Jeremiah 8:19-22 NIV
“Listen to the cry of my people from a land far away: “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King no longer there?” “Why have they aroused my anger with their images, with their worthless foreign idols?” “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”
INSIGHT
–Gilead was a town with great significance. It produced spices and medicinal drugs that served as a healing ointment. Prophet Jeremiah spoke of the Babylonian exile where the Israelites were taken to a land far away and crushed. They had aroused the anger of the Lord as they worshipped foreign gods. This they had done repeatedly even during the time of Moses when they made a golden calf and worshipped it. When the people in a nation serve other gods apart from the One True God and raise the golden calf through evil deeds like the love of money, they arouse the anger of the Lord and they are given away physically, economically, politically and spiritually to other foreign nations thus breaking God’s law. Let us then repent for every sin and iniquity that has been committed in our nation.
PRAYER
Lord You are Holy and Your holiness is everlasting. We thank You for enabling us to see this new day. Your mercies are new every morning dear Lord Jesus. Lord You have instructed us from Your word that, if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. May You forgive us for every sin and idolatry that we have committed in our lives, communities and nation, and heal our land dear Lord Jesus and deliver us from every form of evil, wickedness, slavery, oppression, tyranny from foreign nations and people. May You annoint us afresh with Your balm of Gilead and heal our land. We refuse and break evil plan and altar that had been planted in our nation with the blood of Jesus. May You heal the nation of Haiti and deliver them from oppressive rulership. May You protect all our security forces in Haiti, locally and beyond loving Savior. May You give us God fearing leaders in this nation that only Your will and agenda will prevail above all else. May Your name glorifies in this nation now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Exodus 32:1-35, 2 Chronicles 7:14
Genesis 37:25-28 NIV
“As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.”
INSIGHT
–The story of Joseph unfolds in an interesting twist emanating from the jealousy of his brothers. Joseph was loved by the father and his colored coat stood out as the evidence of this. The brothers intended to kill him and probably Joseph thought that it was over for him. He was thrown into a dry cistern a place of hopelessness. Little did he know that God had a better plan for his life. When he was at the verge of giving up, the Lord sent traders originating from the lineage of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:1), carrying balm from Gilead who appear to offer salvation to Joseph. The traders took him to Egypt where he became a great man, the prime minister and in turn Joseph extended salvation to his family and the nations who would otherwise die starvation. Through this theme the balm of Gilead reveals the salvation power of Christ evidenced through His death and resurrection for the sake of all mankind.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we love You, thank You for loving us first. We thank You for Your great love upon us that You sacrificed Your own life for the sake of our lives. You became Sin so that we may become free, be exulted over all the heavens and all the earth. At Your name Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus You are Lord to the glory of God the Father. You have called us to repent and be baptized, in Your name Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus may You forgive us all our sins and iniquities and wash us with Your precious blood. May You grant us the grace to access You Lord Jesus and receive You in our hearts together with our families and the whole nation for You are the Door to eternal life. May Your righteousness prevail in our lives, families, businesses, government, state house, judiciary and nation. May You save us and deliver us from corruption and wastage of public funds. May Your save us when are at our lowest moments and at the verge of giving up, and answer our prayers and hearts desires. May You save all those who are lost and secure them in the hope of salvation. May Your name be exulted and praised, In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Titus 3:5, John 14:6
Jeremiah 51:6-8 NIV
“Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins. It is time for the Lord’s vengeance; he will repay her what she deserves. Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand; she made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore they have now gone mad. Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken. Wail over her! Get balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.”
INSIGHT
–The Babylonian systems have corrupted the nations with its evil and deceptive schemes, although it occurs to be a giant. In Revelation 14:8 we find the angel declaring of the fall of Babylon that made all nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries. Revelation 18:2-3 continues to state that Babylon has fallen for it is the dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, every unclean bird, and every unclean and detestable animal. It has made all the nations be drunk with maddening wine of her adulteries and the kings of the earth have committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grown rich from her excessive luxuries. Babylon is a demonic scheme geared to destroy the young and the old, poor and rich, weak and mighty alike with drunkenness, sexual immorality and corruption. The foundation of drug and alcohol addiction and abuse is founded in the Babylonian systems. Lemuel is cautioned by the mother in Proverbs 31:3-7, that he should not waste his strength with women nor be drunk with wine for beer is not for kings but for those who are perishing. The schemes of sexual impurity extending to LGBTQ originates from Babylon and the love of money and its consequences developing from Babylonian schemes. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve two masters, either we hate one and love the other, or we are devoted to one and despise the other for we cannot serve both God and money. We are therefore called to flee from the devil and his scheme’s and he will flee from us, for his ways only lead to eternal destruction as Babylon must fall, but when we follow Christ and His word, we obtain healing by the balm of Gilead which is the way to eternal life.
PRAYER
You are Great dear Lord Jesus and greatly to be praised. Yours Lord is the greatness, power, glory, majesty and splendor, for everything in heaven and in earth are Yours. Yours, Lord is the kingdom and You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You dear Lord Jesus. You are the ruler of all things and in Your hands is strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. We give You all our thanksgiving and praise and glorify Your name. May You save us, our children, families, communities, churches, government and nation from the Babylonian schemes dear Lord Jesus. May You save us from the schemes of the devil who comes only to kill, steal and destroy. We come against every plan of the enemy in our lives, families and nation and cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus and hedge of fire of the Holy Spirit. Our children will not be destroyed by the Babylonian systems of drug and alcohol abuse, sexual immorality, theft and corruption but they shall be strong in the Lord. We are the blessed of the Lord and we shall enjoy the good of the land. Salvation is our portion together with our generations in Jesus name. We declare that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Chronicles 29:11-13
Jeremiah 46:10-11 NIV
“But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty— a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates. “Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you.”
INSIGHT
-The Lord impressed upon Jeremiah to reveal a prophecy on the coming day of the Lord or the day of vengeance. This was a warning to the virgin daughter of Egypt who represents those who are yet to received the message of salvation and Christ our Salvation. Jesus through Revelation 22:12 reminds us saying , “I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” We are called to believe in Jesus Christ for He is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him and receive the gift of salvation symbolized by the balm of Gilead that causes restoration. We have also been commissioned according to Mark 16:15-16, saying “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
PRAYER
Almighty and Everlasting Father we come before Your holy throne of grace seeking for Your mercy and grace. May Your abounding love, grace and favor overwhelm us during this season and the next. We humbly come to seek Your forgiveness for every sin and iniquity that we may committed either knowingly and unknowingly. We ask for Your guidance in every aspect of our lives, families, communities, government and nation. May Your will prevail above all else Abba Father. We call on Your grace of salvation and revival power to reach all those who are unreached among us. May their confession of faith be accepted to You dear Lord Jesus. May You use us in a mighty way to influence the nations and to preach the gospel to the world. May You guide us and lead in the mandate for which You have called us and may our faith in You never faith. Lord when You are blessing others Lord do not pass us by and may You reach us at our point of need. We worship You and give You praise, and it is in Jesus Mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Romans 10:9
James 5:14-15 NIV
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
INSIGHT
–Jesus is our Healer and by His stripes we are healed. The prayer of faith by one who is afflicted receives healing. The Balm of Gilead was often times used for the anointing of the sick and they would get well. Anyone who is sick is called therefore to rely on God’s power and through faith receive healing.
SUMMARY
Balm of Gilead had several uses in the ancient or Biblical times. They flavored mummified meat, perfumed and preserved the bodies of those who had passed, and they had healing properties. The ancient salve mixtures could contain a number of ingredients from beeswax to balsam and poplar tree juices. Balm of Gilead is then an important ointment used for healing. Jeremiah confronts Idol worship performed by the Israelites who had abandoned God and aroused His anger. He then asks “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her king no longer there?” (Jeremiah 8:19-22). The balm of Gilead therefore is symbolic to the healing of the nation for the people were crushed and an emphasis was necessary for them to turning back to God. Jeremiah also cautioned the people to flee from Babylon. The city that entices the people into sin through drunkenness and sexual misconduct (Jeremiah 51:6-8). He emphasized on the need to get the balm of Gilead that offers healing from their sinful ways that of course pointing to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jeremiah also cautioned the people of the coming of the Day of the Lord that will be comprised of vengeance (Jeremiah 46:10-11). The balm of Gilead is then a beneficial symbol of the gift of salvation. We are reminded that Jesus Christ will come like a thief and blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed (Revelation 16:15). Joseph was at the verge of death when his brothers threw him into a dry cistern. The brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite’s coming from Gilead with their camels loaded with spices and balm (Genesis 37:25-28). The balm of Gilead therefore symbolizes the salvation of Joseph from the pit of death and sustenance of the people from destruction by drought that came about thereafter.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father we come before You this day with thanksgiving in our hearts. We thank You and honor You for You are Great and greatly to be praise. You are wonderful dear Lord Jesus. You are excellent Abba Father. We put all our trust in You Father. Lord You sustain those who are sick and restore them to full health. May You heal all those who are sick and suffering among us dear Lord Jesus. May You strengthen and heal each one in the mind, heart, and body today. May the Holy Spirit guide us in peace, joy and comfort, and increase our faith in You. May You bless us and keep us dear Lord Jesus. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You show Your countenance unto us and give us peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen.
Further reading: 1 Peter 2:24