Seeking Medical and Professional Help in Biblical Perspective
The Bible presents a perspective on seeking help that emphasizes reliance on God while also acknowledging the role of human agency and wisdom. Throughout the Psalms, there are numerous pleas for divine help and deliverance from trouble, affliction, and enemies [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. These prayers often express a deep trust in God's power and compassion to intervene in difficult circumstances [8, 13]. For instance, Psalm 10:14 states, "But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless" [1]. Similarly, Psalm 70:1 cries out, "Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, Yahweh" [3].
This reliance on God for help is not seen as precluding the use of human means or the wisdom of seeking professional assistance. The New Testament, particularly in James 5:14, instructs, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church" [7, 10]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, notes that this instruction aligns with Jewish maxims that encouraged seeking wisdom and prayer from spiritual leaders in times of sickness [7]. He quotes Rabbi Simeon, who said, "He who studies to restore the health of the body, should first lay the foundation in the health of the soul" [7]. This suggests a holistic approach where spiritual care and prayer are foundational, but not necessarily exclusive of other forms of help.
The concept of seeking help extends beyond physical ailments to various forms of distress. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists numerous biblical passages that encourage prayer under affliction, including requests for God's consideration of trouble, His presence and support, divine comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance [6]. This broad understanding of "help" encompasses spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.
Furthermore, the Bible illustrates instances where individuals use practical wisdom alongside prayer. For example, Abraham's servant, when seeking a wife for Isaac, prayed for divine guidance but also looked for specific character traits in the woman he encountered, demonstrating a blend of spiritual reliance and rational observation [11]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that Jesus's readiness to heal the centurion's servant in Matthew 8:7 shows Christ's immediate willingness to do good in response to a prayer of faith, indicating that divine intervention can be direct and powerful [12]. However, this does not negate the value of human efforts or the expertise of professionals. The emphasis remains on God as the ultimate source of help, accessed through prayer and faith, while also recognizing the means He may use, including the wisdom and skills of others [9, 11].
Sources
- Psalms “But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14”
- Psalms “Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh. -- Psalms 40:13”
- Psalms “Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, Yahweh. -- Psalms 70:1”
- Psalms “Psalms 44:26 (BSB) — Rise up; be our help! Redeem us on account of Your loving devotion.”
- Psalms “Psalms 35:2 (BBE) — Be a breastplate to me, and give me your help.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 5:14: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders - This was also a Jewish maxim. Rabbi Simeon, in Sepher Hachaiyim, said: "What should a man do who goes to visit the sick? Ans. He who studies to restore the health of the body, should first lay the foundation in the health of the soul. The wise men have said, No healing is equal to that which comes from the word of God and prayer. Rabbi Phineas, the son of Chamma, hath said, 'When sickness or disease enters into a man's family, let him apply to a wise man, who will implore mercy in his behalf.'" See Schoettgen. St. ”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 31:2: He seeks help in God's righteous government (Psa 5:8), and begs for an attentive hearing, and speedy and effectual aid. With no other help and no claim of merit, he relies solely on God's regard to His own perfections for a safe guidance and release from the snares of his enemies. On the terms "rock," &c., (compare Psa 17:2; Psa 18:2, Psa 18:50; Psa 20:6; Psa 23:3; Psa 25:21).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 105:4: Seek the Lord and his strength,.... The ark, which is called his strength, and the ark of his strength, Psa 78:61, because he had shown his great strength by it, in dividing the waters at Jordan, throwing down the walls of Jericho, and plaguing the Philistines because of it, when among them. This was a symbol of God's presence, before which he was sought by his people; and was a type of our Lord Jesus, the man of God's right hand, whom he has made strong for himself, and who is called his strength, Psa 80:18. Some render it, and which Aben Ezra makes mention of, thou”
- James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 5:14: Is any sick among you?.... Which is often the case; the bodies of the saints, as well as others, are liable to a variety of diseases; they are sick, and sometimes nigh unto death, as Epaphroditus was: and then, let him call for the elders of the church; in allusion to the elders of the congregation of Israel, Lev 4:15. By these may be meant, either the elder members of the church, men of gravity and soundness in the faith, persons of long standing and experience; who have the gift and grace of prayer, and are not only capable of performing that duty, but of giving a ”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 24:12: And he said, O Lord God, etc. - "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular; and at the same time, by asking a natural sign, such as betokened humanity, condescension, and other qualities which promised a discreet and virtuous wife, he puts his prayer upon such a discreet, rational footing, as to be a proper example for all to imitate who would not tempt the providence of God, by expect”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 8:7: And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. This answer of Christ's, which is short and full, not only shows the readiness of Christ to do good, how soon and easily he complied with the centurion's request, it being a prayer of faith, and so effectual, and was heard as soon as delivered; but also contains an absolute promise that he would heal him. He does not say that he would come and see him, and what his case was, and do what he could for him, as ordinary physicians do; but he would come and heal him at once: and indeed it is a proposal of more than what w”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 44:26: Arise for our help,.... Or, "arise our help" (s). God is the help of his people, and he is a present help in time of trouble; and he is the only one; and he can help and does, when none else can; and redeem us for thy mercies' sake; not for the sake of her integrity and faithfulness; nor for her sufferings for Christ's sake; but for his grace and mercy's sake, which is the source and spring of redemption or deliverance, both temporal and spiritual; and to that the saints ascribe it, and not to any merit of theirs, or works of righteousness done by them. (s) "auxi”