Proper 23

Welcome Statement

Scripture is full of miracles. The miracles are not meant to be some sort of promise of what God will give us. They rather are meant to be signs of God's Promise of faithfulness of seeing his people through trials, someway, somehow.

In the Old Testament, one of the most scandalous signs, is one that occurred to an outsider to Israel. A man named Naaman. Now Naaman here is the commander of Syria, or Aram’s Army, he was regarded well among his peers in the military. Now he had Leprosy, and this leprosy impacted him in his role as a general. This story today transcends any worldly boundaries on what it means to be worthy of God’s love, and worthy of his healing, and why we can’t put a pin on where we think the spirit will move: Let us read now.

For those interested, this takes place during the reign of Jeromah it is believed, 2 Kings is not considered Chronological, so this had to be during a time of lower

Old Testament Reading - 2 King 5:1-3, 7-15

2 Kings 5:1–3 NRSV

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

2 Kings 5:7–15 NRSV

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.” But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 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?” He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.”

Humbled By Elisha’s Authority

Naaman was flabbergasted by the fact, a prophet, someone in his mind was beneath his authority, was not addressing him directly, but with an intermediary

It wasn’t until his own

7 times

Reflects creation, with rest at the end. Creation was made whole through a day of rest, sanctification.

Persistence in faith, as Paul would say, “I have finished the race, faced the fight”

Links to the fact faith is not a one day a week thing, but a 7 day a week act

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New Testament Reading - Book 1:1 ABC

Luke 17:11–19 NRSV

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

I Would never be the 9!

As a Kid I recall believing the9

Suffering as Witness

Job is a witness for example of trusting God when you aren’t entirely sure you can trust him

Our suffering can be a witness to others of how transformative God is in our lives, not as a performance, but as a fruit of the spirit

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New Testament Point #3

Testamony about Grandmother’s smile even laying in bed weak

My grace is sufficient for you - Paul

Closing Statement

words

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, adfs asdfa

Amen.

Doxology / Benediction / Closing

May you Have a Blessed Sunday, and rest of your Week! Amen!

Bibliography

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-kings-5/