Balm of Gilead
Balm of Gilead
Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord laments for Jerusalem, the city which has a special place in his heart, and which he affectionately called, "the daughter of my people". But Jerusalem became a wicked city.
The city was characterised by falsehood, covetousness, immorality, and idolatry. The city was sick, and about to die. Soon the rival city of Babylon would fall upon Jerusalem and destroy it.
Why has this people slidden back?
Why is Jerusalem in continual apostasy?
No man repented of his wickedness
Saying, "What have I done!" (Jer 8:5-6)
Is there no Balm in Gilead?
Is no physician there?
Why then is there no recovery
For the health of the daughter of my people? (Jer 8:21-22)
Across the River Jordan, not far from Jerusalem, was a land called Gilead. It was famous for its spices, ointments, and herbal remedies. The merchants to whom Joseph was sold "had come from Gilead with camels bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt" (Gen 37:25).
Now that is one of the lovely ironies of the Bible story, that Joseph was thrown in with the spices and the balm, as just another piece of merchandise. Yet his children would one day come to possess the land of Gilead, and its balm would be theirs to make their fortunes from (Jsh 17:1).
But we come back to Jerusalem in Jeremiah's time, as the Lord contemplates the spiritual sickness there...
Of course, the literal balm of Gilead could not heal the spiritual sores of Jerusalem. But just as they could go to Gilead for balm to heal sores upon their bodies, so they could go to the physician in the spiritual Gilead (heaven) to find healing for their spiritual ills.
God’s question, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" means "Why haven't you come to me for healing for your souls?" Why do people, perhaps even you and I, not come to the heavenly physician for spiritual healing? There are three possible reasons:
(1Co 11:28-30)
In Corinth spiritual sickness persisted among the Christians. They should have been examining themselves spiritually. In the physical realm, women are encouraged to examine their breasts to detect tumours early. Likewise spiritually, lack of self examination is dangerous. The sooner one recognizes an illness, the easier it is to cure.
In a similar way, David, after he went in to Bathsheba, did not recognize his sin, until Nathan pointed it out with skill (2Sm 12:1-15). After this David wrote Psalm 51, in which he pleads, "Restore me to the joy of your salvation and sustain me with your generous spirit".
(Lke 5:31-32, Rev 22:1-2)
You can recognize an illness, but not know the cure. There's a great physician and a balm in the heavenly Gilead, where grows the trees whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. Alas, so many know they are sick in spirit, but do not know that the balm of Gilead is there to heal them.
(Acts 2:38, Acts 8:22)
You can recognize an illness and know the cure, but fail to apply the cure. Yet it's such a simple matter if we have faith in Jesus. Peter tells how...
This cure comes through faith in Jesus Christ who died, and suffered that we might be healed of sin. Alas, many do not apply the cure. Mrs Kidder wrote, “When your heart was bowed in sorrow, Balm of Gilead did you borrow, at the gates of day?”
Recognize your spiritual sickness, know the cure, and apply it today. The "Balm of Gilead" is there for everyone to use and be healed —especially you.