Subject: Is there no balm in Gilead?
Bible Reference: Jeremiah 8v22
Preacher: Rev. Thomas Martin
Date: Monday 17th February 2014
Subscribe to our podcast and have these audio sermons download automatically.
Sermon Summary: Rev. Thomas Martin on Jeremiah 8:22
Introduction and Welcome: Rev. Thomas Martin begins his sermon by warmly welcoming the congregation, emphasizing the importance of hospitality, particularly towards visitors during the two-week gospel campaign. He encourages believers to actively engage with newcomers, ensuring they feel welcomed and not overlooked. He shares anecdotes about members of his church who excel in making others feel at home, highlighting a recent instance where a young man warmly welcomed a visitor. Martin stresses that first impressions matter and urges the congregation to be approachable, sociable, and warm, reflecting the love of Christ. He also mentions an upcoming testimony meeting and ongoing outreach efforts to distribute leaflets, inviting volunteers to join in spreading the gospel message in the community. He underscores the value of even one soul being saved, referencing the Lord’s interest in the individual and the need to persist despite discouragement.
Scripture Reading and Prayer: The sermon focuses on Jeremiah 8:22, which reads, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Martin opens with a prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance to preach sincerely, exalting Christ and bringing glory to God. He prays for the salvation of the lost, restoration of the backslidden, and revival within the church.
Context of Jeremiah: Martin introduces the prophet Jeremiah, whose name means “one who has been appointed by Jehovah.” Jeremiah was called by God before his birth (Jeremiah 1:5) to be a prophet to the nations, serving faithfully for 50 years without seeing a single soul converted. Despite his passionate and compassionate preaching, often with tears, the people did not repent, earning him the title “the weeping prophet.” Martin uses this context to frame the sermon’s central theme: the refusal of God’s people to accept the healing and salvation offered through Christ.
Exposition of Jeremiah 8: Martin provides an exposition of Jeremiah 8, focusing on the spiritual condition of Judah and drawing parallels to modern sinners. He highlights several key points from the chapter:
- God’s Judgment and the Weeping Prophet (Verses 1-2, 6):
- The desecration of the bones of Judah’s kings, princes, and people, left unburied under the open sky, symbolized God’s displeasure and judgment. This broke Jeremiah’s heart, as did the people’s refusal to repent despite his preaching (verse 6: “No man repented him of his wickedness”). Martin describes the people as spiritually blind, like horses rushing into battle oblivious to danger (verse 6), heading toward destruction without heeding warnings.
- Missed Opportunities for Salvation (Verse 15, 20):
- The people looked for peace and healing but found trouble instead (verse 15). By verse 20, the situation is dire: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Martin interprets this as the people having crossed a point of no return, committing an “unpardonable sin” by rejecting God’s mercy and grace repeatedly. This verse underscores the hopelessness of their refusal to accept God’s provision.
- The Balm in Gilead (Verse 22):
- Martin explains the “balm in Gilead” as a literal healing substance derived from a tree in Gilead, applied by skilled physicians to treat physical ailments. Spiritually, it represents the precious blood of Christ, the only remedy for the sin-sick soul. The “physician” is Jesus Christ, who knows how to apply this healing balm. Yet, Judah refused this spiritual cure, just as many today reject salvation through Christ.
Main Theme: The Sinner’s Refusal to Be Cured Martin organizes his sermon around the theme of the sinner’s refusal to be cured, drawing three key points from Jeremiah 8:
- Characterized by Foolishness (Verses 4-7):
- Martin illustrates the foolishness of refusing salvation through natural analogies. In verse 4, he asks, “Shall they fall and not arise? Shall he turn away and not return?” He uses the example of a minister falling and refusing to get up, which would be absurd in the natural realm. Similarly, sinners who have fallen in sin (through Adam’s fall) refuse to rise through repentance and faith in Christ, which is spiritual foolishness.
- Another analogy is a person taking a wrong turn while driving but refusing to turn around, despite clear directions. Sinners are on the “broad road” to destruction but refuse to repent and turn to Christ, the narrow way.
- In verse 6, sinners are likened to horses rushing into battle, blind to the dangers of God’s judgment. In verse 7, Martin contrasts the instinct of migratory birds, which know when to flee danger, with the spiritual ignorance of God’s people, who fail to discern God’s judgments (e.g., death, sickness, or disasters) as warnings to repent.
- Caused by Deceitfulness (Verses 5, 11):
- The people’s refusal is rooted in deceit (verse 5: “They hold fast deceit; they refuse to return”). False teachings and self-deception lead them to believe they are safe without repentance. Martin critiques modern clergy who falsely assure people of salvation based on church attendance, baptism, or good works, echoing verse 11: “They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”
- He warns that many are deceived into thinking they are saved because of their Christian upbringing, church membership, or good deeds. Martin stresses that salvation is through “Christ alone,” not supplemented by works or rituals. He cites Luke 15’s parable of the lost coin, emphasizing that one can be lost even in a “Godly house” if not personally saved.
- Concludes in Hopelessness (Verse 20):
- The refusal to accept God’s remedy leads to a hopeless state, as seen in verse 20. For Judah, the opportunity for salvation passed, leaving them unable to be saved. While this is not true for the current generation, Martin warns that continued rejection could lead to a similar fate. He uses the example of Jehovah’s Witnesses refusing blood transfusions, citing cases of children (Adrien Yeates, Leni Martinez, Lisa Kosack) who died due to their refusal of a life-saving cure, paralleling sinners who reject Christ’s blood as the cure for sin.
Illustration and Application: Martin concludes with a powerful illustration of a university professor challenging students to dissolve gold with acid. No acid could dissolve it except “aqua regia” (royal water), a unique substance. Similarly, sin is impervious to human efforts, but the blood of Christ, applied by the divine Physician, can cleanse it. He urges sinners to acknowledge their sin, believe in Christ’s finished work on the cross, repent, and ask Jesus to save them. Martin offers to speak privately with anyone seeking salvation, ensuring a non-judgmental approach.
Closing Prayer: The sermon ends with a prayer for the Holy Spirit to convict and convert souls, bringing sinners to the cross for salvation. Martin asks for God’s glory, the salvation of the lost, and the restoration of the backslidden, emphasizing the urgency of responding to Christ’s offer of salvation.
Key Takeaways:
- The “balm in Gilead” and the “physician” symbolize Christ’s blood and His role as Savior, the only cure for sin.
- The sinner’s refusal to accept this cure is foolish, deceitful, and ultimately hopeless if persisted in.
- Salvation is through “Christ alone,” not works, rituals, or church affiliation.
- The sermon calls for immediate repentance and faith, with a compassionate invitation to seek guidance for salvation.
