656
T HE
K I N G ’ S
B U S I N E S S
October 1924
Ben-hadad did not suppose that the king himself would perform the cure, but that he'could command his magicians to do so. Why did not the king of Israel send him to Elisha? Had not the Lord cured the leprosy of Moses?' Here is a specr tacle,:—a king of Israel rending his clothes in unbelief! Elisha hears of the king’s conduct and sends him a mess age, “ Send him to me.” Elisha gave a good testimony: “ He shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman goes to Elisha’s house, but he, is disappointed now in Elisha. Here he is with his offerings and his retinue, but Elisha does not even come out to see him. Naaman came in the right spirit to the wrong place— the king. Now he comes to the right places in the wrong spirit. He had his own ideas of how he was to be healed. I thought.” He was looking for some fleshly manifestation. He thought his position, his wealth, entitled him to a cure. He thought he honored Elisha by calling at tiis humble home. But a servant' brings him the message, “ Go, wash.” Elisha does not even come out. Naaman is insulted. All of the pomp and parade has been for nothing. What! go wash in a muddy stream? He that had everything to commend himself to be treated like a pauper! What a comment on human nature. You can find ten thousand such in any large community today. They have no conception of grace. They are willing to make gifts, reso lutions, prayers, promises to reform. They think Almighty God would be greatly favored if they came to Him. Tell a banker that he must come just as the drunkard ,comes, or a society woman that she must come like a harlot, and they are insulted, Human nature hates God’s Word and God’s way. They say, “ I fast;” “ I give;” “ I am cultured.” But God can never do anything with poor human nature but to stretch it upon the cross. The command is; “ Go, wash.” -: Nothing more, nothing less, “ Go, march around the city” (Josh. 6:3-5). In short, obey God. Think of the foolishness of a poor leper reasoning about the proper way to heal an incurable disease! Away with your thoughts! (1 ,0or. 1:27-29) “God hath chosen the foolish thingrs of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence.” ( (1 Cor. 3:18) <4) THE DELIVERANCE FROM DISEASE, vs. 13, 14. “ he was clean” v. 14. Naaman’s servants were good advisers. They said to him, “ You would be willing to dp some great thing. Why not try this simple method?” Here is real wisdom. Get down from your own ideas, your opinions. Submit to the right eousness of God (Rom. 10:3) Submit to the authority of God (Jno. 2:5) “His mother saith unto the servants. Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Naaman allowed himself to be persuaded and went down to the water. The Jordan typifies judgment— death. He was to dip himself seven times-—the perfect number. His flesh became like the flesh of a little child. He was a new man. (Rom. 6:4) “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (John 1 :13 ); (1 Pet. 1:23) There is but one way of salvation,— faith in Him Who bore our sins, Who was judged, Who was wounded, Who
tasted death, Who is risen, Who is coming again. One look of faith does it all (2 Pet. 1:4) Look at Naaman’s testimony (v. 15) “Behold* now I know that there is no God in all the earth* but in Israel.” (5) THE DECLINED PRESENT, vs. 15-19 ‘‘I will receive none” v. 16. Mark the contrast in Naaman’s attitude. His pride had had a fall. His sarcasm is gone. His heart is filled with gratitude. Like the leper in Luke 17 :17,, 18 he desires to give glory to God. His testimony is like that of the true convert today,. “Now, I know.” Personal experience is the, safest and best experience. Have you ever noticed the attitude of one who, having met the demands of the Word of God and accepted Christ as Saviour and confessed Him as Lord (a real transaction) is born again? How the heart bubbles up with gratitude and joy, and how the new life, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, gives spontaneous expression to. that jqy? This was the attitude of Naaman, the real convert. He wants to give a gift to Elisha, but Elisha cannot accept it. He desires that Naaman may be impressed with the fact that God has wrought the miracle. Money can never compensate for spiritual gifts. God can accept it, but not men. Men might receive them to be used for God’s glory, but woe unto them if they appropriate them instead to their, own selfish use! ^6) THE DECEIVER PUNISHED, vs. 20-27 “ And he went out*** a leper” v. 27. It is sad to close a wonderful story ,like this with the account of the covetousness of Elisha’s servant, Gehazi. How wonderfully true is the Bible! No man would ever have conceived this climax. Gehazi was very human. He had an eye on the future, but not on God. In Ahab we had an example of the rich covetous man, and here we have the poor covetous man. Human nature is always the same. Lot did not improve in companionship with Abraham— he coveted Sodom’s fields. Absalom did not improve in David’s house—-he coveted the throne. Judas was not changed by walking and living with and listening to Jesus—his eye was on the bag. Demas was a friend of Paul’s, but he loved the world more than God. Gehazi blasphemed, “As the Lord liveth;” He dragged the Lord’s name to the level of a thief. His eye centered on the gift which Elisha had refused and it was photographed there. As he runs, he plans. He lied and put it over with Naaman, but he could not put it over with God’s prophet. He was called to account. Elisha’s eye was upon him, and God’s curse fell upon him. Imagine him counting the silver with leprous hand! Leprosy is a type of sin. Would not every clink of the silver pieces have a Satanic sound, “ I have you, Gehazi.” Contrast the three men in this story, and then read Col. 3:2-5:25. Topics for Study (1) What was the Jewish law concerning lepers? (?) How can those who are afar off by reason of sin, be made nigh? (3) Why did the little maid believe that Elisha could heal Naaman? (4) Why did the king send money to Naaman? (5) Why did not the king know of God’s power to heal? (6) Did obedience to Elisha’s command require great faith of Naaman? (7) What mighty things has God ordained to be wrought . through the weak? (1 Cor. 10:4, 5). (8) Does sin bring all men to a common level?
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker