There Is A Balm in Gilead” is a well-known African-American spiritual song.
The lyrics of the song goes:
There is balm in Gilead,
To make the wounded whole;
There’s power enough in heaven,
To cure a sin-sick soul.
The reference to the Balm of Gilead is taken from the book according the prophet Jeremiah, wherein the voice of the Lord questions through the prophet – Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my people? (Jeremiah 8:22). There is no healing for the wounds of God’s people (his creation), because it was not until Jesus, that healing came for only by his wounds (stripes) are we healed of our sin-sick state. The balm of Gilead in essence, refers to the Salvation (healing from being sick in sin) one gets in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the balm of Gilead. Jeremiah 46:9, 11 state that the mighty Egyptians need to go to Gilead to get medicine for the medicine they make can provide no healing. Human efforts to be healed of spiritual sin is futile. Only in Jesus is spiritual healing possible for Jesus is the Balm of Gilead.
Points to ponder:
It is futile to strive to save one’s soul from the sin-sick states by our own efforts. We need Jesus the balm of Gilead to cure our sin-sick soul. Is your soul healed?
Jeremiah 8:22 (KJV)
22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Jeremiah 46:11 (KJV)
11 Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
