2 Kings 5:15

_AND HE RETURNED TO THE MAN OF GOD, HE AND ALL HIS COMPANY, AND CAME, AND STOOD BEFORE HIM: AND HE SAID, BEHOLD, NOW I KNOW THAT THERE IS NO GOD IN ALL THE EARTH, BUT IN ISRAEL: NOW THEREFORE, I PRAY THEE, TAKE A BLESSING OF THY SERVANT._ He returned to the man of God. After the miraculous cure, Naaman returned to Elisha, to whom he acknowledged his full belief in the sole supremacy of the God of Israel, and offered him a liberal reward. TAKE A BLESSING OF THY SERVANT х_ BªRAAKAAH_ (H1293)] - a gift or present, in token of good-will, and usually offered with an expression of good wishes. But to show that he was not actuated by the mercenary motives of the pagan priests and prophets, Elisha, though he accepted presents on other occasions (2 Kings 4:42), respectfully but firmly declined them on this, being desirou

15-19 The mercy of the cure affected Naaman more than the miracle. Those are best able to speak of the power of Divine grace, who themselves experience it. He also shows himself grateful to Elisha the prophet. Elijah refused any recompence, not because he thought it unlawful, for he received presents from others, but to show this new convert that the servants of the God of Israel looked upon worldly wealth with a holy contempt. The whole work was from God, in such a manner, that the prophet would not give counsel when he had no directions from the Lord. It is not well violently to oppose the lesser mistakes which unite with men's first convictions; we cannot bring men forward any faster than the Lord prepares them to receive instruction. Yet as to us, if, in covenanting with God, we desire to reserve any known sin, to continue to indulge ourselves in it, that is a breach of his covenant...

Verse 2 Kings 5:15. _HE RETURNED TO THE MAN OF GOD_] He saw that the hand of the Lord was upon him; he felt gratitude for his cleansing; and came back to acknowledge, in the most public way, his obligation to God and his servant. _STOOD BEFORE HIM_] He was now truly humbled, and left all his state behind him. It is often the case that those who have least to value themselves on are proud and haughty; whereas the most excellent of the earth are the most humble, knowing that they have nothing but what they have received. Naaman, the _leper_, was more proud and dictatorial than he was when _cleansed_ of his leprosy. THERE IS _NO GOD IN ALL THE EARTH_] Those termed gods are no gods; the God of Israel is sole God in all the earth. See my sermon on this subject. _TAKE A BLESSING_] Accept a

HE RETURNED - Naaman was grateful (compare Luke 17:15). From the Jordan to Samaria was a distance of not less than 32 miles. Naaman further went to Damascus, far out of his way, lengthening his necessary journey by at least three days. His special object in returning seems to have been to relieve his feelings of obligation by inducing the prophet to accept a “blessing,” i. e. a gift. THERE IS NO GOD ... - Compare the marginal references; but in none of them are the expressions quite so strong as here. Naaman seems absolutely to renounce all belief in any other God but Yahweh....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 5:1 THE CURE OF NAAMAN'S LEPROSY. HIS GRATITUDE; AND THE SIN OF GEHAZI, The historian continues his narrative of Elisha's miracles, commenced in 2 Kings 2:1; and gives in the present chapter a very graphic and complete account of two which were especially remarkable, and which stood in a peculiar relation the one towards the other. One was the removal of leprosy; the other, its infliction. One was wrought on a foreigner and a man of eminence; the other, on a Hebrew and a servant. The second was altogether consequential upon the first, without which the

AND HE RETURNED TO THE MAN OF GOD, HE AND ALL HIS COMPANY,.... To give him thanks for the advice he had given him, and by him to give thanks to God for the cure he had received; for he was sensible it was from the Lord, his words show: AND CAME AND STOOD BEFORE HIM; for being admitted into the prophet's house, instead of the prophet standing before him, as he before expected, he now stood before the prophet in veneration of him, and sensible of his obligation to him: BEHOLD, NOW I KNOW THERE IS NO GOD IN ALL THE EARTH, BUT IN ISRAEL; though he did not before, but his cure fully convinced him of it: I PRAY THEE, TAKE A BLESSING OF THY SERVANT; not a wish of health and happiness, which the prophet would not have refused, but a present; the Targum calls it an offering....

4. NAAMAN AND HIS HEALING CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Naaman, the leper (2 Kings 5:1)_ 2. The testimony of the maid of Israel (2 Kings 5:2) 3. The message to the king of Israel (2 Kings 5:5) 4. Naaman and Elisha (2 Kings 5:9) 5. Gehazi; His sin and punishment (2 Kings 5:20) The story of this chapter is peculiarly rich in its spiritual and dispensational meaning. Naaman, captain of Ben-hadad, the King of Syria, was a Gentile. He was no common man. In all his greatness and might, with all the honors heaped upon him and wealth

NAAMAN HEALED OF HIS LEPROSY. This story, familiar to all, presupposes a time of peace between Israel and Syria. As in 1 Kings 20, the king of Syria addresses the king of Israel (unnamed here) as his vassal (2 Kings 5:6 ff.). Elisha was living in Samaria, apparently in his own house. Naaman, on being healed, returned to Elisha, who refused to take any present, using Elijah's formula (1 Kings 17:1 *). Naaman thereupon declared himself a worshipper of Yahweh (it is remarkable that 2 Kings 5:1 ascribes his victories to Yahweh), asking pardon if in his official capacity he bows himself before Rimmon (Ramman, the thunder-god of the Assyrians). Readers of _Tom Brown's Schooldays_ will remember the not unnatural discussion amongst th

RETURNED. About thirty miles. NOW. KNOW. Compare "Behold,. thought", 2 Kings 5:11. TAKE. accept. BLESSING. a present. Compare Genesis 33:11.Judges 1:15....

Naaman's gratitude. His imperfect knowledge makes his practice imperfect (Not in Chronicles) 15. _And he returned to the man of God_ He was a stranger in Israel, like the Samaritan among the ten lepers whom our Lord cured, but like him he also manifested his thankfulness. He came back with all his company, that the thanksgiving might lose nothing of its fulness, and in the presence of them all, proclaims the new knowledge which he has gained, how he has found that -there is no god who can deliver after this sort". _came, and stood before him_ His feelings and attitude are alike changed, and so the prophet now shews himself to him. Naaman has begun his lesson in the school of Jehovah and Elisha is ready to encourage his weak steps. _no God in all the earth, but in Israel_ He has still his notion of different gods assigned to different lands, and does not conceive that Jehovah may be the...