Jeremiah 17:14 - Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Commentary

Jeremiah often expressed his great pain and anguish to the Lord, and looked to Him alone for strength.

In this verse, the underlying Hebrew word for "heal" (rapha) applies literally to the work of a physician. This same word is also used in Psalms, where God is praised for His role in healing disease (Ps. 103:3), healing the brokenhearted (Ps. 147:3), and healing the soul by providing salvation (Pss. 30:2; 107:20). The same word is also used when Isaiah declared that the healing of God's people results from the sacrificial wounds of His Son (53:5-12).* Now that's the ultimate healing of all!

*Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Je 17:12-13). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Commentary

In this verse, Moses reminds the people that God had promised to protect them, bless them, and fight for them (Josh. 1:5; 1 Kin. 8:57). Jesus made the same promise to His church in Matthew 28:20 when he says "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." What a promise to remember!