Is There No Balm in Gilead

Monday, March 2, 2015
Jeremiah 8:18-22 KJV

18 [When] I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart [is] faint in me. 19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: [Is] not the LORD in Zion? [is] not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, [and] with strange vanities? 20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. 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?

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What two (2) things happened when the prophet mourned for his people? (v.18)
2) What was the complaint of the prophet's people against God? What was the Lord's complaint against His people? (v.19-20)
3) Why was the prophet grieving for the people of God? (v.21-22)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever grieved over the spiritual condition of a lost or backslidden family member or friend? If so, please explain why and describe one such instance.
5) Do you ever grieve over the spiritual condition of this nation? If so, why?

LIFE LESSONS
6) The best and only thing that we can do for the lost among us is to pray for them.
7) The Lord is grieved by when any nation does not acknowledge, or turns from, Him. 
8) The Lord expects His people to pray for the people in a wayward nation.