Lesson 9 - 2 Kings 5:1-15 - NAAMAN IS HEALED
INTRODUCTION: Last week, in 2 Kings 2:1-14, we covered our final lesson on Elijah as God allowed him to escape physical death by directly taking up into heaven "by a whirlwind" (2:11). We learned that there were many spiritual parallels between Moses and Elijah as prophets and between Joshua and Elisha as their successors. We saw Elijah divide the waters as he and Elisha walked across dry land to Jericho. Three times we heard Elijah repeatedly tell Elisha to stay behind and three times, we saw Elisha steadfastly refuse and remain at Elijah side until the moment he was taken up into heaven. When Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted from him, he asked for a "double-portion" of Elijah's spirit. Finally, we saw Elisha take up Elijah's mantel (or cloak), the only thing he left behind, and divide the waters of the Jordan as Elijah had done, which signified two things: (1) That God had granted Elisha a double portion of Elijah's spirit and (2) that God had elevated him as Elijah's successor. The main points of application were that (1) like Elisha, we need to seek out and stay close to those who are our mentors and examples in our Christian walk and (2) like Elisha, we can be confident that God will be faithful to give us the gifts of the Spirit that we need to accomplish His work.
This week, in 2 Kings 5:1-14, we will cover the account of Naaman, a Gentile who was the commander of the Army of Aram (Syria), which, according to historical records, was often hostile towards the kingdom of Israel. Naaman was also afflicted with leprosy, an incurable and often fatal disease. Our lesson will focus on the interactions between Naaman and the prophet Elisha.
Read 2 Kings 5:1-5a - A VALIANT WARRIOR AFFLICTED WITH LEPROSY
1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in the view of his master, and eminent, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but afflicted with leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 And she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy." 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "The girl who is from the land of Israel spoke such and such." 5a Then the king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel."
v. 1a: Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in the view of his master, and eminent, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram." - "Aram" was a powerful city-state within the empire of Ancient Syria. Despite being a gentile in a pagan nation, Naaman had risen to prominence as a military commander because the LORD "had given victory to Aram." God had evidently done this in order to punish the evil kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (e.g., Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram, etc.) for their blatant apostasy and idolatry.
v. 1b: "The man was also a valiant warrior but afflicted with leprosy." - While Naaman was a great warrior, he was also afflicted with leprosy, an incurable and ultimately fatal disease. Although the law in Aram regarding treatment of lepers in unclear, it's very likely that Naaman was being subjected to quarantine and other personal restrictions despite his exalted military status.
v. 2: "Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman's wife." -This verse suggests that Naaman had led a raid on some region of Israel in which he had taken captives that would be used or sold as slaves. In this instance, "a little girl" taken from "Israel" had become a household servant to Naaman's wife.
v. 3: "And she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy." - The little girl's words show a genuine concern for Naaman and his wife, which suggests they had treated her humanely (slaves had no rights and were often abused, young females especially). This little girl had been very fortunate. The prophet of Samaria to whom the girl refers is none other than Elisha, Elijah's successor. We already know that LORD has empowered him to perform incredible miracles in his prophetic ministry.
v. 4: "And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "The girl who is from the land of Israel spoke such and such." - It's obvious that Naaman's wife had taken the girl's claim seriously and pressed Naaman to take advantage of this opportunity. Naaman, who apparently has direct access to the king, requests his permission for travel to Samaria to seek out this prophet of Israel.
v. 5: "Then the king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." -The king not only readily approves Naaman's request but additionally agrees to send a king-to-king letter to the king of Israel to assure him that Naaman's purposes for coming are entirely peaceable.
Read 2 Kings 5:5b-7 - I HAVE SENT MY SERVANT THAT YOU MAY CURE HIM
5b So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothes." 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, "And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 But when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to keep alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me."
v. 5b: "So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothes." - This is an incredibly rich treasure. Scholars estimate that ten talents of silver and 6,000 shekels of gold would add up to over $150,000 at today's values. The makes it abundantly clear that the Aramean king and Naaman are dead serious about enlisting the king of Israel's support.
v. 6: "And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, "And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy." -The account doesn't identify the King of Israel, but scholar's believe it was Jehoram (852-841 B.C.), one of the kings "who did evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Chron. 21:6). The Aramean king apparently believed that Jehoram would be aware of any great healers in his kingdom and could point Naaman in the right direction.
v. 7: "But when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to keep alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me." - King Jehoram is confused, mistakenly thinking that the Aramean king expects him to "cure a man of his leprosy." Tearing his clothes was a sign of extreme despair. He allows himself to think the Aramean king is using this a pretext to start a war.
2 Kings 5:8-10 - HE SHALL LEARN THERE IS A PROPHET IN ISRAEL
8 Now it happened, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, "Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he shall learn that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots, and stood at the doorway of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean."
v. 8a:"Now it happened, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, "Why did you tear your clothes? Just have him come to me, and he shall learn that there is a prophet in Israel." - The text doesn't reveal how Elisha learned of the king's predicament. News traveled very slowly from place to place in ancient times, but it's highly possible that the LORD Himself revealed the incident to the prophet.
v. 8b: "Just have him come to me, and he shall learn that there is a prophet in Israel." - Elisha sends word to the king that his problem is solved. Notice that Elisha didn't say, "send Naaman to me so he may be healed but tells the king to send him so that he may "learn that there is a prophet in Israel." This identifies the greater purpose to reveal God's power and mercy to a foreigner.
v. 9: "So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of Elisha's house." - We see that Naaman is accustomed to traveling first-class. He not only arrives in an impressive chariot driven by team of horses but is followed by a mighty entourage of other chariots and possibly other men on horseback-an impressive display that shows that Naaman is a man of importance and power. Ordinary people who saw them coming would run for their lives and hide. We can be sure that Elisha's home was very modest, a marked contrast to the regal accommodations to which Naaman would have been accustomed.
v. 10: "And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean." - Via a messenger, Elisha sends Naaman a set of very simple instructions. The expression "your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean," not only implies that the progression of the leprosy will be stopped, but that damage already done to him will be 'undone'-back to normal. In this context, "clean" means completely cured.
Read 2 Kings 5:11-12 - NAAMAN WAS FURIOUS AND WENT AWAY
11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.' 12 Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.
v. 11: But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.' - Naaman is infuriated by Elisha's indirect treatment of him. His sense of pride has been insulted. He expected some kind of high-minded ceremony where the prophet would wave his hands over him while calling on the name of the LORD. While Naaman feels like he's been snubbed, God's true purpose was to teach him humility and faith. It's interesting that Naaman appears to know the God of Israel's name, the LORD (YHWH).
v. 12: "Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage." - Naaman didn't need to travel all the way to Israel to find a river to bath in. He didn't need to get the king's permission to travel. He didn't need to bring gifts worth a fortune. And finally, he didn't have to submit to this prophet's humiliation. What Naaman needed to see was that is wasn't the waters of the Jordan River that would restore his much-needed health, but submission to the will of the LORD.
Read 2 Kings 5:13 - I KNOW THAT THERE NO GOD IN ALL THE EARTH, BUT IN ISRAEL
13 Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean. 15 When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now."
v. 13a: "Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? - Here, we see a cooler head prevail as one of Naaman's servants steps forward to speak the words that Naaman needs to hear. It is to Naaman's credit that his servant is bold enough to speak up without fear of repercussions.
v. 13b: "How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" -The servant's genuine concern for the welfare of his master, Naaman, is evident. And his logic is compelling: If the prophet had required Naaman to do something far more challenging, it would have seemed appropriate. Based on that, shouldn't he be willing to do something that's comparatively easy?
v. 14: "So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God;" - It's to Naaman's credit that his servant could challenge him, and to his additional credit that he listens, calms down, and follows the instruction the prophet had given him. When he "dipped" himself into the water, not once bur seven times, it symbolized his obedience to God.
v. 14b: "his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean." - When Naaman first came to Elisha's house, he came expecting attentive treatment from the prophet and a miraculous but quick healing. But now, he's been humbled and returns to Elisha to express both his gratitude and his newfound faith. Being "clean" means far more than being disease free: It means that he's now free socially, able to move around people without fear of inspiring disgust and the ability to touch his wife and children without fear of infecting them.
v. 15a: "When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, "Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel;" -This is truly an extraordinary confession if faith from a man who has been accustomed worshipping a host of pagan deities. This puts to shame all the Israelites who had turned to other gods.
POSTSCRIPT: Verse 15b-16 indicate that Naaman offered Elisha a gift, which he politely refused. Then Naaman asked him for two loads of Israel's soil to take back with him to use as a appropriate site to make sacrifices to LORD God when he returned home.
APPLICATION-The Despicable Leprosy of Sin
1. The principle we need to see is that many people today are perishing from the terrible leprosy of sin. Like Naaman in today's story, one may be great, successful, wealthy, honorable and mighty, but spiritually lost. To realize one's lost condition before God, and to desire to escape from it are the first steps toward salvation. Naaman discovered this in our text. Leprosy, like sin, begins within-with what we are-and then erupts on the skin-on the surface. This should clearly remind us of the principle that humans are sinners by our inherited nature from Adam, and it isn't so much that what we do is evil but a fact of what we are.
2. The leprosy of sin destroys the beauty God intended for mankind in His creation. Sin can deform and disfigure us, but in Christ we are made new creations who can be transformed into His glorious likeness (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 4:19). Namaan held a high position but had a very critical problem. We need to understand that God often uses the personal failures, sicknesses, and problems of people as a means of bringing them to the end of themselves and to a knowledge of the Lord and His salvation. (Ps. 119:67, 71, 73). God uses problems in life to force us to face our deeper problem, the problem of sin, and the need of God's forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ. This chapter shows that Naaman went from his problem to accept God's solution, which was far more than simply the healing of his leprosy. As we saw in the text, through obedience to God's word Naaman came to know the One True God. We also saw how God worked in various ways, both through the disease and through people to point Naaman towards God and faith. This is a portrait of how God saves.
