Living in the Spirit
September 13, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Is there no balm in Gilead?
   Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people
   not been restored? –Jeremiah 8:22

The Great Physician* was one of my mother’s favorite songs. I haven’t heard it sung for years, and it is not in current hymnals. It still carries an important message.

 The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus! 

Sweetest note in seraph song;
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung:
   Jesus, blessed Jesus!*

My mom was one of the healthiest people I have ever known. Following my father’s death, she lived alone until she was 95 dying at 98. She did have a mastectomy at 85. I sat and listened to the discussion with the doctor when she wondered whether at her age surgery was wise since she probably would not live much longer. I am glad she had the surgery. When that same doctor took her health history, she indicated she had had a tonsillectomy as a youth and she had had three children. When she stopped speaking, the doctor looked up asking what else and she said that was about it. I assured him that was true. Because of her good health, I wondered why this song meant so much to her and decided she practiced preventive health, taking everything in her life to the Great Physician many times throughout the day.

While the words may seem archaic and the tune simplistic, the songs wisdom of preventive medicine is as good for the soul as it is for the body.

Prayer: Lord, you are the Balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole and heal the sin sick soul. Be our Great Physician guiding us toward wholeness. Amen.

*First verse and refrain from The Great Physician, Lyrics by William Hunter. See at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/990

** From There Is a Balm in Gilead an African American Spiritual. See at http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/hs889.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.