He is Greater: Naaman & the Servant Girl

Sermon Introduction

Last week, Ptr. Robert, speaking from Philippians 1:27-30, gave us a timely reminder of what imeans to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

As a reminder, Ptr. Robert explored three issues, or I might say, 3 western values:

Gender Ideology, Abortion, and Medical Aid in Dying

These three issues stand in contrast to our Christian values

If you pay close enough attention to what’s being said by our politicians, by our news media, and by our entertainment sources, these issues are the dominating the characteristics of our culture

And you have to understand, these are not just personal opinions that Pastor Robert and I hold...

And it isn’t just about legalistic or conservative expectations concerning Christian conduct… you know like how conservative Christians in the past didn’t watch movies, or didn’t listen to Rock and Roll...

No, these issues are Gospel Issues… Gender Ideology, Abortion, and Medical Aid in Dying are our modern day Baals…

These are the idols of contemporary western culture that people run to because they reject Yahweh, as God…

The God who created us male and female

Tthe God who knit us together in our mother’s wombs with inherent dignity as his image bearers....

And the God who is sovereign over all things including life and death

So there is a collision taking place between Christian Values and the Values of the world around us

And to be perfectly honest, it does seem like we are on the losing end of this conflict… Christians could very well soon be persecuted openly in the west, if they aren’t already...

I know that may seem unbelievable… but tell that to Anthony Bass… Former Blue Jays pitcher, and a Christian… who, for unforgivable sin of declaring that parents should be the ones to discuss sexuality with their children, and not corporations, or the schools, or the government… was absolutely destroyed by the woke mob, and eventually was cut from the team...

So don’t be mistaken… this is the reality that we live in…

The question is, how do we remain faithful to our faith when there’s so much hostility around us...

Well, I mentioned that Ptr. Robert’s sermon was timely, not just because it is refering to real time events around us, but it also leads very well in to our sermon for today...

Scripture Introduction

Before we get to our passage, we need to fill in what we have skipped over, because, as I mentioned before, if we’re going to make it through to the end of the Old Testament in this sermon series, we can’t go over every story

If you’ll remember, my last sermon in this series covered the story of David and Goliath

This was during the reign of Saul, the first King of Israel, who God gave to the people of Israel after the period of the Judges when they demanded a King so that they can be like the other people around them...

This of course displeased God, because it was a rejection of his sovereign rule over His people… but he allowed it nonetheless, though unfortunately Saul turned out to be a disaster as a King, particularly when it came to the Philistines

Eventually, David becomes the King of Israel, and he is able to completely conquer the land, establishing Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, although he continues to be in conflict throughout his reign

But that sets up a period of peace and prosperity under his son King Solomon...

Unfortunately, after Solomon died and his son Rehoboam became, a conflict over taxation arose between the 10 northern tribes of Israel, and the 2 southern Tribes, Judah and Benjamin..

This resulted in the 10 northern tribes splitting away, and declaring Jeroboam, who was original a servant of King Solomon as their king

And so from this point Israel is divided… with the northern kingdom maintaining the name Israel, and the southern consilidating Judah

These two kingdoms are periodically in conflict with each other and with the other kingdoms around them, which they also occasionally enter into alliances with...

One of these kingdoms is the Kingdom of Syria, which is also sometimes called Aram...

Syria start to play a large part in Israel’s history in the time of King Ahab… who is 6th King of Israel after Jeroboam… By this point, about 100 years has passed since King David...

Ahab is particularly infamous for marrying the evil woman Jezebel, and being in conflict with the prophet Elijah...

You might remember the story of Elijah challenging the prophets of Jezebel to determine who the true God is… Elijah built an altar to Yahweh, while the Jezebel’s prophets built an altart to Baal. Jezebel’s prophets called on Baal to send fire to the altar, but of course fail… while Elijah, dug a trench around his altar, then had water poured over it… But when he prayed to God, fire came down from heaven to consume the altar...

So yeah, that story happened during the time of Ahab

And so, Ahab was a bad king, who did not follow the Lord… and who alternated between in alliance and trading with and being in conflict against Ben-Hadad, the King of Syria

By the time of Ben-Hadad and Ahab’s deaths, Israel ad Syria are in conflict… a conflict that continues through the reign of Ahaziah and Jehoram, Ahab’s son and grandson...

Commander Naaman

Which brings us to our passage this morning… which is actually an unusual passage, given the history of Israel and Syria that I just explained...

One of the primary characters in this story of Naaman, who is described as the “commander of the army of the King of Syria”

Just think of that for a moment… Naaman is not just a commander in the army of the king of Syria, but THE commander of the army of the king of Syria...

Think General Douglas MacArthur… General Dwight Eisenhower...

2 Kings 5:1 call him a great man with his master and in high favor… and a mighty man of valour...

And yet there was a problem… he was a leper

For those of you who have heard this word leper, or leprocy.. but don’t really know much about it...

It’s a disease of the skin and nerves… It causes lesions and numbness, and most importantly, it is highly contagious.. which is why there’s so much stigma around it...

People with leprocy in ancient times often become social pariahs…

Unless, of course, they are someone like Naaman...

Obviously, his social status shielded him from any of the social stigma around leprocy, but it was still a terrible disease that would have impacted his life

Israelite Servant Girl

Which brings us then to the Israelite servant girl, who isn’t even named...

According to 2 Kings 5:2, she was carried away by one of the Syrian raids on Israel, and she becomes a servant of Naaman’s wife

Take some time to consider that...

Imagine yourself in this little girl’s place

How would you feel? Taken away from your family and your people… and sent to live in a foreign land as a slave

Resentment is probably not a strong enough emotion to feel in that situation...

And yet, what this nameless little girl do?

2 Kings 5:3 “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.””

What kind of response is that?

Shouldn’t she hate this man who took her away from her home and family? Shouldn’t she actually be glad that he’s suffering this terrible disease?

No, she sets aside these feelings, and she points Naaman to the one she knows is able to heal him...

This is the same attitude that we should have in our circumstances.

It’s easy, when we’re faced with all of hostility around us to be resentful, to be angry, and to hate...

I’ll be the first to admit that’s my reaction...

When I heard about Anthony Bass, you know what my first reaction was? That’s it, get rid of my Blue Jays merchendise… never watching a game ever again...

My personal reaction is disengage… alright, you’re going to be hostile to me? I’ll meet your hostility with my own…

But that’s not what the Bible calls us to do...

Years and years after this story… during the time of the exile, when people from both Israel and Judah are facing much the same situation as this little girl… carried off into a foreign land to serve foreign masters...

The Prophet Jeremiah teaches them how they should act...

In Jeremiah 29:7 “7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

??? SIde note about Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Luke 6:27–28 “27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

Point to Christ

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

1 Timothy 4:10 “10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

Close with story of Jim Elliot…

Jim Elliot's Mission: Jim Elliot was a passionate Christian missionary who, along with four other missionaries - Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian, had a deep desire to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the Huaorani tribe in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The Huaorani were known for their isolation and reputation for violence, making them a challenging but crucial mission field.

The Martyrdom: On January 8, 1956, Jim and his companions made contact with the Huaorani people, initially through a friendly exchange of gifts. However, tragically, the situation turned hostile, and the five missionaries were brutally killed by members of the tribe.

Shock and Response: The news of their deaths shocked the world, but it also galvanized the Christian community. Instead of responding with anger or revenge, their widows and family members, including Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint, chose a different path.

Living Among the Huaorani: Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint were determined to continue the mission that their loved ones had started. They decided to live among the Huaorani people, despite the great risk involved. They learned the Huaorani language and culture, and over time, they built relationships of trust with the tribe members.

Sharing the Gospel: Elisabeth Elliot, in an incredible act of forgiveness and faith, eventually shared the Christian faith with the very men who had killed her husband. She and Rachel Saint introduced the Huaorani to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasizing forgiveness, love, and redemption.

Conversion and Transformation: Their efforts bore fruit as many Huaorani tribe members converted to Christianity. The same people who had once been known for their violence and hostility began to live transformed lives, marked by peace and reconciliation.