A Gospel Portrait

2 Kings 5:1–19 NASB95

Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 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 is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.” It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ “Are not Abanah 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. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 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. When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules’ load of earth; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. “In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand 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.” He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him some distance.

INTRO: Sometimes, in order to see the picture, you have to have the right perspective. Sometimes to appreciate a fine work of art, you have to have it framed and displayed for people to see.

ILL:Several years ago now, when I led the youth, we would sometimes play a game called “Close up” in which we’d take a picture and zoom into just a piece of it and see if anyone could guess what the image was. This was challenging, but a lot of fun. Usually, we’d have to zoom out to the proper perspective in order for people to see the right answer.

This can sometimes be the case when we look at Scripture- we can see the events, but miss the picture. We can identify the action, but miss it’s point.

In our passage today, we see a lot that can make us scratch our head. Let’s just begin with the 1st verse:

1 & 2 Kings are written to speak of the history of the kings of both the Northern & Southern Kingdoms, yet we are speaking of a captain in a foreign army.

Aram (Syria) had been at war with Israel- God’s chosen people on a number of occasions, and yet we see that the LORD gave Aram victory over His own people!

So we begin this section with the God of Israel coming to the aid of foreigners who were unclean and not part of His covenant people. Aram was a pagan nation, and Naaman was a captain of this pagan army.

Even as we trace this story, we observe that it seems to be out of place… but not if we have the right perspective. You see, God’s Word is given so that we can know Him, worship Him, and live in right relationship to Him.

What I want to highlight for us this morning is how this story of healing is a Gospel Portrait - a picture of what God would later do for US through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, here, we see a tiny piece of God’s sovereign work in salvation… the God of creation showing grace to His enemies.

I love what Paul says to the Romans in:

Romans 5:8–10 NASB95

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Aren’t you glad that God shows grace and mercy to His enemies?

So this morning, I invite you to follow along in your sermon guide as we lean into 2 Kings 5:1-15 to see A Gospel Portrait. I’ve tried to organize our study by relating each section of the passage to God’s character. My prayer is that you and I will see the portrait and ‘get the picture’.

Let us first acknowledge that

God is Great: Mighty & Sovereign (1-8)

We’ve already been introduced to the main character, Naaman. Naaman was a man with great power and wealth. He was respected by his peers and feared by his enemies. He was a valiant warrior and had proven his worth.

But he was also a leper. Leprosy is a flesh-eating disease that was very contagious. Naaman’s wealth could not buy a cure, nor could he be strong enough or powerful enough to earn a cure or heal himself.

However, let me point you to v. 2-3 (READ)

A child who was kidnapped from Israel, God’s chosen people, knew what nobody in all of Aram knew. There is a prophet of God in Israel who could heal him.

Don’t miss this: IF this girl had not had been kidnapped and enslaved to this house, Naaman would have died a leper and would have never glorified God in his life. If she had chosen in her bitterness to withhold the good news, Naaman would have remained ignorant. Sometimes, God in His sovereignty allows things that don’t make sense in our lives- sometimes painful and uncomfortable things - in order for the BIG picture to be accomplished! We need to think God’s Kingdom, not my kingdom!

So, Naaman, desperate for healing, gained permission and a letter from the king to go to Israel for healing. Now, understand, this was a pagan nation and they didn’t understand that Yahweh, Israel’s God was not some idol or local miracle-worker. So, evidently the king of Aram and perhaps Naaman thought that Jehoram, king of Israel oversaw or controlled the local idol.

Of course, when the king of Israel received the letter, there was a huge misunderstanding. (READ 6-7)

The king knew that this was beyond him and he tore his clothes in anguish- Naaman had come to the wrong guy.

I can see how this went wrong - Think about how when you have a heart problem, you want to go the best heart doctor- you don’t want the guy who barely passed med school! Naaman went to the top! If the king of Israel couldn’t heal him, then who could? But this might be more like going to the top tax accountant to get brain surgery…

God is not under the command of man. He is mighty and answers to no one. God chooses who will speak on His behalf, and it was not the king of Israel. Even with this debacle, God guided Elisha to correct this error.

Think about all that God has orchestrated so that you could hear the Good News of the Gospel? Perhaps, like the little Israelite girl, God has positioned you to be the voice of hope for someone else. Perhaps your pain or circumstance is intended to be leveraged for the BIG PICTURE - a mosaic that only God can put together.

God is Great; He is mighty and sovereign over all of creation. For Naaman, this brought him to the point where he could hear the good news of healing. Next, we see that:

God is Good: Merciful & Kind (9-13)

Naaman gathers his riches and heads down to the prophet. He is expecting to barter his riches for healing… but that’s not how it works.

Unfortunately, that’s many folks view of how God works. We try to barter with God- How many of you have done this?

“God if you will just heal me, then I will never miss church again!” Or “God if you will let my team win...” Truly though, many folks look at salvation in that way- they think that they can earn God’s favor.

You see, like Naaman, we expect that God would say to us: “Complete this list of ‘to-do’s’, and you will have salvation” That is works-based religion- you see in in the Muslims, the Mormons, Buddhists, etc.

But God is good. His mercy is not for sale. He offers it freely because He is good… but it’s not what we expect.

Let me read again v. 10-12 (READ)

Naaman didn’t even get to talk to Elisha in person- it was a messenger that instructed him. Further, the instructions didn’t make sense… it’s too simple; too humiliating for a man of such rapport. The Jordan was not even a nice river compared to the ones in Aram. This actually made Naaman quite mad....

Now, don’t miss this: When we share the Gospel - that we are sinners in a broken world, that we need a Savior- some folks agree and are with you - until you tell them the instructions on HOW to be saved. REPENT - change your mind about Jesus. He is GOD in flesh- Lord of all. When you repent and believe, then your life must reflect that. It’s simple.

BUT- that means that value is not where you decide, it’s where God decides. That kind of thing tends to make people upset. We want to be our own gods.

In God’s kindness, there was an offer of healing- all Naaman had to do was accept God’s terms. Thankfully, his servants talked some sense into him.

We all need these kinds of truth-tellers in our lives, don’t we? People who will tell us when we are being prideful or just plain dumb.

Naaman was willing to give all this money or go on some crazy quest to be healed… was he willing to obey the word of the Lord?

ILL: This is a point that we must consider carefully. In Luke 18:18-23, a ruler questioned Jesus about entering God’s Kingdom. We know this as “The rich young ruler”. He was unwilling to obey the command to love God with all his heart- his money meant more to him.

For many, it’s pride that keeps them from obeying God’s word. What about you? Are you trying to negotiate your own terms?

God is Great- mighty and sovereign. And God is good- He is merciful and kind to offer salvation. It’s free, but it’s not cheap.

Finally, we see that

God is Glorious: Faithful & True (14-19)

The message to Naaman was given so that he would experience something greater than physical healing. When he obeyed the word of the Lord, he was completely restored.

Because Elisha was not near him and didn’t even speak to him, Naaman’s healing opened his eyes to the reality of God. It’s like the apostle Paul after his Damascus Road experience. He was left blind until Ananias came to him. Let me remind you:

Acts 9:17–18 NASB95

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;

Naaman now understood that Yahweh was not simply an idol- Elisha was not a magic-man… let me read v. 15 again (READ)

Now I KNOW! It wasn’t just that he knew there was a prophet in Israel nor that there was a magical water in the Jordan. No, he knew that there is no god but the God of Israel! All others are imposters. The God of the Bible is gloriously worthy of praise and adoration!

Naaman was ready to give Elisha all he had as an offering. Now, look at this: when Elisha refused, Naaman asks to take dirt back to Aram so he could build an altar to Yahweh and asks forgiveness for the idolatry that his king partakes and for his proximity to this idol-worship - READ 17-18

Naaman knows that Yahweh is the one true God- God’s glory has shone in such a way that it cannot be denied.

But here’s the reality- he must now live in a Pagan land with false gods… he will war with the temptations of his old life and must decide whether or not he will continue to give glory to Yahweh.

Doesn’t that sounds familiar? Indeed, this passage paints a portrait of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We began as enemies of God and yet He was merciful towards us. In His sovereignty He has led us to be able to hear of the Good News- that though we are enemies of God, there is salvation offered- paid by the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Maybe today is the first time you’ve heard that. Or maybe you’ve not really surrendered yourself to Christ’s lordship.

Friends, today is the day of salvation. Today, you could exclaim with joy the verses we quoted earlier from Romans 8

Romans 8:1 NASB95

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

There is no one like our God!

[Pray]

Discuss: Describe how God has sovereignly directed your life.

Discuss: Do you wrestle with God’s terms of salvation?

Discuss: How do you see ‘Lordship’ of Jesus?