Jeremiah 8:22: “Is there no balm in Gilead, / Is there no physician there? / Why then is there no recovery / For the health of the daughter of my people?”

October 7th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The balm spoken of here was an ancient medication or salve made from a tree (genus commiphora) found in Gilead, an area northeast of the Jordan River (also known as Bashan and today called the Golan Heights). It can still be found in some modern drugstores. The spiritual point of this verse is that there is no physical medicine capable of bringing spiritual relief. Jeremiah used the same concept again concerning the Gentile Egyptians: “Go up to Gilead and take balm, / O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: / In vain shall you use many medicines; / You shall not be cured” (Jeremiah 46:11).

Both Jews and Gentiles need spiritual healing, but they will only receive that healing when they turn to God Himself as their physician. God is amazed because He knows that the only thing these self-sufficient people need to do is turn to Him in prayer, but they refuse. They think that they can help themselves, without God’s intervention. But God is the Great Physician. Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17). The pivotal moment in our lives comes when we recognize that our sin caused our sickness, and we turn to God.

“LORD, we recognize that You are the only one who can bring us healing. Help us to turn to You today.”