Jeremiah 8:22 - Ouch! that hurts!!

"Is there no balm in Gilead?  Is there no physician there?  Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?"

The historic Old World balm of Gilead, or Mecca balsam, is a small evergreen tree common to Africa and Asia. The resin from this tree is the basis of the balm, which is used for rashes; bites; bumps; bruises; lacerations; you name it and this salve was put on it.  The Ishmaelites who rescued Joseph from the well were transporting this balm in their caravan.  The Balm of Gilead is world-renowned for it's healing properties and is still sold around the world today.  During biblical times, this balm of Gilead was very common and used by everyone. 

Jeremiah was lamenting the fallen state of Israel, their rejection of God, and pleading for their salvation.  He was crying out to God:  is there no healing for these people?  They are deeply wounded, where is the salve that will restore the spiritual health of the people?  He used something that everyone recognized, the balm of Gilead. 

There is an old African-American spiritual titled "There is a Balm in Gilead" that is sung in churches today.  "There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul; there is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole."  Today the balm of Gilead has come to be synonymous with Jesus Christ.   Jeremiah knew who the healing physician was and he cried out to Him to heal the nation.  Today, we cry out to Jesus to heal our decayed spiritual state, to make us whole and well, sanctified to Him.

And as it is with any healing, it is painful.  When you put any treatment on an open wound, it hurts terribly.  Depending on the injury, the pain and the time of healing varies.  So it is with our spiritual life.  The depth and degree of the sin determines how much pain and how long the healing will take.  True repentance instantly heals the sin, but the consequences of that sin, depending on what it was, takes time and care and sometimes much pain to heal.  The spirit may receive instant forgiveness, but the soul, our memories and emotions, may take much more work and effort and quite a bit longer to heal, because our sin involves not only us, but others.  This is the painful part of the healing process, but so vital to the complete restoration of our entire well-being.

Only Jesus has the power to heal us body, soul, and spirit.  If we are to walk in complete health, we must allow Him to treat our conditions as He sees fit.  Only Jesus knows what it will take to "make us whole".  It is most certainly a painful process, but the end result, total restoration to Jesus Christ, is worth it.

What wound of yours needs salved?  Are you willing to take it to Dr. Jesus and let Him treat it? 

"Jehovah-Rophe, God my Healer, bring peace to my soul, renewal to my spirit, healing to my body.  Make me whole again in you.  I place myself in Your hands, Jesus, to do whatever is necessary to make me totally and completely molded to your image.  I trust the work of Your hands, Your restoring touch, in my life.  Help me to endure whatever is necessary that I may be like You.  Jesus, I pray.  Amen."

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

Matthew 9:12
                  14:35-36
Acts 3:16

Exodus 15:26
Deuteronomy 32:39
Psalm 30:2
            41:4
           103:2-4