The Balm in Gilead
The historic Old World balm of Gilead, or Mecca balsam, is a small evergreen tree (Commiphora gileadensis, also once called C. opobalsamum) of the family Burseraceae (incense-tree family) native to Africa and Asia and the source of the commercial balm of Gilead; it is referred to in the Bible in Jer. 8.22. The Ishmaelites from Gilead were bearing balm when they bought Joseph from his brothers. Balm of Gilead is still in high repute for healing in some countries. (From the online Columbia encyclopedia).
My joy is gone; grief is upon me;
my heart is sick within me.
Behold, the cry of the daughter of my people
from the length and breadth of the land:
“Is the LORD not in Zion?
Is her King not in her?”
“Why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images
and with their foreign idols?”
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
and we are not saved.”
For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded;
I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me.
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? (Jer. 8:18 ff)
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.
Some times I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.
If you can’t preach like Peter,
If you can’t pray like Paul,
Just tell the love of Jesus,
And say He died for all.
(African American Spiritual)
All my life I’ve had a strange attraction to this old spiritual recited above. The words are not profound, but combined with the familiar tune it somehow penetrates to my soul. Particularly in this time of grieving, I desperately want a spiritual balm to heal my wounded being.
The dictionary entry helps explain the source of the “balm of Gilead” from ancient times. Yet its use in Jeremiah–presumably the inspiration for the song–seems antithetical to the song’s intent. The hymn writer wants to soothe our sin sick soul. But Jeremiah refers to it in a passage in which he laments the final and crushing judgment on his people and on his city. In the chapters previous to this one Jeremiah details how a great horde of invaders will storm out of the north and utterly destroy the land leaving only desolation behind. Unlike Jonah–who hoped the Ninevites would not repent though they did–Jeremiah is hoping beyond hope that his prophecy of doom will be heeded and lead to a repentant nation. It is not, and so the end comes.
The reference to the balm in Gilead is found in a question that Jeremiah poses. “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?” If we read between the lines it appears that the prophet is saying: “Sovereign God, you control everything. Why don’t you cause these reprobates to repent? Why don’t you restore them to where they once were: a holy and reverent people as in days of yore?”
Philip Yancey in his book Disappointment With God, grapples with this issue of why God does or does not act. His reason for writing stemmed out of a conversation with a young man named “Richard” (likely not his real name) who finally rejected his faith in God after a series of his prayers were answered in reverse. Everything he prayed for turned out to be the worst case scenario: his Christian girlfriend jilted him, his parents got a divorce, a job offer was withdrawn at the last moment and the job given to a less deserving candidate. After pleading all one night with God to show Himself through some sign–which never appeared–he went outside and burned his Bible and all his theology books. In Richard’s mind, either God was never there to begin with, or He refused to answer his valid requests for help. “Why does God toy with us?” he asked Yancey.
Space does not permit a recounting of Yancey’s pilgrimage in understanding his own disappointments with God (I highly recommend the book), but I want to touch on one of his points vis-a-vis Jeremiah. That point is that at one time in human history God did answer: swiftly and directly. From Exodus to the time of the prophets we see Him speaking directly to His people through the mouths of his prophets, and through great signs and wonders such as the miracles associated with exodus from Egypt. Yet, when God spoke the people grumbled and disobeyed. They were stiff-necked. Yancey’s point seems to be that such direct communication from God that Richard longed for was in fact the norm at one point in the history of the way in which God dealt with man. But that experiment failed! Man is so depraved that he, like his father Adam, will simply not listen, but rather sings the song, “I’ll do it my way.”
Today, we don’t have Jeremiahs speaking to us and foretelling future judgment–though we undoubtedly deserve it. In fact through the lens of the New Testament we find that the people of God are all prophets (and priests and kings), who can read and interpret and apply the once delivered Word of God for themselves and for the community of believers. And yes, even the Richards of the world can find true guidance as the Holy Spirit, who speaks not in wonders but in a still small voice, witnesses with our spirit and in His acts of providence.
As I continue to ponder what appears to me to be the premature passing of my precious wife, I find that I, too, struggle against being disappointed with God. Why her? Why now? Her favorite verse was Romans 8:28–”And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, to them who are called according to his purpose.” This evening I read an article on the topic of guidance which suggested that the Old Testament analog to Romans 8:28 was Proverbs 3:5-6–”Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” That verse is inscribed underneath the cross tower at our church. After reflection on these verses and the contents of the article it occurred to me that not only was Susan’s passing into glory on July 28, 2003, good for her; it was also good for me. With my mind and with my heart I cannot fathom how it is good for me–it hurts so much. Yet, deeper down, there is a balm of Gilead that heals the sin sick soul. In taking my wife to glory when He did–a thing I truly don’t understand–the Lord nevertheless intends to make my paths straight also. Blessed be His name!