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TH E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July, 1939
BLACKBOARD LESSON
at Philippi, to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). III. T he H elp O btained (14) Naaman felt it would be beneath his dignity to go to wash in the despised River Jordan, but his servants prevailed upon him at least to try. And that is all God waits for. It costs nothing to put God’s Word to the test; there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by following the directions, which, when followed, will bring full deliverance. Naaman finally went to the river and dipped himself in its waters. There may have been misgivings in his mind as he noticed no change after the first dipping, nor after the second, nor the third, and so on. But, when he came to the allotted number and dipped himself the seventh time, “his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (v. 14). Similarly it can be said to every sin-sick soul who’ will follow the directions, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Points and Problems 1. "But he was a leper" (v. 1). This statement, by reason of its brevity and location, is one of the most striking texts in the Word of God. The first verse out lines graphically the greatness of the man in his position and his accomplishments, and then adds almost ironically, “but he was a leper.” It is no accident that the term "leper” has become a synonym for moral and spiritual degradation, for the interpreters of all ages have seen here in this story the divine estimate of human greatness. After you have written down all the virtues and accomplishments of the world’s greatest men, after you have care fully added them all up, the total sum is wiped out by one simple fact— "But he was a sinner." This is God’s own arithmetic, and the problem is insoluble by any human wisdom. But God is able to solve it, not by subtracting anything from it, but by adding something to it—just three words: "saved by grace." This in the last analysis will make all the difference in the summary of human life, the difference between loss and gain, between hell and heaven, between death and life. 2. "By him the Lord had given de liverance unto Syria" (v. 1). Naaman had evidently been the leader of the Syrian army when the Syrian ascendancy was won over Israel. Josephus and the Mid rash refer to Naaman as the unnamed soldier who “drew a bow at a venture" and thus unwittingly killed Ahab the King of Israel (1 Ki. 22:34). Whether the tra dition is right or wrong, it is certain that the sovereign God claims the credit for the Syrian victory. 3. "Captive out o f the land of Israel a little maid” (v. 2 ). Naaman probably regarded the capture of this little maid a very insignificant thing, yet it turns out to be perhaps his most important accomplish ment. And how interesting, and humbling, to notice that after giving this great soldier
power on earth that even leprosy could not withstand. If he could secure that remedy, he might be delivered from a slow and miserable death. The history of Naaman is simply the story of a sinner, told out in typical form. Leprosy is a type of sin, bringing distress and danger and death. Until the sin ques tion is settled between God and man, what ever success or honor may be attained will all be a mockery. But there is a super natural power against which even sin must give way, and this is what every person needs. II. T he H elp O ffered (5-10.) Following the natural promptings of his own reason, Naaman felt he must surely be and do something extraordinary before he could secure the needed help. Hence he provided himself with a glowing letter of recommendation from his king, and, taking with him a large retinue of servants and a fabulous gift, he set out for the land of Israel. Thinking that the remedy which he sought would be in the hands of some great personage, he approached the king of Israel with his request. But this attempted con tact only made matters worse and almost caused war between Syria and Israel. In like manner the sinner feels, because of his fallen condition, that he can expect nothing from God except in return for something he is or does. But the fact is that God gives His gift of salvation; hence, the only possible way of getting that gift is by personal acceptance, by faith alone. When Elisha heard of Naaman’s visit and disappointment, he sent word to Naa man, asking him to come to him. To Naaman’s chagrin, Elisha merely sent a message telling him to go to wash seven times in the River Jordan, promising that when he did so he would be healed of his leprosy. The great man resented being treated as though he were an ordinary per son, and at first he refused to fulfill the terms of the offer. All he had to do was simply to follow the directions and find health. It is thus with the sinner. All individuals are alike in the sight of God so far as the sin question is concerned, even though some feel that, for one reason or another, they should receive special treatment. For all, the directions that lead to deliverance are the same. For the sinner to obtain salvation is even simpler than it was for Naaman to find relief from his leprosy. To be healed of the dread disease of sin, one needs only to accept Christ as personal Saviour, to cease from all attempts at hu man righteousness, and to rely wholly up on the Lord; that is, as Paul told the jailer
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