2 Kings 5:12

2 Kings 5:12

Naaman was a man who stood high in the highest virtues of the heathen world. He was lifted to the proudest eminence of worldly ambition. He had a generous heart; he enjoyed a well-earned reputation; he shared the smile and the favour of the great Benhadad. Such was the prosperity of Naaman.

How affecting are the words which follow: "but he was a leper." Wherever he went there was a heavy, settled trouble gnawing at Naaman's heart.

His story teaches us two things: (1) the simpleness of God's ways and (2) the pride of man's ways.

I. The first instrument used in providence towards the accomplishing of God's design was a little servant-girl. God's ends are gigantic, infinite, unutterable, but His ways are a little child's. He must have prepared the minds both of the king and Naaman to give implicit trust to the words of the little child. Solitude, and longsuffering, and frequent disappointments had made Naaman patient to take counsel. So God prepares souls for Christ.

II. Observe the natural tendency of man's heart. The maid had said, "Go to the prophet." That was simple. They must needs travel by a more royal road. The king of Syria writes a letter to the king of Israel; and with his horses and his chariots, and his silver and his gold, Naaman sets oft and comes to the palace at Samaria. Even when he went to Elisha, four things in the prophet's conduct seem to have given him offence. (1) He thought he should be treated with more personal consideration. (2) He had expected a too instantaneous cure. (3) He was jealous that contempt was put upon his natural resources. (4) He was incredulous that a means so simple should produce an effect so great. All these causes hinder us from coming to Christ.

Even Naaman's rebellious spirit was made to yield at last to God's longsuffering grace. He went and washed, and was clean. Thus we see the triumph of God's simple ways over man's proud ways.

J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,8th series, p. 9.

I. There were two ways of cleansing the leprosy: the grand way that Naaman expected; the very simple way which the prophet prescribed. Even so there are two ways of salvation: God's way and man's way. Man's way is unavailing, yet much frequented, because it flatters the pride of man. Man's way of salvation deals with what it takes to be great things: great works which man himself is to do, great organisations, great gifts, which flatter human vanity and will-worship, but have this trifling defect, that they are of no avail. God's plan knows nothing of earthly grandeurs, burdensome minutiae, external observances. God's messages are very short and very few and simple. He says only, "Wash, and be clean;" "Believe and obey;" "Believe and live."

II. The spirit of doing great things dominates all false religions, because it expresses an instinctive tendency. Satan's one object is to turn men towards the things which they devise for their own salvation, and away from the things which God requires. God vouchsafes to man His last, His absolute, His eternal revelation. He sent His Son to die for us, His Spirit to dwell in our hearts. We are to use God's way of salvation, not make it or add to that which is made. The first act is to know what is true of God; the second act is to express it in our lives.

III. It rests with you to take Christ's service or man's bondage, Christ's simplicity or man's inventions. If the kingdom of God is not within you, then it is nowhere for you. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

F. W. Farrar, Family Churchman,Sept. 22nd, 1886.

I. God has provided a remedy for all human ills. This remedy is found in the Gospel of His Son. It is (1) simple; (2) suitable; (3) it has in it the elements of success.

II. God's method of dealing is frequently offensive to the pride of man. Naaman thought that for such a patrician case of leprosy there could not be the ordinary plebeian method of cure. This preference of the rivers of Damascus to the waters of Israel is as foolish as it is wicked. There is no gospel in nature. It has its Genesis, its Exodus, its Psalms, sweet, plaintive, and beautiful, but it has no gospel. All its resurrections die again. There is no gospel in nature, not one word of recovery for the lapsed, not one announcement of recovery for the erring. The water of Israel is flowing today freely, as when its fountain was first opened in the house of David for sin and for uncleanness. Christ invites us to come and take of the water of life freely.

W. Morley Punshon, Penny Pulpit,No. 324.

References: 2 Kings 5:12. F. G. Lee, Miscellaneous Sermons by Clergymen of the Church of England,p. 69. 2 Kings 5:13. H. Melvill, The Golden Lectures,1854 (Penny Pulpit,No. 2173); Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xv., No. 892; W. G. Blaikie, Sunday Magazine,1876, p. 386; C. J. Vaughan, Lessons of Life and Godliness,p. 205; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. xiii., p. 77; R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,3rd series, p. 186. 2 Kings 5:13; 2 Kings 5:14. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 264. 2 Kings 5:13. A. Edersheim, Elisha the Prophet,p. 161.