this is not an easy line of Scripture because we are faced with the reality of those who do not receive healing, and perhaps the disease becomes the cause of their death. How then are we to reconcile the truth of this text with our own lived experience? There are two ways of looking at it: One is the fact that every healing that we’ve ever received regardless of the means we received it came from God. In that sense, then, it is He alone who heals all our diseases. Secondly, and especially for believers, death is not a fatal blow but rather an usher into greater glories. We will be clothed with glorified bodies that never get sick. Based on these two scenarios, the Christian can confidently praise and say with David, “He heals all my diseases.” Lastly, this text reminds us of God’s unmatched power. He is able to heal every kind of illness, ALL our diseases. Therefore, with confidence and gratitude, we can ask Him for healing of whatever it is that is ailing us.
Reflections
1. What is your own understanding of today’s text?
2. How has today’s devotion shaped your thinking about God’s healing?
