There is a Balm in Gilead

In the context of a discussion about Spiritual Formation in a course I’m taking, we are looking at how salve helps promote healing and how that is significant in our journey of growth in leadership.

In one of the videos, the instructor refers to “a Balm in Gilead” which is an African-American spiritual. As I have thought through the discussion questions and processed all the information I’m hearing and reading, I have been singing or humming, There is a Balm in Gilead.

While I know this hymn well and know the general meaning of the lyrics, I needed to do additional study to find out more about Gilead.

Gilead is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament as we read the historical accounts of the Israelites and their interactions with their neighbors. Many different people and tribes inhabited Gilead. Parts of Gilead were conquered by the Israelites and were settled by the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and part of the tribe of Manasseh.

Gilead had fertile land, hills, and valleys that provided wonderful natural resources such as agricultural land and pastures. that were fed by the Jordan River and the Jabbok River. Because it was located on trade routes, it became important economically and politically.

In Jeremiah 8, while the prophet is grieving for his people, he says Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored? (verse 22). This is expressing that healing balm can be found in Gilead and that there are physicians who know how to apply the balm, so why were the wounds of the people not being healed?

Apparently, because of the abundant natural resources in Gilead, they produced numerous salves. Salve heals wounds on our skin and penetrates the skin to nourish and heal. This is significant for our spiritual growth. As Christ-followers, we need healing salve (God’s truth, prayer) to heal our spiritual, emotional, and mental wounds. We need His salve to penetrate deep into our souls to nourish us and heal our wounds. We need to be patient and allow the salve time to heal our wounds and transform our hearts.

Let’s look at what we can learn from There is a Balm in Gilead.

Refrain
There is a balm in Gilead||
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.

We begin singing the refrain which reminds us that in the same way that there was a balm in Gilead that promoted healing of physical wounds, there is also a balm that heals our sin sick souls. We can find healing and have our spiritual needs met in Jesus Christ, “a balm in Gilead.”

Stanza 1
Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.

As Christ-followers, we can become discouraged because of the challenges and struggles we are facing. That discouragement can lead us to think that our ministry is not accomplishing anything. During these times we can be encouraged and revived by the Holy Spirit, our only source of healing, comfort, guidance, and renewal, and gain a fresh sense of our calling and purpose.

Stanza 2
If you can’t preach like Peter,
If you can’t pray like Paul,
Just tell the love of Jesus,
And say He died.

Most of us do not have the gifting to preach like Peter or pray like Paul, but that does not relieve us of our responsibility to obey God’s command to share the message of the gospel by telling all those with whom we come in contact about the love of Jesus Christ that led Him to die upon the cross to take upon Himself our sin and the punishment we deserve for that sin.

Thought for the Day: “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the balm of Gilead that heals and protects us. Help us recognize our need for Your healing balm and to trust You to heal, comfort, guide, and renew us while You give us a fresh sense of our calling and purpose.