T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S (4) THE CLEANSING WORD, v. 14. “As they went, they were cleansed.” The b etter tran slation is, “ as they w ithdrew they were cleansed” , or “ im mediately upon th e ir moving away from him, the work was done.” H ere is sim ple faith acting upon the Word of God. The Word is th e cause of faith. “F aith cometh by hearing” (Rom. 10 :17 ). Obedience is the sign of faith. Nothing is more honoring to God th a n a child like obedience to His command. How cheering to th e lepers th a t word “ Go!” How com forting th a t sense of His ability, His w illingness, His purpose to heal them ! Naaman obeyed when he went down into th e w aters of Jordan, but he had to be urged. (2 Ki. 5:14) “T h en w e n t h e d ow n a n d d ip p ed h im s e lf se v e n tim e s in J o rd a n , a c c o rd in g to th e s a y in g o f th e m a n o f G od; a n d h is flesh cam e a g a in lik e n n to th e flesh o f a lit t le ch ild , a n d h e w a s clean .” His pride was more difficult to over come th a n th e disease from which he was suffering. Here are ten men, moving away as one man, each h ea rt responding for it self in faith and expectancy. It is a re markable picture, standing alone in th e life of Christ. Ten is the number of completeness and th e re may be a sug gestion h ere of the completeness of His work for lost men. (5 ) THE CONFESSION OF ONE, vs. 15, 16. “ One tu rned back.” Not repentingly, bu t rejoicingly. Not from sorrow th a t he had listened to th a t Voice, bu t from joy which he could not restrain . He knew th a t he was healed and w anted to find Him who had spoken th e word of power. His h ea rt was full of g ratitu d e and he m ust give expression to it. He forgot th e priest and his need of a certificate. His soul longed for th e face of his benefactor. I t sounds like David (Psa. 30:1, 2) “I w ill e x to l th e e , O L o rd , fo r th o u h a s t lifte d m e u p , a n d h a s t n o t m a d e m y fo e s to re jo ic e o v e r m e. O L o rd m y God, I c rie d u n to th e e , a n d th o u h a s t h e a le d m e.” 1NVESTMENT. (See Page 32)
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He falls a t Jesus’ feet in th e a ttitu d e of a worshipper, making recognition not only of His grace and power, b u t also of His worth. (John 5:23) “T h a t a ll m en sh o u ld h o n o u r th e Son, ev en a s th e y h o n o u r th e F a th e r . H e t h a t h o n o u re th n o t th e Son h o n o u re th n o t. th e F a th e r w h ic h h a th s e n t h im .” The man was a Sam aritan, not so well ta u g h t as th e Jews, w ith g reater excuse had he refrained from re turn ing , yet he did b etter th an he knew, for in his simplicity of faith , he ob tained cleansing of soul as well as body. ( 6 ) THE CULPABILITY OF NINE, vs. 17, 18. “W here are th e nine?” W hat a reflection upon those nine Jews! Jesus knew where they were, busy now w ith th e blessings which had been brought to them , more anxious for a formal certificate th an for a fu rth e r acquaintance "with th e man from Galilee. They were occupied, now, w ith plans for themselves. The world has new attraction s for them now th a t they have regained health and a place among men. They saw nothing in the person of Christ, nor in His power, to a ttra c t them to Himself. They are like so many in Christendom , satisfied w ith temporal blessings, glad to have th e best things— h ealth and prosperity; en joying the fru itag e of th e labors of other men. (Psa. 106:13) “T h e y so o n fo rg o t h is w o rk s ; th e y w a ite d n o t fo r h is c o u n sel.” x Alas, how little th e re is of real g rati- . tud e in th e church! How much th ere is of complaint, of grumbling, of fau lt finding against God! How guilty we all are of th e sin of ing ratitude! How keenly th e Lord felt th e slight then! How he feels it now! (7 ) THE CROWNING BLESSING, v. 19. “Thy faith h ath made thee whole.” The g ratefu l S am aritan was rew ard ed. Not only was he restored to health bu t he was given etern al life. The Lord was astonished th a t the nine were for-
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