What does the Bible say about doctors?

Should we trust in doctors, or should we trust in the Lord. Or is there a middle ground?

God says that herbs are for medicine, not drugs, and that we should trust Him for healing, not doctors...

Mental illness, like depression, is cured by the joy of the Lord and a merry heart:

Prov 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine : but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

God says herbs (leaf) is for medicine:

Ezek 47:12 ...and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine

Ps 104:14 and herb for the service of man

Strong's exhaustive concordance of the Bible, which lists every word in the Bible, lists the word "sorcery" as word #5332 and tells us that it is translated from the original Greek word "pharmakon." It gives the definition as: a drug i.e. a spell-giving potion, a druggist or pharmacist, a poisoner.

Pharmaceuticals are "sorcery" to God... Addictive prescriptions should be avoided, just like addictive illegal drugs. They are not good...

Asa, the king of Israel died with an exceeding great disease because "he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians".

2 Chron 16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

The implication here is that if he had sought the Lord it may have been different for him...

One example of divine healing that used natural means as well is the healing of King Hezekiah.

Isaiah 38:1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'" 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, "Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.

This is a wonderful example of an answer to a prayer for healing. I have a question for you: Did Hezekiah immediately get out of bed? The answer to that question is given later in the same chapter:

Isaiah 38:21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover."

One thing I love about studying the Word of God is that when you compare Scripture with Scripture, difficulties will often be explained. In this case, we have another record in the Bible of the healing of King Hezekiah. As I read it, notice the things mentioned here that were not in Isaiah's account.

2 Kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.'" 2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 "Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 "Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David." 7 Then Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

We should trust in God, not men, especially not in pharmaceuticals. Herbs (natural healing) is of God...

If you're depressed, try just praising the Lord and lifting your voice to Him when you feel depressed. You will find that He will take that depression away...

The middle ground is; use herbs and natural medicines whenever possible, and pray for healing with patience, lifting your voice in praise to the Lord.

Should we "never" take any drug, like asprin or non-addictive pain medicine, or use antibiotics, or alergy relief medicines, etc.? Should we "never" go to the doctor for anything? No, I don't believe that's what God is saying.

Luke was a physician, and physicians are not spoken of as evil men in the Bible, but the example of the Lord is that we should trust Him, even if we do go see a physician. But don't go see a witch-doctor, or some doctor that's just going to push drugs on you like so many of the modern doctors do. Try to find a doctor who is a believer in natural medicines and, if possible, one who loves the Lord.

1 Tim 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Natural things, even a little wine, is good for the health. Red wine has proven to be healthy (in appropriate amounts) by modern medical researchers.

An example is Paul, as he writes to the Corinthians: 2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh , the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Hosea 4:2-3 You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere, one murder after another. That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing.

The world is corrupt because of the evil men do every day. Lying, killing, stealing, committing sexual sin, etc... This is why people are so sick and unhealthy today. The world is wasting away because of it.

As Paul says, seek the Lord for healing of infirmities, but if God says no then allow Him to be strong for you and follow Him no matter what.