On Friday evenings I’ve been teaching about endurance. I’ve found many examples of the strength and courage people have had to survive when it looked like they would surely die.

When our body is sick or injured, we will take medicine or go to the doctor. We want our body to feel better. When we are experiencing pain, we want to fix it right away.

But then I wondered if people have the same determination to fight for their spirit and soul. If the spirit and soul are in unhealthy states will people seek a remedy immediately? Or will they just keep going about life as if nothing were wrong? In Isaiah’s day the people we doing nothing in regards to their sick souls (Isaiah 1:5-6). A hundred years later, Jeremiah asked about the spiritual health of the people: Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

It is sad that Samson didn’t know that the LORD had departed from him (Judges16:20). When the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, instead of repenting and seeking God he listened to his servants who tried to cheer him up with music. Music was only a temporary fix. Saul never again experienced spiritual health. Saul needed God to heal his soul and spirit. Later Saul sought witchcraft instead of God.

Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Song: “There is a balm in Gilead”

Sometimes 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.

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry