Sermon Central
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Naaman The Syrian.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 12, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: “I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 KINGS 5:15).
NAAMAN THE SYRIAN.
2 Kings 5:9-16.
It must have been quite a commotion: Naaman and his entourage, horses and chariot and all, turning up at the door of the house of Elisha (2 KINGS 5:9). Naaman was a mighty man, but he was afflicted by some form of leprosy (cf. 2 Kings 5:1). The prophet sent a messenger to say, “Go and wash in Jordan…” (2 KINGS 5:10). How rude: did Elisha not realise how important this dignitary was?
The means the LORD used for Naaman’s healing is neither what he expected (2 KINGS 5:11), nor what he wanted (2 KINGS 5:12). Naaman, as commander of the Syrian army, was a “great” man (cf. 2 Kings 5:1), and came expecting “great” things (2 KINGS 5:13). The way of salvation may seem so simple as to be insulting: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved’ (cf. Acts 16:31).
Naaman had to look down his chain of command to find sound advice. This was not the first time (cf. 2 Kings 5:2-3). It is a mark of true leadership to be willing to take advice from those whom we lead.
The commander’s indentured servants effectively argued, “If the man says, ‘Wash and be clean’ why not try it?” (2 KINGS 5:13). Naaman immersed himself seven times in the River Jordan, as instructed, and the great and mighty Naaman’s diseased flesh became renewed, “like that of a little boy” (2 KINGS 5:14).
The holistic nature of Naaman’s healing is seen in his subsequent confession of faith: “I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 KINGS 5:15).
Elisha categorically refused to take any kind of payment for this advice (2 KINGS 5:16). After all, it was the LORD who had healed Naaman, not Elisha. Similarly, despite being entitled to support (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:14), the Apostle Paul used to preach for free (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:9).
This is an instance of holistic healing coming to those who are outside, as noted by Jesus (cf. Luke 4:27). It was ‘while we were yet sinners,’ that ‘Christ died for us’ (cf. Romans 5:8). Those who were ‘far off are made nigh by the blood of Jesus’ (cf. Ephesians 2:13).
