Seek Ye First God or the Physician?
Authoritative Answers: Part Two
In the first part of this discussion, we looked at how King Ahaziah sought the god of Ekron concerning his illness rather than the God of the Bible.
Ahaziah was a pagan, idolatrous king, so one might expect him to seek counsel outside of God's Word. It could be reasoned that as Christians we are not like Ahaziah, and therefore his situation does not really apply to us.
In addition, the story of Ahaziah may not be enough evidence to prove that seeking a false god concerning health related issues could be equated with seeking out the medical establishment concerning health and healing.
In anticipation of such a response, and to further demonstrate the point, additional biblical evidence will be presented for consideration. This evidence can be found in a situation concerning righteous Asa as written about in II Chronicles 15-16.
Asa, King of Judah
Asa, King of Judah, followed the ways of the Lord. These words are spoken of Asa, "...Asa's heart was blameless all his days."
Despite this high praise in chapter 15, there were instances of God's displeasure with Asa recorded in chapter 16. Asa had, on occasion, not put his trust fully in the Lord.
He was admonished twice. The first admonishment concerned a treaty with the King of Aram, which back-fired. This was the admonishment, "Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand."
Asa did not like this word from the prophet. He became angry and threw the seer, or prophet, into prison. He also began oppressing some people.
This example is much like the Christian who is blameless in Christ, yet still sins. Asa's heart was considered blameless, but he was by no means sinless, as the illustration confirms. He also had one other account against him.
Asa Sought the Physicians Not God
Asa's second admonishment from the King of Kings dealt with the same principle as the first, but it involved a different area of Asa's life - his health.
II Chronicles 16:12: In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.
Asa died two years later. It was not recorded that he ever repented of this sin, nor recovered from this illness in his feet.
Had Asa's heart become hardened so that he did not seek God in his illness? It could well be. But this we know for certainty: God was not pleased that he sought the physicians instead of Himself. Asa was not being praised for seeking the physicians; his actions were being condemned.
Does this teach that God forbids people from seeking the advice of the physicians? No, but it does teach that we are to seek God first. It absolutely teaches this.
We know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is unchangeable. How much teaching of the Old Testament do we ignore? We are not under the curse of the Old Testament law. Christ fulfilled the law and became a curse on our behalf. We must read the Old Testament with New Covenant eyes. Romans 15:4 reminds us that what was written in earlier times (the Old Testament) was written for our instruction. Oh, how much loveliness there is to glean from the Old Testament of the Bible.
Whom do you seek? God or the physicians?
I urge you to seek God first. Seek Him wholly. Apply His principles to your health first. Beg Him to teach you how to be healthy. Honor Him with your body - it is His temple (if you belong to him).
Next: Authoritative Answers: Conclusion
Return To: Biblical Health Study