Discovering the true “Balm of Gilead”

I like the word “balm,” don’t you? Just the word itself connotes something soothing, comforting, and healing. 

A beautiful, modern rendition of an African-American spiritual, entitled, “There is a Balm in Gilead” demonstrates this truth.

 

Used by permission. All rights reserved. Copyright 1997/2017
Deborah Liv Johnson/Mojave Sun Records. Deborah's recordings are
available through http://www.deborahlivjohnson.com/or through iTunes®.

Certain things in our lives may function as a “balm” on a physical and emotional level including:

• that “security” blanket or fluffy teddy bear you carried as a child; 
• that special friend who knows just the right words to say when you need them the most; 
• those favorite “comfort” foods where warmth, nostalgia and satisfaction converge in a delightful way to reassure us we are loved; and 
• those wonderful melodies from our  preferred musical genre that serve to relax, stimulate or simply help us heal. 

Musical Influence

Music can be a remarkable source of comfort, solace and healing in a very noisy and chaotic world. The spiritual sung so beautifully in the video compares the healing balm to the saving power of Jesus, the Master Physician and Healer.

It is my belief that the most important balm we can ever have is the unmistakable security and love that comes only from a deep, abiding relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Scriptural Influence

In the Bible, balm of Gilead was a medicinal ointment or salve made from the sap of a flowering plant found in an area east of the Jordan River known as Gilead.

Several references to either “balm of Gilead” or “balm in Gilead” are found in the Old Testament (e.g., Genesis 37:25; 43:11; Jeremiah 8:22; 46:11; Ezekiel 27:17).

One of the more poignant verses is found in Jeremiah 8:22. Jeremiah, the prophet, pleads with God for mercy for Israel and for healing asking, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?” (Jeremiah 8:22, NIV).

Ultimately, the answer from God is “Yes.”  

“Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the Earth. In those days Judah shall be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety…” (Jeremiah 33:14-16).

The righteous Branch of David and metaphor for “Balm of Gilead” is Jesus Christ.

Literary Allusion

The noted poet, Edgar Allan Poe, uses the balm of Gilead as a literary allusion in his widely acclaimed work, “The Raven.”

Although Poe’s religious inclinations are not fully understood, the narrator in the poem desires a healing balm to soothe the raw, emotional pain he is experiencing from losing his beloved “Lenore.”

Remarks

Words can have tremendous impact and promote healing, especially healing of emotional pain. 

Proverbs 25:11 states, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” It’s not just what we say, but how we say it that matters.

I chose “mybalmofgilead.com” as my domain name in the hopes that this website serves as a fitting tribute to the only One who is truly able to completely “heal the broken in heart and bind up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).