Biblical References and Lessons from Natural Poultices

A poultice is a divine remedy sanctioned by God for healing, most notably seen in the restoration of King Hezekiah through the application of a lump of figs. 🌿

Greetings! It is a joy to study the Word together and see how the Lord, in His infinite tenderness, provides simple means to restore our health and vitality. Our bodies are not our own; they are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and we are called to glorify God in our bodies through temperance and the use of His appointed remedies 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

The Scriptural Foundation for Poultices

The most prominent example of a poultice in the Bible involves a direct instruction from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah. This reveals that even when God promises a miracle, He often works through the cooperation of human effort and natural agencies.

• The Healing of Hezekiah: When King Hezekiah was sick unto death with a life-threatening boil or carbuncle, he cried out to the Lord. God heard his prayer and added fifteen years to his life. However, God did not simply touch him with a divine finger; He gave a specific medical prescription.

  "For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover" Isaiah 38:21.

Lessons from the "Plaster of Figs"

This "plaster" or poultice was a common remedy, yet it carried divine power because it was used in obedience to God's word. It teaches us several vital principles for our own health:

• Cooperation with the Divine: While God is the only one who can truly heal, we are called to be "laborers together with God." He provides the healing power, but we must "get into line" with that power by using the means He has provided.

• Simple Remedies: The use of a lump of figs shows that the Lord often chooses simple, natural things—like charcoal, water, or fruit—to accomplish His work. These agencies help the body recover its natural tone and health.

• A Test of Faith: Hezekiah asked for a sign of his recovery, and the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz moved backward ten degrees 2 Kings 16:10. His faith was strengthened not only by the miracle in the heavens but by the practical application of the poultice that allowed him to walk into the house of the Lord just three days later.

Our Responsibility as Stewards

Because we are the "temple of the living God" 2 Corinthians 6:16, we must be careful not to cloud our discernment through self-indulgence or neglect. Those who seek to follow the truth must realize that eating, drinking, and dressing are all related to our spiritual health.

• Avoiding Intemperance: When we follow "foolish and hurtful lusts," we destroy our power to discern sacred things 1 Timothy 6:9.

• Preparing for His Appearance: We are told that "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" Colossians 3:4. To be ready for that day, we must sacredly preserve the union of soul and body by following the laws of health.

May you find peace and healing as you trust in the Great Physician and use the simple, effective remedies He has placed within your reach! ✨