2 Kings 5

2 Kings 5:1

6. Miraculous Cleansing of Naaman the Leper (5:1-19)5:1-4 Elisha’s miracle-working power extended even to the army of the Syrians. A captive Jewish girl was a servant in the home of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. Knowing that he was . . . a leper, she suggested that the prophet Elisha in Samaria could heal him. This girl illustrates how a person of no importance in the eyes of the world, by being in a key place and showing loyalty to God, can influence the course of the history of salvation. D. L. Moody comments: A little maid said a few words that made a commotion in two kingdoms. God honored her faith by doing for Naaman, the idolater, what he had not done for any in Israel. See Luk_4:24. How often has the finger of childhood pointed grown-up persons in the right direction. The maid boasted of God that he would do for Naaman what he had not done for any in Israel; and God honored her faith. 5:5-7 Naaman obtained a letter of introduction from Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, to Joram, king of Israel, and also took gifts of money and clothing with him. Apparently the letter did not mention Elisha but simply requested healing for Naaman. The king of Israel was infuriated by such an unreasonable request and suspected that the Syrian king was looking for an excuse to attack Israel. 5:8-12 Elisha received word of the king’s predicament and asked for Naaman to be sent to him. There was no power in the palace, for they were all idolaters there; but there was a prophet of God in Israel who had power to cleanse a man and make him whole. Elisha didn’t talk to Naaman personally; his word was enough if acted upon by faith. Elisha sent word to Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman had expected some more dramatic and colorful mode of healing than this, and he protested in a rage that the waters of his native Damascus were superior to the Jordan. 5:13, 14 D. L. Moody analyzed the problem accurately: Naaman had two diseasespride and leprosy. The first needed curing as much as the second. Naaman had to get down from his chariot of pride; afterwards, to wash according to the prescribed way. Finally his servants persuaded him to obey the prophet in such a simple matter, and he was thoroughly healed. As has been well said, “He swallowed his pride and lost his leprosy.” 5:15-19 Naaman became a convert to the God of Israel and sought to reward Elisha, but the prophet would accept nothing from him. The Syrian general then obtained permission to take two mule-loads of earth back home with him so he could worship the true God on the displaced soil of Israel. He explained that his official duties might require him to go to the temple of the idol Rimmon with his master and even bow down, but he hoped that the LORD would pardon him for this. Elisha neither approved nor disapproved this, but simply sent him on his way. In the story of Naaman we find a classic illustration of the gospel of grace. He was an enemy of God, being the captain of the Syrian army. Humanly speaking, his condition was helpless and hopeless, since he was a leper (cf. Rom_5:6-10). Being a Gentile, he was a stranger to the promises and covenants of God and had no claim on His blessing (Eph_2:11-12). But God’s grace reached out to touch human need. All Naaman had to do was to humble himself and obey the word of the Lord. He eventually washed himself in obedience to God’s word and came up a new man, with new skin and a new heart. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Julia H. Johnston

2 Kings 5:20

7. The Greed of Gehazi (5:20-27)But Gehazi coveted the gifts from Naaman which Elisha had refused. He told the Syrian that Elisha had sent him to collect the gifts for two young . . . prophets who had just come to him from the mountains of Ephraim. Then he took the money and the garments to his own home. As a prophet, Elisha often received special revelations from the Lord. Now he was informed as to what his servant had done, and when Gehazi arrived, Elisha exposed him. He reminded the greedy servant that it was no time to receive money and garments or other things that could be bought with money. Gehazi was struck with the leprosy of Naaman. He had sinned greatly in giving the Syrians occasion to think that God’s free gift of grace was not free at all.