Ruach Ministries International
''Empowered by the breath of God''
Word of Exhortation March 1, 2010 “THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD” APPLY THE BALM “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people restored?” (Jeremiah 8:22) Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I am grateful to God for another opportunity to share a word of encouragement with the body of Christ. I do give all the Glory and Honor to God Almighty for who He is. How great is our God! There is a popular old African-American spiritual hymn that says, “There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead for the sin sick soul.” These words are taken from Jeremiah’s questions asked in Jeremiah 8:22. The questions that he asked were; is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Is there no healing for the wounds of my people? Three questions asked; three answers to be given. The answer is yes, there is a balm in Gilead. Yes, there is a physician in the land, and He is yet healing the wounds of the people. Let me encourage you to apply the balm.
Our background scripture this week takes us to the 8th chapter of Jeremiah, where he is mourning out of a concern for his people. Jeremiah saw the sins and the idolatries of the people of Israel, and how they had been wounded because of their sins. It grieved him that they stood in need of healing and restoration, but was rebellious against God. He literally mourned because the condition of the people had become so bad. Look at what Jeremiah 8:5 says, “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” They not only were backsliders, but it was a continuous problem. He spoke about their vain conceit and trusting their own wisdom, their false interpretation of the scripture and their rejection of the word of God. The people were truly in need of restoration. So why would they not apply the balm? Jeremiah asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” The word ‘balm’ is a shortening of the word, “balsam” which is a kind of a tree that many balms were made from. Balm is a medicinal salve or healing ointment that was usually made from a mixture of olive oil and various resins. Balms were used for healing and for soothing pain. The region of Gilead, which is just east of Israel, across the Jordan River, was associated with an especially effective form of healing balm. Gilead was rich in the spices that provided balm; so in essence, Gilead became a well known exporter of balm. People had sought the balm of Gilead to help their illnesses for centuries. In fact, the caravan that Joseph was sold to was heading to Egypt carrying balm from Gilead (Genesis 43:11). But was there no balm in Gilead? ‘Balm in Gilead’, in the bible days was like Vicks vapor rub or Neosporin ointment is to us today. It represented healing and soothing comfort for the pain. Jeremiah posed three questions, and these questions should help us to understand that there had to be a medicinal need for the situation at hand. Something or someone was in need of healing for their wounds. The reference that Jeremiah made paralleled a physical allusion to a spiritual condition. . The physical point was that the people of Israel were sin sick. The spiritual point was that they already had the cure, but they would not repent and turn from their wickedness. The disease of sin was destroying them spiritually like an incurable wound, just like a malignancy can destroy the body physically. How could these people who traded in balm be so sick? How could these people, God’s chosen people, who had the law in their pocket, be so sin sick? Jeremiah 8:6 tells us that no man repented of His wickedness.
What was the solution for Israel’s sins? What is the solution for the saints of God today? The questions asked were intended to bring conviction to the hearts of the Jews. Everything that the Jews needed was found right there. The people of Israel were already in a place that was rich in balm. They were also God’s chosen people who already had God’s laws with them. Everything that was needed for their spiritual healing and spiritual growth was already available to them. They just needed to ‘apply the balm.’ Think on this for a moment. Could you imagine a large medical convention with hundreds of physician, and someone becomes ill but fails to ask for help? If someone else would learn of the illness, I believe that the next words would be, “Is there not a Doctor in the house?” That’s what Jeremiah was trying to do. He knew that the people had what they needed for healing; they just had to apply the balm to their sin sick souls. The word of encouragement for us today is for us to apply the balm. There is a balm in Gilead; there is a physician in the land, and His name is Jesus, the Master Physician, and He is still healing the sin sick soul. There is a balm in Gilead and He has the power to make the wounded whole. We don’t have to travel far away to purchase this rich balm; we just need to apply it by faith. We need to thank God that His goodness leads us to repentance, because repentance allows us to see our sinful state and then turn from that sinful state. This was why Jeremiah was so grieved. The Jews did not realize what they had and why they needed to repent. God has already provided the Balm in Gilead. Are you willing to apply the ointment of His Grace today? Are you willing to apply the ointment of His love? What about His mercy? We need to apply this balm to all of our aches, our pains, our disappointments, and our failures. We have the balm of God’s word, for Malachi 4:2 says, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Rightousness arise with healing in His wing, and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall.” We have the balm of God’s love, for John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We just need to apply the balm. We have the balm of God’s mercy. Nehemiah 9:31 says, “But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and a merciful God.” We should be thankful to God that He did not put an end to us either when we were basking in our sins. Thank God for His mercy. We just need to apply the balm. We have the balm of God’s grace, for John 1:16 tells us, “from the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.” Thank God for His amazing grace that saved us from the gutter most to the uttermost. Hallelujah! We just need to apply the balm. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there not a physician here? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people restored? We thank God today because the answers to Jeremiah’s questions are still yes. There is still a Balm in Gilead and His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Master Physician who will heal every aspect of our lives. He is the one that has the power to heal the sin sick soul, to make the wounded whole, to revive tired spirits, to heal troubled marriages, and wayward sons and daughters. He’s a Balm in Gilead I tell you today, for He is the one that will bring peace to your troubled minds, soothe your troubled spirits, mend broken family relationships, and fix troubled hearts. He is the Balm in Gilead! He is the Master Physician! Whatever you have need of today, give it to Jesus and let Him heal every area of your life. It does not matter whether it is a physical, mental or a spiritual healing, He is able and He is willing to heal, deliver and set free. He will take the balm of His love and saturate you like never before. My sincere prayer is for the promise that is given in Jeremiah 30:17a will bless each one of you this day. “For I will restore health unto thee, and heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.” Lord, help us to apply the balm! Be blessed! Minister Judith Smith Reply to Minister Judith by email at ministerjudith@ruachministriesinternational.org. |
