Seven Dips In A Dirty River

SEVEN DIPS IN A DIRTY RIVER

2 KINGS 5:1-15

In the 1780s, Ben Franklin and the Duke of Orleans sent up a hot air balloon

over France. As it descended into a farmer’s field, people rushed at it with sticks, pitch-forks and clubs. They attacked it in a frenzy and beat it, certain it was the moon, having fallen to earth.

Some people don’t like Change, but there is one change everyone needs and that is salvation in Christ which will makes us a new creation.

In this story of Naaman the Syrian, we see a change that resulted in a double healing because firstly he was cleansed from that loathsome disease of leprosy wherewith he was afflicted and secondly he was brought to newness of life; he was brought to faith in Jehovah of Hosts, the living and true God, the God of Israel. How this all came about and the different persons involved in bringing this about make up indeed, a heart-touching story.

I-NOTICE THE MANY CONDITONS OF NAAMAN:

A-He Was A Military Man: 1A

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria , was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria

He was captain of the host of Syria. Although he was a pagan, he was both a great man and an honorable man. By him the Lord had given Syria deliverance.

He wasn’t just some measly one star general he was a five star general in charge of it all. King Benhada had 32 officers under him, and Naaman was over them all.

Naaman wasn’t the commander of some small third-rate army either. Syria was one of the superpowers of its day. Naaman was a military strategist, a warrior, and a leader.

B-He Was A Mighty Man: 1B

he was also a mighty man in valour

He could snap his fingers and men would come running. He had power, position, prosperity, and popularity.

His name means, pleasant to look upon.

C-He Was A Miserable Man: 1C

“… but he was a leper.”

Underneath that glory and honor, that power and position, he was had leprosy.

Back in that day lepers were cast out of society. For the purpose of the public health they were not allowed to socialize with normal people. Normally a big man like Naaman would be given a comfortable place in the palace and would be invited to banquets to tell of his great victories. But instead Naaman’s hands were tied by an incurable disease.

Leprosy in Scripture is a type of sin. One reason is that it was incurable by human means. Only God can cure sin and save a sinner. Naaman had many fine points, but he was a sinner. He tried to cover up his leprosy, but he could not cure it. Many people today whitewash sin. What they need is to be washed white, and only Christ can do that.

There are many folks in the world today about whom nice things can be said although they are not Christians. You can say that they are fine men and women and have done fine things. But you have to conclude it all by saying that they are sinners—“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). No matter how nice people might be, they are all sinners in God’s sight.

It is sad to say, he is a great lawyer but he is lost, he is a great politician, but he is lost, he is a great singer but he is lost, ete.

D-He Was A Merciful Man: 2-3

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For would recover him of his leprosy

He received the the mercy of a little maid who concerned about his cure.

This is one of those unknown, unnamed characters in the Bible. She was a young maid, a little Hebrew girl, and a great person.

She obviously had a loving heart, a strongly loving heart, were it not so she would have reasoned thus: "Naaman, no less than the Commander of the Syrian army which has wrought havoc among my people from time to time. He is one of my country’s and my God’s leading enemies. It serves him right! No, she was not like that at all. She voiced her concern.

This little Hebrew maid was in no position to give orders, but one day she uttered a sigh and said, “Oh, that my master would go down and see the prophet in Samaria. He would recover him of his leprosy”—Elisha, you see, had quite a reputation. Well, someone—probably his wife—heard what she said, and it reached the ears of the king of Syria.