05.7. Walking In Newness Of Life

Walking In Newness Of Life

2 Kings 5:15-19 In this fourth chapter, we see how Naaman, after being cleansed, only wanted to serve the God of Israel. This is an important lesson for us, for as Christians we also desire to serve and worship the living and true God.

Naaman’s new life of gratitude

What was Naaman’s reaction to his healing and cleansing? He returned to Elisha in order to express his gratitude (2 Kings 5:15 a). In this respect, he showed great resemblance to the Samaritan in Luke 17:1-37, a stranger who also returned to thank God after being cleansed from his leprosy. We should also do that as the redeemed of the Lord. We should fall at our Saviour’s feet and honour Him for our salvation. After our conversion we should also show a new obedience. And we see a type of this here. There was not a trace of pride left in Naaman when he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides. He did not remain sitting in his chariot, as he had done at their first meeting, but he went into the prophet’s house. Very humbly, he spoke about himself as Elisha’s servant: "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift (lit. "blessing") from your servant" (2 Kings 5:15 b). Naaman had come to know the true God, the God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth.

He recognized that all other gods were idols, and were entirely powerless to save (cf. Isaiah 45:20). He wanted to show his thankfulness to the true God, and therefore offered a gift to the man of God. It was done with good intentions, but he had to learn the lesson of free grace. That principle holds true for us as well. We cannot pay anything for our salvation. Salvation in Christ is entirely free. Divine blessing is only from above, it comes down from the Father of lights. That is why the prophet decisively turned down a reward. He was just a servant of the living God and could not accept anything for the miracle of Naaman’s cleansing. Although the latter insisted that he must accept something, he kept on refusing (2 Kings 5:16). This principle also holds good for us: "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). It is a corrupt way of thinking to suppose that godliness, i.e. the service of God, is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5). Gehazi, however, was such a person who had lost the way of truth, as we will yet see.

Living in God’s presence But Naaman’s heart was in the right place. No matter what, he wanted to serve the God of Israel. Although he could not pay anything to the prophet for his cleansing, he could ask him for something. For Naaman really wanted to start a new life. That is also true for us. After we have been raised with Christ to a new life, we should walk in the good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). The commander of the Syrian army had the following wish: "Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD" (2 Kings 5:17). Here we have a clear proof of his conversion, a beautiful fruit of the new life that he had received. When we have turned to God from idols, we only desire, from that moment on, to serve the living and true God (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:9). And we should serve Him according to His revealed will, on a basis that answers to His holiness - just as Naaman wished to serve Him on holy ground.

Probably he made from these loads of earth "an altar of earth" for the Lord and sacrificed on it his burnt offerings and peace offerings (cf. Exodus 20:24). The patriarchs of Israel had acted in the same way. They frequently made an altar of earth, as we see in the book of Genesis. The service of the true God takes shape in our personal worship, our personal conduct, but also in our public worship. Do we have such an altar at which we call on the name of the Lord? As Christians we do have an altar, as Hebrews 13:10 clearly tells us. Not a literal altar of earth, or a bronze or gold altar, but an altar in the metaphorical sense of the word. We have a place to meet God, or to express it even better, a Person through whom we draw near. Christ Himself is the true Centre of our worship, and by Him we have access to God and freedom to enter the Holiest (Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 13:15). Do we serve our God with a thankful heart, personally and together with others? Do we draw near to Him as priests? Do we offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name? Do we pay tribute to Him for His great salvation? Do we realize that we owe our cleansing to Him alone?

Living without worldly compromise But we see something else here. Such a life in the presence of God will certainly bring difficulties, for we cannot serve both God and the world. The people who surround us will insist on making a compromise. Naaman also had such a problem. He was immediately aware of it, and mentioned it in all honesty to Elisha (2 Kings 5:18). His master, the king of Syria, would probably remain a servant of idols. Should he enter the idol temple as the servant on whose hand the king leaned (cf. 2 Kings 7:2)? Would the LORD forgive him if, as part of his duties, he were to bow down before Rimmon?Note: Rimmon was the god of the Syrians, and the Assyrian god of thunder. He was the same as Hadad, from whom the name of Ben-Hadad has been derived. Sometimes both names occur combined in the order Hadad Rimmon (Zechariah 12:11).He did not get a complicated answer. The prophet simply said, "Go in peace" (2 Kings 5:19). That does not imply that Elisha approved of such ambiguity. It was impossible to serve both God and Rimmon, even if the latter only happened for tradition’s sake. God does not allow a believer to have communion with idols (1 Corinthians 10:14 ff.). But He would solve this difficulty in His time and in His way. Elisha was convinced of that, and therefore he could ease Naaman’s mind. Naaman could go on his way rejoicing, as it is so beautifully said of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39). Nobody could take from him the peace that he had found. Thus it was also a very wise response. People who have only recently been converted must not be confronted with a long list of rules and regulations. They must learn to walk by faith. God Himself will lead them in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, and He will help them to solve their problems.

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