TCATS #285 - What or Who or Where is Gilead?

I'm embarrassed to say that until today, I was not sure what the word "Gilead" meant--in reference to the phrase "balm of Gilead". I had heard the phrase while in my youth, and it comes up occasionally when singing certain hymns (like the one we sang today during Music & the Spoken Word), but I've never taken the time to ask anyone, or look up what or who Gilead is. Just in case there are one or two of you who don't know either, I provide to you what I've learned.

First off, the literal meaning of the phrase refers to an aromatic resin that is used to heal wounds. The bush that produces the resin used in making this healing balm was one that grew plentifully in a city named Gilead (as referenced in the Old Testament). Boyd K Packer, in a talk he gave, mentioned that "in ancient times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, an ointment made from the gum of a tree. It was a major commodity in trade. The Ishmaelite traders who purchased Joseph from his brothers were carrying this balm of Gilead to Egypt."

The spiritual meaning of the phrase, from a Christian standpoint, simply refers to Jesus Christ as being the balm of Gilead for all mankind. It's through Him that we can be healed. Here are the words of a traditional African-American spiritual we sang today:

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.

If you cannot preach like Peter,
If you cannot pray 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.

The lyrics of this song speak to the plight of every person on earth. We are all sin-sick. We often feel discouraged. We work and toil and persevere and at the end of each day, we may sometimes feel like our efforts have been in vain. Then something happens. Some experience, some moment, when our low supply of hope gets renewed and we are able to keep moving forward. Christians believe that such renewal of hope comes from Jesus Christ who suffered for all so that their suffering might be made light, might be bearable, might even in some cases be alleviated. At the very least, Christ takes His ointment and generously applies it to our wounds of sin. We can then be free from those wounds and move forward in greater faith and confidence.

How grateful I am for Him. And how grateful I am for the spiritual balm of Gilead He provides.

Until next time, God be with you.