2 Kings 5:15-27

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:23-30

Introduction

Last Week, We Looked at the 1st Half…

Of One of the Most Popular Stories in the Book of Kings:

The Story of Naaman

Here’s a Quick Recap:

Naaman was the Captain of the Aramean Army

He was a Highly Respected Man…

Through Whom God had Given Victory to Aram

But He had Leprosy

His Israelite Slave-Girl Told Him that a Prophet in Israel could Heal Him

So He Goes to See Elisha in Israel…

And Elisha Tells Him to Dip in the Jordan River to Be Cleansed & Restored

At 1st, He’s Offended & Angry at this

But His Servants Convince Him to Humble Himself…

And Trust the Instructions of God

So He Does, and He’s Healed

That Brings Us to Our Starting Place for the Rest of the Story

2 Kings 5:15-27

Last Week, the Grace of God Saved Naaman…

Because He Humbled Himself, Trusted God’s Instructions, and Obeyed

This Mirrors Salvation Under the New Covenant

God’s Grace has Been Made Available to All People

Those Who Humble Themselves, Trust God’s Instruction, & Obey…

Enter into the Grace of God & are Saved from Sin & Death

Now, We’re Going to See that the Rest of Naaman’s Story…

Mirrors the Life of a Saved Believer Under the New Covenant

2 Kings 5:15–16 (NIV)

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

Naaman was Restored, Not Only Physically, But Spiritually

He Now Believes that Yahweh is the Only God that Exists

Notice What He Just Did There:

He Confessed His Allegiance in the One True God

Not Only Does He Confess His Allegiance to God…

But He Also Wants to Show His Gratitude for His Salvation…

By Giving a Gift to Elisha

He’s Been Blessed & He Wants to Bless in Return

This is Where Faithful Obedience as a Child of God Comes from:

From a Thankful/Grateful Heart

We Live Obediently to God…

Not to Be Saved…

But Because We are Saved

Obedience is the Only Proper Response…

To the Salvation that is Given By the Grace of God

Elisha Refuses to Accept the Gift

He isn’t in it to Receive Gifts, Blessings, Money

He’s a Prophet Because He Wants God to Be Glorified in Israel

Now, God is Going to Be Glorified in Aram

2 Kings 5:17 (NIV)

17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord.

Naaman Also Wants to Take a Bunch of Dirt from Israel to Aram

Why?

Because He Wants to Build an Altar to the One True God…

On Ground that Came from God’s Promised Land

He’s Making Plans for How He’s Going to Worship God…

Whenever He Gets Back Home

And He Makes a Vow that He will Never Again…

Make an Offering to Any Other God…

Except Yahweh

In Response to His Gracious Salvation…

He’s Making Plans to Only Worship the One True God from Here on Out

2 Kings 5:18–19 (NIV)

18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” 19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said. After Naaman had traveled some distance,

Naaman Does have One Concern, Though

When He Goes Back Home…

He’ll Still Be the Right-Hand Servant to the King of Aram

And Part of His Duty…

Is to Enter the Temple of the False God, Rimmon…

And Bow Down

He Wants to Know that He’ll have God’s Forgiveness/Pardon…

Whenever He has to Bow Down in the Pagan Temple

In Essence, He’s Saying:

“This will No Longer Be Worship to Me”

“From Now on it’s Just a Job”

We’re Probably Tempted to Say:

“No, Naaman! God Won’t Forgive/Pardon You for that!”

But that’s Not What Elisha Said:

“Go in Peace”

Elisha Seems to Be Saying:

“Yes, Naaman. God will Forgive/Pardon You for that”

That Seems Odd to Us…

But There’s a Lot of Context to Consider:

1.) Naaman is Already Doing Much More Than Most Israelites

Israel is Immersed in Paganism & Idolatry

Naaman is a Man Who is Choosing to Only Serve the God of Israel

And He Wants to Take God with Him to His Pagan Homeland

He’s Miles Ahead of Most Israelites

2.) The Exiled Jews Who would’ve Been Reading this…

Would Likely Find Great Comfort in Knowing…

That it’s Possible to Be Faithful to God…

Even When Surrounded By & Immersed in Idol Worship

Naaman’s Situation isn’t Ideal

He Knows that!

That’s Why He’s Asking for God’s Forgiveness, After All

But Elisha, Apparently, Doesn’t See this as a Deal-Breaker

Maybe We Need to Loosen Up & Be a Little More Merciful

This is a Time for Celebration, Not Judgement

The Commander & One of the Most Respected Men in Aram…

Who is the Right-Hand Man of the King of Aram…

Is Bringing Whole-Hearted Faith & Worship of the One True God…

To a Fully Pagan/Idolatrous Nation

We Need to Let Go of the “Holier Than Thou” Attitude…

Lest We Forget the Modern-Day Idolatry…

That We’re Tempted to (& Many Times Do) Participate in Everyday in America

(Money, Sex, Self)

This is a Time to Celebrate!

This is One of the Great Gentile Conversion Stories, Like:

Rahab

Ruth

The Sailors & Ninevites in the Story of Jonah

But Here’s Where the Story Takes a Turn for the Worse

2 Kings 5:20 (NIV)

20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

Elisha’s Servant Gehazi Believes Elisha Let Naaman Off Too Easy

“He Ought to Pay for the Blessing He Received!”

Not Only was Gehazi Seeing Dollar Signs…

There was Probably Some Prejudice & Discrimination…

Going on as Well

So He Runs After Naaman…

And Pretends that Elisha Suddenly Needs:

1 Talent of Silver & 2 Changes of Clothes

Naaman Generously Gives 2 Talents & 2 Changes of Clothes

But Gehazi then Stores it All in His Own House

But When He Gets Back to Elisha…

Elisha Already Knows What Gehazi Did

2 Kings 5:26 (NIV)

26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?

“This wasn’t an Occasion to Be Greedy & Think Only of Yourself!”

2 Kings 5:27 (NIV)

27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

Application

There are 2 Main Characters in the 2nd Half of this Story:

Naaman, of Course…

And Gehazi

So, Let’s Take a Quick Lesson from Each:

Gehazi Shows Us Greed & Selfishness

Gehazi Reminds Me of:

The Prophet Jonah & the Brother of the Prodigal Son

Jonah wasn’t Happy When God Showed Mercy to the Wicked Ninevites

The Older Brother wasn’t Happy When the Father…

Mercifully Welcomed the Younger Brother Back Home

Instead of Gehazi Celebrating God’s Mercy to Naaman…

He Only Thought of Himself

And Because of that, God Gave Him Naaman’s Leprosy

Naaman Shows Us the Life of a Christian

After His Salvation, He Begins:

Unashamedly Confesses His Allegiance in God

Showing His Gratitude By Doing Good Works & Being Generous

Making Plans to Take God Home with Him…

And Worship Him & Him Alone for the Rest of His Life

Seeking to Live a Life that Pleases God

The Story of Naaman is an Incredible & Unique Story…

Because of How Clearly it Mirrors…

The Birth & Life of a Disciple of Jesus