June 22, 2001
"Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
Oh, that my head were a spring of water
and my eyes a fountain of tears!
I would weep day and night for the slain of my people."
Jeremiah 8:21- 9:1 (NIV)
"For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken;
I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me.
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?
Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!"
Jeremiah 8:21-22 (NASU)
"I weep for the hurt of my people; I stand amazed, silent, dumb with grief.
Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why doesn't God do something? Why doesn't he help?
Oh, that my eyes were a fountain of tears; I would weep forever;
I would sob day and night for the slain of my people!"
Jeremiah 8:21-22 (TLB)
What an incredible assurance about the heart of God!! I looked this up in a few different translations to get the richness out of it. It is amazing.. despite the fact that Israel's punishment was deserved. was a result of their own sin, despite the fact that they had plenty of time to repent and could have avoid this punishment.. God's heart grieved and mourned for them. He grieves over the confusion and torment they experienced because they weren't walking with him. They tried to appear as if everything was okay but he knew that in their hearts they were so confused and hurting that they couldn't even see straight. I read these verses several times over... God hurts, he feels our pain, he feels for us in our pain, he weeps over our hurts, over our condition - regardless what brings them about!