There Is A Balm In Gilead

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Jeremiah 8:18–22 KJV 1900

18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. 19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? 20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. 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 8:22 KJV 1900

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?

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Context: Jeremiah’s Word and Israel’s Sin

When I first started consistently studying the Word of God, I found that there are so very many interesting corners within this book.

One of those places is the book of Jeremiah, and the prophet Jeremiah, himself.

Let me just explain to you what took place here:

The people of Judah lost their freedom when they came under the rule of a new leader.

When they did, they didn’t turn to God to voice their struggles and problems. They turned to the same idols they had stopped worshipping many years ago.

This turning to idols evermore stoked the anger of the Lord. (You can, by the way, stoke the anger of God, contrary to the opinions of much of Christianity.)

So, God called a prophet. He raised up Jeremiah as the prophet of Judah. Prophets in scripture are all different. Some spoke and great results came (Jonah, Elijah). In Jeremiah’s case, all through his ministry there wasn’t much of a budge. But he obeyed God and was faithful when others weren’t.

Jeremiah’s Call

Jeremiah 1:4–8 KJV 1900

Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

I think that the scripture in Joel that mentions that our sons and our daughters shall prophesy… we either believe that or we do not.

It shouldn’t make us wary if God speaks through one of our kids or students or does something powerful through them… it’s just as astounding for God to use one of us adults as it is for Him to use them! We’re all just vessels who don’t deserve what we’re filled with!

He tells Jeremiah what he is tasked with…

Jeremiah 1:10 KJV 1900

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

He talks to Jeremiah about the judgment He is bringing to His people for their unfaithfulness. It’s a serious message and God was serious about it. Here’s how serious:

Jeremiah 1:17 NKJV

17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.

And He gives Jeremiah a vision:

Jeremiah 1:11 NKJV

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

An almond tree, which blossoms when other trees are still dormant. The almond tree served as a sign of Spring.

Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

The almond tree led Spring, as though it “watched over” the beginning of the season. In a similar fashion, God was “watching over” His word, ready to bring judgment on Israel.

God makes a few things clear, here:

He KNOWS His Word, and

He IS READY TO PERFORM His Word.

I feel like informing you today of just what season we are in.

This is not a season in which God is quiet or God is distant. It is not a season in which there is little to no spiritual activity happening and there is a drought in the land.

I have learned to pick up on where God has me and what’s going on and what’s accessible, spiritually speaking. And what I have found out in this season is exactly what God said in this Scripture, and I quote: “I AM READY TO PERFORM MY WORD!”

He is doing things left and right, according to His Word!

As sure as electricity is running this building right now and as sure as your heart is beating, this very moment, God is present and He is performing His Word!

But I want to point something out real quick… notice that He says that to someone who sees the almond tree!

Let me ask you today, can you see God in your life? Can you see Him working? How’s your view of the Almighty? If we’re honest, sometimes we don’t have our view in the right place. We’re not focused on the right things. Other things have stolen our vision.

If you’ve found yourself in that place… or maybe you’ve never had your eyes opened to what God can really do… I stand here to pull back the curtain and reveal to you the One who rewrites stories! The One who dissolves disease!

I’m getting ahead of myself a little… but I just want to tell you to turn your eyes upon Jesus! And if you’ll see Him, here’s how He responds:

Jeremiah 1:12 KJV 1900

12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

The Balm of Gilead

So, Jeremiah begins to speak the Word of the Lord to the people. It’s an indictment. It’s strong.

And there’s something about Jeremiah that’s pretty unique: when you read his words, you also get a lot of his own personal feelings and emotions. When you come to our text, you’re getting a lot of that.

Jeremiah 8:18–22 KJV 1900

When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Even though Jeremiah has had to hammer these people with the Word of God, he doesn’t hesitate to identify himself with them. Their hurt hurts him so deep that he is filled with mourning and dismay.

And finally, Jeremiah asks why, since there is balm in Gilead, and there are doctors to apply it… why the nation has not been healed.

This balm he is referring to is the resin or gum of the storax tree. Gilead was famous for it. It was used medicinally ( Gen. 37:25; Jer. 46:11, 51:8; Ezek. 27:17). It was used for many types of physical healing.

And Jeremiah is aggravated because he knows that though there is a remedy for the people… they have not taken advantage of it. Now… the healing they need goes beyond physical. It’s a spiritual healing. And there can be no healing while a person is in rebellion. These people were clearly in rebellion.

When you think about this balm of Gilead… if I were to translate this product to today, it brings to mind things like Biofreeze, Aspercreme, and Vick’s Salve! Anybody in the house ever use Vick’s Salve? It’s called Vick’s VapoRub now. Uses:

Headaches

Sore muscles

Detering insects

Training pets

Relieving itchy skin

Stopping your cat from scratching

Stretch marks

Coughing

Earaches

Sunburns

Toenail fungus

Skin moisturizer

Insect bites

Bruises

Clearing up acne

Softening rough heels

Now… if all of this is absolutely true, why don’t let’s just replace our shower water with Vick’s VapoRub… rub it on low tires and deposit it in our bank account when money is low!

I laughed this week… Anna had been sick and someone said, “Cut up some onion and put it in her sock!” I had never heard that. Apparently it works. But I had this hilarious image of Anna walking down the hallway at night to the bathroom, with an onion slapping up against the wall!

It sort of brings to mind the old style of miracle drugs that used to be brought from town to town. You might think of snake oil. And phrases like, “It’s good for what ails you!” They would come into town and convince everyone of the power of the product, sell a bunch, and then burn out of there so fast your head would spin!

In Scripture, medicine was not produced in a lab. Things that helped were natural and it was what they had. And so this balm of Gilead was used for a great many things, but STILL… it wasn’t going to do anything in this situation.

Jesus is the Balm of Gilead

However! I think that it is not just all that cut and dry.

Because when Jeremiah talked about this “balm of Gilead,” it was a metaphor for something else that was coming. It was a drug that had it all! All they said about these miracle drugs, really did apply to this one! A true miracle drug that is still available to this very day!

If you have pain or need a physical healing, this miracle drugs is for you!

If you have things happening in your life that seem insurmountable… this is the one thing that you can count on to help!

If you have addictions that you can’t seem to break… this balm will cover it and cure you!

If you have a sin problem or a shame problem… you can reach for this balm… BECAUSE ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, IT “COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS!”

It’s been called many things! If we were going to go find this cure-all out in the wild, we might use the name…

Rose of Sharon

Lilly of the Valley

Bread of Life

Bright and Morning Star

The Cornerstone

The prophet of Judah was talking about the lion of the tribe of Judah and the lamb that was slain!

I’m here this morning to present to you a miracle drug and a cure for what ails you, because JESUS IS THE BALM IN GILEAD!!!

There is a prophecy of Jesus in the book of Isaiah that goes like this…

Isaiah 53:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Sounds a lot like that branch of the almond tree…

Isaiah 53:3–6 KJV 1900

3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Whatever sin you’ve committed… He was bruised to become the balm for that!

Whatever sickness or pain you deal with… He was whipped bloody to become the balm for that, too!

We, like sheep, have all gone astray at times… but the balm remains!!!

Isaiah 57:18–19 NLT

18 I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, 19 bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.

If you are HURT, God says, “I will HEAL you!”

If you’re CONFUSED, God says, “I will LEAD you!”

If you feel HELPLESS, God says, “I will HELP you!”

If you feel ALONE, God says, “I will COMFORT you!”

If you feel ANXIOUS and AFRAID, God says, “I will offer PEACE to you!”

Let me sum up what Jesus is today:

Philippians 4:19 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

We Have Testimonials of this Balm Today!

Bro. March was dead on his way to a hospital - I was following the ambulance! But we got down and prayed… reached for the balm! And later that night, he was awake and alive and moving!

Bro. Nick Thompson couldn’t even get around for the pain in his body just a few Sundays ago… but we prayed as he sat in his wheelchair! And later that night… we got a phone call!

THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD TODAY!!!

Conclusion

The Balm is Here - Don’t Remain Unhealed

But here’s the thing…

The prophet says… there IS a balm! There is an answer! There is a physician who will apply it! Why then are the people unhealed?

It’s not enough to know the solution! It’s not enough to just BELIEVE! You have to bring your problem to the solution!

The blind man couldn’t just sit by and only believe. If the blind man doesn’t put feet on his faith and go find Jesus, he misses the miracle! If you and I don’t put feet on our faith, we miss our miracle!

Has anybody in this house ever been to the altar? You know what the altar is? It’s putting feet on your faith!

You can sit back in the auditorium and say, “I believe, I believe!” But you’ve got to behave what you believe!!!

Now, it is time for the balm of Gilead to be applied. It’s time to bring your need!