Elisha cleans leprosy and delivers the Syrian army
Elisha truly had a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit. Take a look.
2 Kings 5: Naaman Healed of Leprosy
1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favour, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.
2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife.
3 She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel."
5 And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy."
7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me."
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel."
9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean."
11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
13 But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"
14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Gehazi's Greed and Punishment
15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."
16 But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
17 Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules' load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.
18 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter."
19 He said to him, "Go in peace." But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance,
20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?"
22 And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me to say, 'There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'"
23 And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.
24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.
25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere."
26 But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?
27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
2 Kings 6: The Axe Head Recovered
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us.
2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there." And he answered, "Go."
3 Then one of them said, "Be pleased to go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go."
4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, "Alas, my master! It was borrowed."
6 Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.
7 And he said, "Take it up." So he reached out his hand and took it.
Horses and Chariots of Fire
8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, "At such and such a place shall be my camp."
9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there."
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?"
12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
13 And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan."
14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
16 He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?"
22 He answered, "You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master."
23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
Ben-hadad's Siege of Samaria
24 Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria.
25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver.
26 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"
27 And he said, "If the LORD will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?"
28 And the king asked her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'
29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, 'Give your son, that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son."
30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes---now he was passing by on the wall---and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body---
31 and he said, "May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today."
32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, "Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?"
33 And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, "This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"
Things to think about…
1. Naaman the pagan Syrian has leprosy. He is simply told to wash in the Jordan 7 times, 2Kgs 5:1-14. Simple enough. How is it that he whinges about it by saying the the action required for healing and 2 rivers in his homeland being far better than the Jordan. He thought Elisha would just wave his hand over the spot where he had leprosy and he would be better. This is a bit like the man Jesus told to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. If God tells us to do something, we should never question His logic. Naaman thought he could tell the LORD how he should be healed. Fortunately, Naaman’s servants encourage him that he has nothing to lose but everything to gain. Naaman washes and is healed and is very grateful. Have you ever been in a situation that outwardly doesn’t seem to make sense, but you know is the Lord’s will for your life? Obedience is better than sacrifice, 1Sam 15:22. Why would you not choose to be washed in the blood of Christ and be clean from sin? Yet tragically people think there is a way to know God in their own way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He simply says “Follow Me”.
2. You may remember Elisha’s servant Gehazi yesterday pushed away the woman when she came to Elisha to have him heal her son. Gehazi’s true heart of self is shown, 2 Kings 5:20-23. Just because you hang around godly people does not necessarily make you a godly person. Such greed was with Judas who robbed the money bag even though he hung around the Lord of glory – Jesus for a number of years. Gehazi’s greed and deception land him with Naaman’s leprosy. Have you ever been affected by the moral failure of others who would call themselves followers of Christ? It hurts doesn’t it. We are called to love even our enemies but we are also called to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves, Mt 10:16. Wisdom is justified by her children, Mt 11:19. Keep praying for a tender and wise heart in all your dealings with frail people. We all have the potential to fall just like Gehazi.
3. Always remember this truth in the face of insurmountable opposition “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2Kings 6:16.
4. In 2Kings 6 we see two interesting events. The first is a mighty deliverance from the Syrians vss 8-23, but then in vss 24-33 we see Syria surrounding Samaria and besieging the city to the point of starvation. Did Elisha get it wrong? Shouldn’t Elisha have killed this army after they were struck with blindness? Now they have returned only to inflict further suffering on the people of Israel. You can see why the king is angry and wants to take off Elisha’s head, vs 32. Have you ever made a decision believing it to be the right one and directed by the Lord only to find that your final situation seems worse than before? This is where faith overrides any human effort or endeavour. The Christian places his whole trust in two of the Lord’s qualities - His sovereignty and His loving grace. Faith says that all things, Rom 8:28, ultimately work out for our good, even when outwardly things look bad. We will see in tomorrow’s readings – Israel was about to be abundantly blessed! Faith looks at the final result!
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon title was “talk about demons” - from Matt 24
1. Jesus says the temple will be torn down and is asked by His disciples 3 questions. 1. When will the temple be torn down? 2. What will be the sign of your return? 3. When will the close of the age happen? Mt 24:3. When did the first occur?
2. What does the “abomination that causes desolation” mean? How do we know this was this not fulfilled in AD70?? How will it be fulfilled? Discuss.
3. A number of things will occur before Christ returns, what are they as listed in Matt 24? Are they occurring in our world?
4. There have been many false prophets. Jay mentioned Harold Camping who prophesied the end of the world a couple of times and was embarrassed each time. We know people get complacent about the Lord’s return. Discuss how you talk about Jesus and who you can share the gospel with this week.
Prayer Points
1. Growth in our kids and youth ministries
2. The Chuwar carols – pray as we put the event together
3. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. A man who has joined CBC recently, Nathan is wanting to be a child of God.
2. Combined worship service at Riverlife – lots of young people engaging with our Lord.
3. Worship team and technical team. Thankyou Suzy, Zac, Gina, Dan H and Rin. You made Sundays praise enjoyable.
