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Sermon, June 15, 2025, 2 Kings 5:15-19a, Mike Archer #gbcny † gbcny.org
"May the Lord Pardon"
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Good morning church is indeed always a good morning because this is of course the day that the Lord has made therefore we can rejoice and Be glad in it. And for me, it's a little bit bittersweet because uh late last evening I had to mourn the loss of a friend although I hadn't known for long left a strange but profound impact on me.
His loss taught me among other things that the grace of God is something I don't appreciate anywhere near as much as I I thought or as much as I ought. We think about it. We receive so much good from the Lord in so many ways right fathers for one Happy Father's Day.
What a blessing that is to have fathers in our lives. Things like this and yet we're so often prone to take these things for granted or worse regard them as cheap or common. However, the goodness of God the grace of God the mercy of God is anything but cheap or common.
It's truly amazing. It's nothing short of that. Amen. And I believe the protagonists of our continuing narrative through Second Kings chapter 5 had come to realize this very thing for himself. And so with that I would direct your attention once again to second Kings chapter 5 where today we'll be looking at the first part of the second half of that narrative.
I'm gonna be looking at the first part of the second half of the account name in the Syrian Elisha ranging from verses 15 through 19 a. Again that's second Kings Chapter 5 verses 15 through 19 a the Word of Lord says thus.
Verse 15 then he returned to the man of God he and all his company and he came and stood before him and he said Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. So accept now a present from your servant.
But he said as the Lord lives before whom I stand I will receive none and he urged him to take it, but he refused. Then Naaman said if not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loaves of earth.
But from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any God, but the Lord. In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant when my master goes into the house of women to worship there.
Leaning on my arm and I bow myself in the house of women. When I buy myself in the house of women the Lord pardon your servant in this matter. And he said to him go in peace Father God most gracious and most merciful we thank you for this opportunity to sit under your word and we ask For your blessing which we desperately need.
Oh Father God to be able to understand what we just read. Oh Lord not only understand but apply Oh Father God in our lives. Oh Lord open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things in your law Oh Father God and Inflame our hearts Oh Father God that we would have a deeper and greater passion and appreciation For the mercy the grace and the pardon that we receive in Christ.
Oh Lord. Thank you so much Oh Lord, and we pray that you would guide me as I preach Oh Father God. And that Christ's name would be exalted Oh Lord. We pray this in his name. Amen. The title of this sermon is may the Lord pardon.
And I'd like to unpack it for us. This morning using a four-point outline. Point number one will consider the return in verse 15 and point number two the refusal or 16 following this with point number three.
We'll examine the request which we see in verses 17 and 18 and then lastly point number four. We'll look at the response in verse 19 a. So diving right in there we have point number one the return verse 15.
Then he returned to the man of God He and all his company and he came and stood before him and said behold I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. So accept now a present from your servant.
Well at long last Naaman our protagonist was clean. The disease which had plagued him for likely most of his adult life was gone and gone for good because of his faithful obedience to the Lord by the word of the Prophet Elisha.
Naaman was now thoroughly healed and completely cleansed of his leprosy. Right gone were the sores the lesions the bruises the scars the blisters which had formerly marred his all but perfect image. And no more was the glaring stigma, which would have inevitably Accompanied him in all his endeavors whether positive or otherwise.
However in addition to Naaman's outward cleansing what I believe we're beginning to see albeit imperfectly is the fruit of an inward Transformation an inward cleansing consider that Naaman has just hit the jackpot.
How could a man who was as rich and affluent as Naaman have hit the jackpot? What would that mean for him? Well, the one thing that had troubled him most despite all his wealth despite all his valor despite his prestige and dignity Had in an instant become yesterday's news.
The one thing that troubled him most and being now a quarter of the way home He's at the Jordan River right now. He could have simply gotten out of the water gathered his belongings and his Retinue and proceeded on his merry way to Damascus.
He didn't need to stay he could have just went to Damascus never to have been seen or heard from again it would not have been more than a three-day journey from where he was and Certainly, there was no obligation for him to do.
Otherwise, but what we see of him doing instead is rather telling as Our text states Naaman returns to the man of God he and all his company. A man of God is here referred is of course Elisha and that that term man of God is the title ascribed to him by virtue of His unique position.
Elisha was a great prophet in the land of Israel who experienced close personal devotion to the Lord. Basically ever since his calling. Having been called by God an early age. He came to be regarded as a gifted spiritual leader Whom the Lord used mightily even performing supernatural and wondrous works through him.
His actions and words have had a significant impact on People all over Israel and everyone he encountered even shaping to various extents their spiritual trajectory. And and as we've seen this was just as true for foreigners as it was for his own countrymen.
It was Elisha who previously instructed Naaman to go to the Jordan River and to bathe himself in it seven times. For his cleansing right the simple and certainly unexpected message as far as Naaman was concerned Though initially sieved with pride and contempt was reluctantly obeyed and that to great effect because as we see Naaman was promptly and thoroughly cleansed of his disease and.
So following this remarkable event Naaman returns to the man Who he deemed to be responsible for or at least? integral in this healing. He brings all his company which would include his entire retinue servants advisors guards and stands before Elisha and even in this act We begin to witness the transformation in Naaman's understanding and belief system, especially when we look at his posture here.
Right the language used here in name and standing or name and stood right before Elisha Symbolizes his respect and acknowledgement of Elisha in Elisha's authority as as a prophet and in biblical times.
Standing before someone was a posture of submission and readiness readiness to listen readiness to serve. It was subjects and servants who were either summoned or permitted to stand before their sovereigns their kings.
It was never the other way around. And so this was a position of submission. This act also reflects Naaman's Acknowledgement of the power of the God of Israel as represented by the prophet. His prophet right thus his return to Elisha the man of God displays humility and gratitude.
That he had for what had happened what had just incurred in his life. And it was also a recognition of the true source of this healing namely the God of that man. Right. We see the man of God, of course Elisha being Elisha the man of God.
We also now see Naaman's recognition of the God of that man. And this is only further supported by what he proceeds to say next and he said behold I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel there are a lot of things which Naaman could have said or that the author of first and second Kings could have recorded him as saying in response to his healing.
However, the very first thing we read from him particularly in response to this divine intervention is just that it's a clear and unmistakable recognition of the divine at work in him. But it goes even further than that right name is declaration is a profound confession of faith.
And what's particularly profound is who it comes from remember Naaman? Is a Syrian Right. He's a Syrian and he's a Gentile that is a non Jew a non Israelite individual therefore to many in Israel he would have been regarded as simply a heathen a pagan an uncircumcised one at that and belonging to the nation's to Them he was an outsider as one being alienated from God hostile towards God and the Commonwealth of his people.
And this would have been a very understandable character assessment given just a few verses earlier we're introduced to this man as a as A valiant military commander who would routinely carry out raids into this land that he was currently in.
He was no friend of theirs and their minds. The thing though is that what these people fail to understand even according to their own history is that God? Is not constrained he's not some local deity you know the God of this land the God of that land he in either is he the God of a single nation or even a singular particular ethnic group or religious group rather He is as he has always been God overall of course.
He isn't to be worshipped. However. We might fancy Right he has a prescribed way for which he is to be worshipped right, but he's not one of many. And he is worshipped by all sorts of people right the likes of Job Rahab Ruth The Queen of Sheba just to give a few Old Testament examples.
And if we look at this we see that these can becomes increasingly evident that God is not looking at one particular Flavor of people if you will. At the same time name is declaration highlights the exclusivity of the God of Israel.
Right contrasting his newfound belief with the predominant beliefs around him in the nations around him the polytheistic beliefs Prevalent in Syria and all of the other surrounding nations who believed in a pantheon of gods of many gods.
General belief at the time and indeed of antiquity was that every land had its own God Who was supreme in it. So in Phoenicia you had Baal in Moab you had Kamosh then in? and Ammon you had Malak Bell in Babylon I'm in Ron Egypt and as we'll explore in a moment Rimon in Syria.
So you had all of these gods and all of these surrounding nations because of this whenever there is acknowledgment of Yahweh aka the Lord By Gentiles in Scripture it is almost always Coming as a recognition of him as merely a God one of many.
Oh, yeah, that's Israel's God. That's the God of the Jews. Essentially to them he was just one among many. But this is what makes Naaman's profession so unique so profound. Right he's he is an acknowledgment In his acknowledging here the sole existence and therefore sole supremacy of Israel's God Yahweh as the only God.
It's an acknowledgment such as we scarcely find anywhere else in Scripture certainly by a Gentile. Thus Naaman here exhibits a greater understanding and a greater even receptivity in his own heart Than almost any other pious Gentile that we see in Scripture.
Cyrus comes close maybe. Moreover though he'd likely never even read it this statement echoes the monotheistic theme found throughout the Old Testament. Such as in Deuteronomy 6 4 there we read here. Oh Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one.
Ironically Israel at this point in her history had all but forgotten Deuteronomy 6 4 in fact Israel was Relegated to the northern tribes of Israel because they had been in rebellion to the house of David which God had appointed to rule over them and They had gone after other gods whored after many of these lowercase g gods.
Not that there were any of course nevertheless irrespective of how They look individuals look what they sound like or where they come from God will draw and will preserve his elect from whatever nation They come from.
Amen. Name is acknowledgment here also serves as a foreshadowing of the inclusion of the Gentiles into God's plan of Salvation his plan of redemption, and this is a theme that's further developed in the New Testament.
If you're familiar with the New Testament of course you might going to be familiar with the gospel accounts particularly the one of Our Lord Jesus in the gospel of Luke in Luke 17 and we find that this account here in Luke 17 is eerily Reminiscent to what we see in 2nd Kings 5.
And you can turn there if you like or just follow along. It's Luke 17 verses 11 through 19. Luke 17 11 through 19 and there we read on the way to Jerusalem. He Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee and as he entered a village he was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance and They lifted up their voices saying Jesus master have mercy on us.
When he saw them he said to them go and show yourselves to the priest and as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them when he saw that he was healed turned back Praising God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at Jesus's feet giving him.
Thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered we're not ten cleansed. Where are the nine. Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? And he said to them rise and go your way your faith has made you well.
Doubtless there were many in first century Judea many privileged recipients of the Many wonders the various wonders of our Lord Jesus, but how many of them. I wonder how many of those healed? Restored Cleansed or exercised.
How many of them were motivated to then go and return? Thanks to the one who had Delivered them who had restored them who had healed them how many of them were cut to the heart and driven to true repentance by the kindness and Goodness and compassion of God towards them.
This is after all what God's kindness is meant to produce in people Romans 2 for his Kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, but more relevantly how many of us here possess a heart of sincere gratitude.
For who God is and for what he's done in us personally. Regardless of where you find yourself spiritually speaking if you are hearing this message right now. Then you are currently a recipient of the Lord's mercy.
It may even just be common grace, but that is still his mercy. For one you're still living which proves that thus far He has fed clothed and sustained you and it's furnished you with life's many blessings not to mention all of your needs.
But if you've been born again, which is even better and that's the ultimate hope He has saved you and he has brought you from death to life. You are a new creation. The eternal wrath of God that was rightly due you because of your sin Against him has been born by Jesus on your behalf.
Similar to Naaman you have been washed and are now clean more clean than just new fresh skin. You have a new fresh heart mind spirit. And not by water, but by the precious blood of Christ. Moreover, you've been ransomed redeemed.
Reconciled to God who wants a stranger an alien like this Naaman was to the people of Israel. You were like that to God but worse. And yet he reconciled he brought you near and not just as a servant but as a child of God.
You realize that the greatest gift any person could possibly receive in this life. And you know where I'm going is yours if indeed you find yourself in Christ right now. There's no there's nothing you can receive ever hope to receive that will ever even come close to that.
Not a graduation as awesome as that is not a long-awaited promotion not marriage not children. Not even a cure to our physical afflictions as wonderful and awesome and blessed as these things are. Match the value of salvation through faith in Christ.
They just don't. Because the reality is you can have all of these things and have them in abundance right and Yet be found severely lacking if on that great and dreadful day you appear before the judgment seat of Christ and you don't have Christ.
On that day the Lord require a reckoning for your soul and what will you have to show for it? This is why brothers and sisters if we truly believe what we say we believe. Then we ought to be the most thankful people the most joyful people on the face of the earth bar none period.
And in thankfulness always and ultimately to be directed upwards, of course. We're going to be thankful to those around us. But always and ultimately directed upwards to God because everything we have of good is we receive from him and this is even God's will.
For us irrespective of circumstance as the Apostle Paul reminds us in first Thessalonians 5 18. Give thanks in all circumstance. He writes for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you all circumstances.
Well, what does that look like? It looks like flat tire, thank you Lord for lug wrenches and car jacks problems that work. Thank you Lord for my job. It's been able to pay the bills thus far. How about this unsaved loved ones?
Thank you Lord for your mercy and for your gospel, which remains your power unto salvation. Even the power I am hopeful that they themselves will one day experience as I experienced. We can be thankful in all circumstances.
Even the trying ones right the gratitude. We are the daily exhibit should be clear and Consistent byproduct of the grace of God within us. It's the grace of God that compels. It's not something that we muster up.
It's it's it's a supernatural and when we find that our thankfulness has waned which It is often prone to do we should pause. Take inventory and confess it to the Lord. Just be real with him Lord. I acknowledge my lack of gratitude.
I confess that my appreciation for your grace has grown dull clearly. Please forgive me for this. Please restore unto me the joy of my salvation fill my heart with joy and and and. The affections of my mind just have them flourish and abound.
With thoughts of your grace help me to meditate more meaningfully on your promises on your works on your many Benefits towards me not only in redemptive history, but also towards me. Then like David we should exhort our souls to quote bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits.
So I'm 103 to what are his benefits David? Verses 3 and 5. Who forgives all your iniquity. Note the first one that David says there who heals all your diseases. Who redeems your life from the pit. Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed? Like eagles. Right name is return in Subsequent confession before Elisha is an extraordinary, and I'd argue a compelling piece of evidence for the work That God was doing not only in his flesh which he had done, but also in his heart right in his inner man.
Like the Samaritan leper cleansed by Jesus in Luke 17 who alone of the ten Came to return praise and thanks to God so too was it with Naaman that his faith had truly made him well as he returned. Additionally the purpose for which Elisha had urged King Jehoram to have him sent was not only fulfilled, but exceeded.
You may recall That in in in the early verses verse 8 right Jehoram was King Jehoram was reluctant to do anything. He thought that this was a trap and then the Prophet Elijah says no have him sent to me that he may know That there is a prophet in Israel.
Right not only does he know as we just read that there's a prophet in Israel. But that the God of that prophet is the only God in all the earth. Which is awesome. And to further display his heart of gratitude for this he follows up with the offer of the gift he continues.
So quote except now a present from your servant an offering gifts was a customary Way to show gratitude and honor in ancient Near East especially with Gentiles you know they were very accustomed to bringing presents and Gifts of enormous value to the oracles whom they consult if they were getting a favorable response.
Oh, you got good news for me nice I got a nice fat check for you. Thank you. And so as a brand new convert potentially is understandable that he would not yet realize how grace works. However despite his ignorance in this matter I would like to point out a subtle distinction between his initial interaction with Elisha and The one he is now having right when he first comes to the prophet in verse 9 You'll notice he comes with an air of superiority sword.
He had all the same gifts. He still had all that stuff with him. That he did at his return he had the silver the gold the clothing but none of that appears to have been offered or even presented at the present time and Rather what was mentioned were his horses and his chariots.
And what these things are as we've learned have more to do with the display of military might and strength rather than Gratitude or humility. It's like if a plumber was installing my new sink. And then instead of pulling out my wallet upon his successful completion. I pull out my gun.
I'm probably getting a new sink or a felony charge. But it's not so much a show of humility or gratitude or compensation. When Naaman returns he offers not only his gifts But his dignity as he refers himself to himself as a servant right.
Naaman's use of the term your servant Which is not something that he's used before he certainly wasn't coming as a servant before Indicates both his newfound humility and also his recognition of Elisha's superior authority especially as a superior spiritual authority.
Whereas formerly and under different circumstances Naaman might have thought Thought it, you know, no thing to just slay Elisha or seek to do so the the Naaman who was standing before him now regards himself as a servant and he's willing to part with an Enormous sum of money and possessions on top of it.
However, and once again Elisha would not respond in the way that Naaman inspected him to. Which brings us to our second point point number two the refusal verse 16. But he said as the Lord lives before whom I stand I will receive none and he urged him to take it, but he refused.
I'm going to be brutally honest with yourself if You were in the position of the Prophet. You were in Elisha's sandals, so to speak. Staring down the prospect of something like 85 million US dollars. Which is more or less what Naaman's tribute is valued at today.
Would you without hesitation Without reluctance without even a second thought. Proceed to do as he did. Would you be able to refuse such a gift? We sometimes read things like this and immediately presume ourselves.
Of course I would. Because that's the right thing to do and if this is true of you, which it should be then amen. However before making such bold assumptions and presumptions of yourself would be wise to humbly and prayerfully consider what sort of compromises You've already made or been tempted to make for far less.
Think about the questionable loopholes you've taken to given to get a little bit more back at come tax time. Right. Or the unethical business practices you've complied with or have not Rejected wholesale or even the lack of accuracy with which you complete your daily timesheet or your report logs.
Or what about the ways in which we sometimes perform mental gymnastics to try to justify something? We know deep down inside the Lord is displeased with. Just keeping it real, you know. Like these are things that we need to consider.
Would we have been able to stand on such integrity as we see it the prophet Elijah doing in this moment? Now, please understand. I'm not saying it's to scare or the press any of us here and quite frankly I'm preaching to myself in this matter.
I just want to caution us to take heed. Just as Paul says therefore that anyone who takes who stands take heed lest he fall first. Corinthians 10 12. Encouragement here is that for the believer as Paul would even go on to say in the next verse there verse 13 God remains faithful.
Therefore he will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability. But with the temptation who also provide a way of escape that we would be able to endure. Right and Elisha's refusal to accept Naaman's gift speaks to the integrity of his character.
Harkening back to my earlier message. This whole thing Was bigger than Elisha it was bigger than his reputation and certainly bigger than his bank account. He wanted Naaman to know that there was a prophet in Israel.
Yes. But the reason he wanted him to know that there was one In Israel a prophet in Israel is that he wanted him to know that there was one who speaks for the true and living God. Moreover, he wanted all men especially his fellow countrymen to remember that contrary to popular opinion the Lord was And is very much alive and well.
This is the truth that all but forgotten remember Israel's in a almost an apostasy right now. However, Elijah never forgot this he says as the Lord lives the verse continues and what this is is a phrasing of an oath that seeks to emphasize the Certainty and seriousness of whatever it is that is being sworn.
It's an expression used frequently in the Old Testament to affirm the truthfulness of a statement. For the more reflects the Hebrew understanding of God as again the living of God Pitting him in stark conscience against all of the lifeless idols made of wood stone clay Whatever that were worshipped by the surrounding nations.
This God was not like those God this God can speak this God can move this God can act and Of this living God the scriptures speak much Jeremiah 1010, but the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King at his wrath the earthquakes and the nation's cannot endure his indignation.
Joshua 310 and Joshua said here's how you shall know that the living God is among you and That he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites the Hittites the Hivites the Perizzites Girgashites Amorites and Jebusites.
Bring it to the New Testament. Matthew 1616. Peter's confession of the Lord as the Christ. Simon Peter replied You are the Christ son of the living God right in the case of Elisha's usage of this expression living God is The certainty of his refusal which is being sworn.
Essentially, he's swearing the name in that By the Lord he will under no set circumstances except even a dime even a penny from him. And so as the Lord lives being that he always lives is Elisha waves of saying I mean it.
And not only does this expression cement the certainty of his oath But also the very reality of his relationship with God as he continues before whom I stand as the Lord lives before whom I stand sound familiar.
Well, not unlike Naaman's posture before Elisha coming to stand before him is Elisha's posture before God and this language indicates Elisha's position as a servant and representative of God and suggests the attitude of readiness and Obedience similar to a courtier standing before his king.
You know someone in the court of a king that is willing to do the king's bidding. That's ready. That's willing that's able. It underscores the prophets direct accountability to God as seen Throughout the other prophetic context as well, and you understand as a prophet He was not at liberty to just do and say whatever he wanted to at any moment.
He rather he was strictly obliged to the Lord. This was a serious matter. Of course though you and I are not prophets in any official capacity being That this particular office has ceased Hebrews 1 1 there is a very real sense in which we are still all accountable to God.
As the late dr. RC spro would often put it. We each live quorum. Dale it's a Latin term for we we each live before the face of God and Therefore we stand before him and Hebrews 4 13 tells us this it says no creature is hidden from his sight.
All are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. The question is will we stand before him with a readiness and a willingness to listen obey serve and worship? Or we stand before him or think we stand before him in vain defiance of his holy character.
Only to be inevitably condemned by him. This is the choice that's before us. Elisha's refusal to accept gifts from Naaman also highlights the principle that God's grace and healing can't be bought. Can't be purchased.
God's miracles can either be purchased nor repaid and this emphasizes also the free and sovereign nature of divine grace. It is free. And this is what distinguishes the God of Israel from the other pagan deities around him though the ones that Naaman might have been familiar with.
Right those they often thought that those deities were placated by gifts in earthly things. And really you can argue that this is one of the primary reasons for Elisha's refusal in the first place because it's not like Elisha never accepted a gift from anyone to whom he ministered.
In fact we see just the contrary in the previous chapter second Kings 4 Read of him accepting lodging from the Shunammite woman and then first fruits of bread from the man in Gilgal following the famine.
However, if indeed his aim was to disavow our Syrian friend of any false notions He might have had about how grace works about how God is. Then what better way than to showcase the grace of God than to Offer it free of charge and to accept nothing for it.
That's how we receive God's grace. Is it not? And this refusal also prefigures the New Testament teaching of salvation as a free gift from God not as something that can be earned. Or by human effort or by wealth.
That would make it cheap if we could afford it that would make it cheap. Among many other problems Ephesians 2a for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God.
If a gift was something that we could purchase it wouldn't really be a gift. It would just be a purchase it'd be an item. It'd be a transaction. It'd be your do. Romans 6 23 for the wages of sin is death.
But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord right. God through his son Jesus Offers an awesome gift a truly awesome gift and the best part about it is it's free of charge. Consider how Jesus upon sending out his 12 apostles in the Gospels To preach and to labor in the gospel commanded them among other things to quote heal the sick raise the dead Cleanse lepers and cast out demons.
You receive without paying give without pay. Matthew 10 18 10 8. Reality is granted. The grace and favor of God was something that we could purchase. Theoretically speaking if it was something that we could afford then no one would be able to afford it.
It'd be far too costly. What in the world just think about it? What in the world do you think you can possibly offer to the maker of that world? That was somehow impressive that was somehow Caused him to think oh, you know you got you got something there you drive a hard bargain, but I accept.
There's nothing that we can give to God. That he would accept from us in Exchange for salvation, there's nothing no trinket nor deed that will make us acceptable or worthy in his sight. Rather like the hymn writer.
We need to conclude nothing in my hand. I bring simply to the cross I cling. Naming would attempt to insist upon his offer because again. It's all he knows. Not yet having arrived at a proper and full understanding of grace.
But Elisha would still not budge which leads us to our third point point number three the request in verses 17 through 18. Then Naaman said if not Please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth for from now on your servant will not offer Burnt offering or sacrifice to any God, but the Lord in this matter.
May the Lord pardon your servant when my master goes into the house of women to worship there leaning on my arm. And I bow down in the house of women and when I bow down in the house of women the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.
Here's where I'd wager the cultural literary and theological Breakdown tends to occur for most of us as we're reading this text. We're getting to ask ourselves. Well. What is this? What is this about?
It raises some very real questions questions like why is Naaman requesting two mule loads of earth? What does this have to do with sacrificial offerings burnt offerings and what kind of? What kind of request is this anyway?
What exactly is Naaman asking for is this is this proper? Well thankfully all these questions do have reasonable answers however the questions then become will they suffice or do they have scriptural merit and For that we'll see we'll have to determine as for the mule loads of earth Naaman requests soil from Israel which indicates his desire to Worship the God of Israel on what he personally considered to be holy ground.
Remember back then gods were as I mentioned often associated with particular local areas local nations. And so for Naaman taking soil from Israel symbolized bringing a piece of that land. And thereby the God of that land to worship him back in Syria.
I'd only ask that you give him a pass he doesn't know anything, but that's what he might have understood by this and our text doesn't Specify exactly what Naaman intended to do with the soil, but it does provide a few hints for example as some have suggested It's possible that the soil was intended for the erection of an earthen altar.
Onward to offer birth sacrifices and given what he states directly after requesting the the oil that the the soil. This makes sense and it also aligns with what God commanded through Moses in Exodus 20 24.
Which reads an altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt Offerings and your peace offerings your sheep and your oxen in every place where I cause my name to be remembered. And I will come to you and bless you.
However another theory performed by other scholars biblical scholars and theologians suggests that Naaman wish to spread the Israeli soil that he would have taken Back over a piece of Syrian ground and thereby hallowing it making it Holy this is just things that Naaman would have thought and I'm saying that there have any merit to them.
Of course this theory relies on the notion that there of there being such a thing as holy ground. The only text in the Bible that kind of really would allude to this directly would be Exodus 3 5. There Moses standing in the presence of God in the burning bush is Commanded to take off his sandals because the ground on which he's standing is holy ground.
Of course the distinction there was that God's manifest presence was right there before Moses. Or perhaps in Naaman's mind this soil would somehow make the ground more suitable for worship than regular ordinary common ground.
Well. Whichever of these ideas belong to Naaman clearly they are superstitious notions steeped in a misunderstanding of the nature of God. First of all God is omnipresent. That means he is everywhere at every time always.
He's not constrained again by human limitations. He's not constrained by this nation or that nation this land or that land. And because of this he is able and willing to receive worship from peoples from all nations from wherever they are in all places.
Still though his theology was lacking which is completely understandable. Especially if he's indeed new to the faith with no point of reference beforehand Naaman seems to be expressing a genuine desire to remain connected to the God of Israel even while living in Syria.
So for him taking Israel soil symbolizes his desire to worship Yahweh alone, which he which he insists on it makes clear even when he is far away from this land He's not gonna stay in Israel. He's gonna be in Syria and as a military commander He might be in different lands doing different things.
In this case him carrying a part of the Holy Land would kind of be likened to how Christians might carry their Bibles or Across as a physical reminder of their spiritual commitment and this request along with a subsequent statement about his newfound Commitment gives us a clear sign again, I believe imperfectly of his conversion.
He continues for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any God, but the Lord. This despite the mess he has doctrinally. I don't want to just gloss over that. He no longer wants to offer sacrifices to false gods and he's already asserted that there are no other gods That exists but the Lord and so it's also worth noting how he addresses the Lord.
You might recall how when he first uttered the name of the Lord in verse 11 He spoke of him as being the Lord his God as in Yahweh Elisha's God. It was kind of a disassociation there like okay, that's your God.
I got my God. Let's see what happens. But here we no longer see that disassociation. Naaman's commitment is only further compounded by the moral quandary in which he finds himself you know a quandary which Most people wouldn't have if they really didn't care about their own personal sanctification and about their walk with with the Lord.
We read in verse 18 in this matter. Maybe the Lord pardon your servant when my master goes into the house of women to worship there leaning on my arm and I bowed On myself in the house of women and when I bowed on myself in the house of women the Lord pardon your servant in This matter sort of like a kiosk Structure to that and we see a repeat of this pardon that that Naaman wants.
Just to give some background this women was the name of the Syrian deity. It was really a Syrian deity, but it was kind of the chief most Syrian deity. He was likely associated with Storms and thunder and so he was known as the Thunderer and the temple of women was a place of significant cultural and political importance in Syria.
Naaman's master the king of Syria would have routinely participated in rituals there state rituals there and these rituals would have been integral in Maintaining political order and in the social order.
Now Naaman's role as a commander of the Syrian army and a close and trusted aid to the king you have to realize He would be expected to participate in these rituals even to an extent that an outward keyword outward form of compromise Would be evident the king leaning on Naaman's arm, and it's just more than just the physical leaning.
It's a position of honor and responsibility if the king or someone in high stature is leaning on your arm. It shows that they're they're trusting in you they're depending on you and this complicates his ability to abstain.
From participating in this rituals right and so this context underscores the challenge that Naaman faces as a believer. Potentially in the God of Israel while serving in a pagan environment and That also sounds familiar because we find ourselves in that context as well to varying degrees.
Which master would he serve? Right am I gonna serve? The master of my soul or the master that I've known and who's given me favor for these many years. Before his cleansing the choice would have been easy.
Who is who is Yahweh? I'm gonna serve my master, but now knowing the truth He would have had to face the music and count the cause. The situation is reminiscent of other biblical figures like Daniel or even Esther who had to navigate faithfulness in foreign courts.
Will I bow will I stand firm and if I stand for him? What will it cost me? My position my status my my wealth. What but what about my head? These are dilemmas which we as Christians face to get today.
In our context in America or be it to a far lesser degree of severity but Christians face this type of thing every day all around the world and It's life or death people's lives are at stakes and it's easy to think to ourselves in arrogance.
I never waver in the face of adversity. Of course, I'd make the right decision. Nope, not me. I'm not floundering. That's it. You're done Syrian King but it's another thing entirely when the cross that we're called to bear comes right to your front door and It becomes real and you're faced with a dreadful choice.
The Apostle Peter learned this the hard way having denied Jesus three times. In a matter of hours after seeming so bold Lord, I will never deny you. So too was this once valiant valiant Syrian commander now shaken in his boots at the prospect of what he might lose.
What he now stands to lose knowing the truth. And the reality is we need supernatural grace to be able to endure these kinds of trials. Any of the trials we face really and it's as plain as that. We need the Lord's grace.
He the Lord can and certainly does deliver his people out of all afflictions many other afflictions the righteous. But the Lord delivers them out of them all but that deliverance May come in the form of grace to endure suffering unto death.
That delivering may be absent from the body present with the Lord. It may not just be like I'm healed. Oh, I don't have to suffer anymore. I don't believe Naaman was proud of what he asked for not in the least.
Nor that his asking was simply a license for secret sin. I don't think that he wanted to worship women and was joyful and was just kind of using this as a as a. You know, can I can I get some grace for later type of thing?
I don't think that's what this was in the spirit I feel he was truly and deeply troubled by the state of affairs and did not want to go through with this. And if he could he would he would have it just about any other way in the open confession of This dilemma before Elijah the fact that he wasn't hiding it the fact that he wasn't you know.
Thinking that he was gonna be alright and then goes into it and now realize it's wrong. He was openly confessing this dilemma for Elisha not once but twice pleading for the Lord for his pardon. I believe this provides us again with great evidence that this is indeed a changed man in a moment of weakness and a man who in this moment of weakness foist himself upon the mercy of the Lord and In that sense you could argue that Naaman understood the Lord even better than most in Israel at that time.
Hosea 6 6 for I desire mercy and not sacrifice the knowledge of God rather than burn offerings. And if you know Jesus and Matthew would cite this two times. Sort of rebuking the Pharisees for their lack of compassion for their condemning of the innocent.
So before we condemn others in their moments of weakness, we would do well to pause and reconsider perhaps. Think about the ways in which we can encourage one another rather than automatically knee-jerk condemning.
To stand firm in the Lord because we need to stand firm in the Lord. We can remind ourselves and each other that we don't need to include Pronouns in an email signature. We don't need to we don't have to bow to the culture and wear that pride symbol.
That was hijacked from the biblical worldview on your team Jersey. You don't need to acquiesce. You don't have to remain silent when your co-workers all the sudden start speaking ill of God or start affirming abortion or fornication.
And all this other debauchery you don't have to live crippled in fear of rejection or ridicule. Because you know and the Lord is pressing you to share your faith in a difficult context. You don't have to live in fear.
We are more than conquerors and nothing will be able to separate us from the love of Christ. We're more than conquerors in him. Amen. 2nd Corinthians 12 10. For the sake of Christ then I am content with weakness insults hardships persecutions and calamities.
For when I am weak then I am strong. Love it. Our positions of weakness are sometimes the best places for us to be in. Just think about it when we're in these positions of weakness is often there that we're reminded of who we can look to for help.
We look to the Lord we look to the hills from whom. From which comes our help. And our help comes from the Lord and it's often when we're in those valleys that we can look up that way. Hebrews 4 14 to 15.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. Jesus the Son of God. Let us hold fast to our confession. We do not have a high priest who was unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.
But one who was in every way in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
When a man's time of need had not yet arrived he was looking forward to it in fearful anticipation. Not a proud moment for him. But that moment was certainly coming and scripture doesn't reveal for us what he did in that moment doesn't really speak much of Naaman beyond a later a mentioned by Jesus in the gospel of Luke but What we see here is that it may have been Elijah's response that provided the much-needed comfort to stand firm in that trial.
Which brings us lastly to our point number four and this would be a brief point verse 19a. He said to him go in peace. It's not really clear what exactly the prophet meant by this and Commentators from Edwards to Calvin are really all over the map on it some suggesting that this farewell was simply a sort of consignment by Elijah to Naaman of a hypocrite's fate go your way.
You really weren't about it. Edwards thinks that. While you have others Calvin and in many others Arguing that though not affirming him in his intended compromise, and I'm not doing that either. He was also not condemning him outright.
He wasn't then just saying you know what you're awash all of this was for nothing. I'd probably line up with the latter especially given this choice of words that we see even in our text. Elisha's words go in peace.
Go in peace signify a blessing and a release from an obligation of guilt. You're not gonna see that if you're condemning someone. This phrase is often using the Bible to convey a sense of divine approval and reconciliation.
In this context it would seem to indicate that Elisha acknowledges Naaman's newfound faith in the God of Israel as superseding all of his imperfections all of his weaknesses. Moreover the peace that Elisha refers to here is is neither physical nor political but spiritual in nature.
Reflecting the Hebrew concept of Shalom, which encompasses a wholeness In harmony with God and this blessing is reminiscent of Jesus words in the New Testament where he often tells individuals to go in peace after healing them Mark 5 34 for example, and he said to her daughter your faith has made you well go in peace and be healed of your disease.
Doesn't exactly sound like condemnation there and so what we see isn't a condemnation I believe of Naaman's compromise, but rather an extension of grace to the humble. It wasn't a it wasn't a an affirmation of his compromise but again just an extension of grace to the humble and this shows us that the grace of God towards those who truly and inwardly have been transformed By that grace freely abounds to pardon.
Even their outward compromise and you know There have been times when we'd have been outward compromise and where would we have been if the Lord had just given up on us? While this in no way, of course affirms Said compromise in and of itself.
I don't think God is pleased with us not being courageous not trusting in him not Coming to him. What it does point us back to again is the character of God who is rich in mercy again Call hosea 66 as we read even psalm 51 17.
Which pastor Nick read earlier the sacrifices of our God are what a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart. Oh God, you will not despise Matthew 5 for blessed are those who mourn but they shall be comforted a Mourning over sin a mourning of Lord.
I'm in this situation. I don't want to sin against you. It was comfort that was provided second Timothy 2 13 if we are faithless He remains faithful for he cannot deny himself. I Conclude it's it's important.
We recognize that this resolution is pretty unique against the the backdrop of Scripture. Naaman's peaceful ending is the biblical exception when you look at really the myriad of men and women who have Put their lives on the line in order to obey the Lord.
This is sort of stands alone as a as a unique example here. Daniel met hungry lions. Esther faced and ran the risk of execution if the king didn't had didn't accept her. Paul's body showed visible scars of countless beatings and ultimately we know he would lose his head in Rome today too.
Many believers are called to give up possession status and health in the name of bowing the knee as well as the heart to God. So, how can we know whether? In whatever Circumstance we are able to go in peace or we should take the rope the bold risk of obedience.
And I think again Naaman points the way we can start by asking a godly friend when faced with a big decision something like this. Our thoughts can get muddied right we we're not always thinking straight.
We're anxious. We're worried. We're trying to figure out. What should I do? What will the Lord be pleased in? Why am I struggling so much with this? Why is this choice not more easy? Right, um and We can ask a godly friend.
We can ask seek godly counsel a godly friend can ask. Good questions can help us decipher what's going on in our hearts can kind of realign our thoughts and help us to be thinking in Ways that are more consistent biblically and even encourage us again.
Just like Naaman's experience when he asked Elisha for help, you know. And Naaman didn't take it upon himself to figure out if the Lord upon me. He's going to Elisha more importantly. We can seek God by going to him in his word and in prayer as a prophet.
Elisha was the source of God's Word for Naaman, but the Bible is ours. That means we can dig into it. We we have this. This book this collection of books that has everything that pertains to life and godliness and really has the answers to these things if we're if we're searching hard enough and Seeking the Lord for wisdom we can pray and ask that the Holy Spirit Would would just fill us with wisdom about these big questions these quandaries these dilemmas that we face because this is just an everyday Day-to-day Christian life.
We're navigating life and we're gonna have these difficult choices at times. And so we need to seek the Lord. But we need to be sure to bring our heart and not just our knees to to the Lord. Because there were many even in the next.
Even in my next message, there's gonna be one who is of Israel who was then condemned for his faithlessness. Lastly if this day you find that you don't truly acknowledge Christ as the Lord if he if he is to you as just One of many gods one of many options one of many routes to heaven to salvation to peace.
Then you have to be pardoned. You don't have to worry about compromising on your morals because really there's none or at least none that matter. You've already been compromised whether you want to believe it or not.
One day you will be brought to stand before the Lord and on that day What will you have to show for it? If you don't have Christ if you don't have his righteousness if he hasn't taken your sin. You will be found lacking on that day.
However, the good news is that there is one who stands ready willing and able to forgive ready willing and able to pardon. But your heart needs to be broken your heart needs to be in the right pace. You need to recognize your sin before a holy God and recognize that that holy God and love has sent the remedy.
He has sent a Redeemer who can rescue you save to the uttermost forgive all of your iniquity. If you're not in the Lord, you need to you need to know that you can't put that off. You cannot put that off because tomorrow is not promised.
But if you don't put it off and you do find the Lord you do go to him for that part. And not only will you find the pardon, but you'll find that peace. You'll find that Shalom that will allow you to boldly go Through this life into eternity with him and that's what we look for.
That's what we hope for. Amen. Let's pray Father God, we thank you for your amazing grace. Oh Lord. It's not just the famous hymn that we sing Oh Lord. But a genuine reality Lord that your mercy abounds Oh Father God.
It's all our hope Oh Father God all our boasts and So Lord, we pray that in light of your mercy. We would take courage that we would remember who you are remember that you are a very present help for us Oh God throughout all the difficulties of life that we navigate and That Lord you you you don't turn us away Oh Father God.
Certainly not when our hearts are broken and contrite before you Oh Lord. Lord help us to be honest before you would help us to be real Oh God and To have real transformation as we trust in you as we surrender to you Oh Father God.
Lord may your holy name be blessed Oh Father God through this word and may we continue to apply. And seek to live for you for Christ and we pray all this in his name. Amen.