2 Kings 5 1 14 Naaman From Leper

2 Kings 5: 1 -14 - Naaman- From Leper To Liberated 1 -4 - He was a “great man” “in high favor” “ a mighty man. Seemed to have it all. How could anyone like him have any problems? Yet, he did- He had leprosy- v. 1

Leprosy � Regulated- Lev. 13: 47; 14: 14 � Nodular growths, parts of the limbs often fall off. � Slowly progressing skin disease characterized by scabs and crusts of skin. � Transmitted by blood, secretions and by mere contact in advanced stages. � About 50 -100 lepers in U. S � Hanson’s Disease in modern times.

Naaman � This mighty man was fighting something he could not conquer on his own. � He had a slave who took pity on him and told him of one who could heal him. � The slave is notable because she did not look forward to him dying but wanted him healed. � Naaman’s character, ability in battle, and men’s respect did not prevent his disease. He needed One more powerful than all!

Naaman � The young slave girl was unafraid to talk of Jehovah and His prophet (2 Ki. 5: 2 -4). � She understood God’s power as a young person � She stated without reservation that if Naaman went to Samaria he could be healed. � She was not afraid of defying the Syrian gods and speaking of Almighty God. � Similar to Joseph, Daniel, Esther- all subjects of heathen powers, but still servants of God.

Naaman � Going to the wrong source will not save from disease (2 Ki. 5: 7 - the king of Israel could do nothing. � Naaman was going to the wrong source and the king knew it. � The king did not try to fool Naaman and pass himself off as something he was not. � We must go to the right source for healing today.

Naaman � 2 Kings 5: 8 - Once Elisha had heard about this he went to the king “let him come to me and he shall know there is a prophet in Israel. ” � How would Naaman know this? By introduction? Nohe would know when he was healed by Elisha. � Do others know there are Christians meeting in Newton based upon our actions? � See Prov. 20: 11 - “even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. ”

Naaman � Getting mad at What God says will not change His commands ( 2 Kings 5: 9 -11). � 1 Kings 5: 12 - he left in a rage. What made him so mad? He was told go wash in the Jordan 7 times. Getting mad at the messenger of God for proclaiming the healing truth does not change God’s commands. � Naaman when he left was still a leper regardless of what he thought about Elisha. He had to submit to the commands to be healed.

Naaman � Naaman was mad because the cure for healing was not what he thought it would be 2 Kings 5: 10 -12. � What you or I think about what God commands has no bearing on His Word. � Naaman made a terrible mistake in assuming God would heal him in a certain way. Isa. 55: 8 -9 - “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…” � Prov. 14: 12 - “there is a way that seems right…”

Naaman- Behold I Thought � Substitutions will not change God’s law. � Naaman’s solution- Abana and Pharphar rivers in Damascus. He was trying to suggest a substitution for the command he heard. If it was water he needed then why not other rivers? (why not a horse trough, bathtub, Mediterranean Sea, Dead Sea…). Many options so why did it matter? � Because God said through Elisha- “go wash in the Jordan 7 times. ” It has not changed because Naaman got mad, or voiced his assumptions, nor when he tried to make substitutions. � We cannot change the plain statements of Scripture (Ps. 119: 89“forever O Lord Thy Word is settled in heaven”).

Naaman- Submission � Only when we submit our will to God’s will does healing take place. � 2 Kings 5: 13 - his servants showed him he was acting foolishly. If the prophet had told you some great thing you would have done it. � 2 Kings 5: 14 - he submits and goes does what Elisha had told him and only then is he clean. � Only when we submit to God can we be cleansed ( Heb. 5: 9 - “being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”).

Naaman � Let us never try to substitute God’s word for our own words. � Let us simply hear it, believe it, repent of our sins and obey it. � When Naaman did what God said he was saved from his leprosy. In like manner when we humbly submit to God, and only then, can we look forward to a home in Heaven when this life is over (1 Cor. 15: 58 - be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…)

Naaman- Closing Thoughts � Truth does not cease being truth nor does it cease to exist just because it is ignored. God’s Word will standwith or without our obedience. If we want relief we will submit to Him, not argue with Him. � Naaman’s new status- he goes home clean for the first time in a while. He is going to live. How grateful he must have felt and how silly he must have seen his resistance after the fact.