“For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken, I mourn, and horror has seized 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?” (Jeremiah 8:21-22)

We are deeply moved by African American Spirituals like “Go Down, Moses,” “There Is a Balm in Gilead, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I See,” “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” “I Want to Be a Christian,” “I’m Gonna Sing,” and “Its Me, Its Me, O Lord.” These songs resonate with us because they encapsulate emotional depth and spiritual richness. They evoke a wide range of powerful emotions, including longing, sorrow, hope, and joy, while also reflecting resilience in the face of adversity and a profound yearning for God's presence and intervention amidst suffering and pain.

In the biblical narrative, Israel faced a time of exile and despair. The Babylonians threatened to desecrate their sacred places and dishonor their deceased. Exiled from their homeland, the Jews cried out in desperation, asking if there was any remedy: “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?” (Jeremiah 8:22)

The spiritual “There Is A Balm in Gilead” reflects the struggles and anguish of the Old Testament ancestors in faith, offering a message of hope, healing, and restoration. Enslaved African Americans embraced this theme as a beacon of faith, hope, and resilience amid the harsh realities of slavery. It served as a source of spiritual solace and a reminder of their enduring connection to God despite their dehumanizing circumstances. African American theologian Howard Thurman (1899-1981) noted the transformative power of this spiritual refrain: “The slave transformed Jeremiah’s question mark into an exclamation point: ‘There is a balm in Gilead!’ Here lies the essence of creative triumph.” This song also provided for African Americans a communal space for shared expression, solidarity, and mutual support, countering the divisive and dehumanizing forces of slavery.

Human suffering is universal, and in times of affliction, we seek healing and comfort. Just as a healing balm soothes and restores, Jesus Christ offers the ultimate remedy for our spiritual brokenness. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus offers salvation and reconciliation, inviting us to repent of our sins and find restoration in Him. There is a balm on the Cross in Calvary, indeed!

Pastor Seok-Hwan

REFLECTION AND PRAYER:

There is a Balm in Gilead 

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.

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

If you cannot sing like angels,

If you can't preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus,

And say He died for all.

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

Author: Unknown

Music: African American Spirituals