The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 232

CONCLUSION. Then, instead of causing s01TOw to the faithful servants of God by resisting their appeals, yield to them, and so gladden these servants, and the angels of (Jed, and the heart of God, and the Son of God. So you yourself shall "enter into the joy of your Lord."-C. Ver. 22.-0hrist and the Holy Ghost ,·ealities after aU. "ls there no balm in Gilead?" etc. One of the commonest taunts of ungodly men-and it has been so in all ages- against the believer in God and in his redeeming grace, has been their apparent utter absence amongst such vast multitudes of people for so many centuries, and this though the conditions were such as needed, and that in most distressing manner, both their presence and their power. And one of the subtlest and saddest temptations to which the human mind is subject is that of doubting the grace of God. "My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is now thy God?" The taunt of the psalmist's enemies bad roused up the demon of doubt con- cerning God and his love, and no wonder, then, that the psalmist's tears flowed fast both day and night. Now, the text is one of those sad questionings to which the force of distressing facts will now and again give rise. It contains three questions, and we will note concerning them these three things-their meaning, their occasions, their •answers. I. Timm MEANING. .And take : I. The literal meaning of the balm and the physician about which the prophet so moUinfully inquires. Balm was a resinous gum which flowed from the side of a tree or shrub found on the sunny- slopes of Mount Gilead, and counted very precious. When Jacob would counsel his sons how they might propitiate Joseph, who held their brother in captivity, be told them to take him a present of "a little balm" (Gen. :x:liii.11). It was an article of merchandise (Gen. xx:x:vii. 25), regarded as of invaluable efficacy in medicine (cf. eh. :x:lvi. 11; li. 8). Its name was derived from a word which told of the manner in which it was procured from the tree that bore it. The side of the tree was pierced, and the precious balm then flowed forth. 'l'be physi- cians of the day constantly made use of it, and had studied the best means of applying it. But it is evident that the prophet is speaking under a :figure. Note, then: 2. 'l'he metaphorical meaning. He speaks of the lost "health of the daughter of my people," and means by that the national ruin which was so fast coming on Judah and Jeru- salem-ruin of all kinds, spiritual, moral, temporal. By the "balm" he means some method of recovery for his people, and by the " physician " some skilled, sagacious, powerful deliverer, who should be able to employ these methods and so save the land. 'l'he prophet was in despair about this; be saw no hope nor help anywhere, and hence the piteous cry, the mournful question of our text. To every one who professed to have found the balm and the physician the ruined land so needed, he addressed the unanswerable question," Why then is not the health," etc.? 3. Their evangelic import, It has all along been seen that the terms used here were capable of such application, The" balm" is a beautif1.l symbol of Christ. 'l'be Mount Gilead, the tree, the pierced side, the stream thence issuing, and its mighty healing power,-these severally send our thoughts to Mount Calvary, the cross, the pierced side of the Saviour, the precious blood, and the unquestionable spiritual healing might there is therein. .And Scripture is ever speaking of sin as a disease ; of man as one whose health needs recovery. The analogies are obvious. And the "physician," who is be but that Divine Spirit whose office it is to take of the things of Christ and show them unto men ? He so shows to us the meaning and intent of our Saviour's sacrificial death, that "by his stripes we are healed." Yes; whilst we all are the stricken with mortal disease, Christ is the Balm that surely heals, and the blessed Spirit is he who reveals Christ to the soul. "For no man can say that Jesus is Lord "-that is, in all the foll meaning of those words, and with sincere intent-" but by the Holy Ghost." II. THEIR occABIUNB. What led to these questions being asked by the prophet? and what tenc.s to their being asked still ? 1. By the prophet. The ruin of bis land and people. The awful calamities that were at that moment overhanging the doomed nation. But: 2. By men still. lt is the contemplation of the threefold fe.ct of sin, sorrow, and death. (1) 0/ sin. Think of the myriads of mankind who have lived and died on this earth of ours, and all of them unblessed by the light of the gospel. Think of the rampant wickedness, the hideous vice, the festering corruption, the indescribable moral on, vm. 1-22.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 231