2 Kings 5:5-7 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. And he departed… This artless child-utterance opens unexpectedly to the diseased and despairing hero a door of hope — puts a new guiding-star into his midnight of darkness. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy" "Whosoever believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Yes; blessed be God, these and similar declarations are addressed to every spiritual leper in this sin-stricken world. As with the warrior of Damascus, so with them: they have a gracious "missive," a "letter of commendation" to the King of kings. There is a Greater than the greatest prophet in Israel, who can "recover them of their leprosy." 1. Naaman's first impulse, before setting out on his journey, was to go and tell his lord. Before he can adopt the suggestion of the young Hebrew, be feels it his duty, though the most exalted of Ben-hadad's subjects, to go to his sovereign, make him acquainted with his design, and receive the royal sanction. This reads us the preliminary lesson, regarding even the minor, ordinary everyday details of life, to be careful in observing its proprieties and courtesies. "Be courteous," "Let all things be done decently and in order," are alike moral and religious obligations. But is there not also a higher spiritual lesson here for the Christian in his hour of difficulty and peril? When environed with perplexing paths and providences, and at a loss which to follow, swaying between the opposing forces of inclination and duty, may he not — ought he not, like Naaman, to repair to the King of kings — "to tell his Lord" of what is burdening his spirit? 2. Observe Naaman's departure and journey. "And," we read, "he departed" (ver. 5). His promptitude, in the true soldier-spirit of instant surrender to duty — "Go, and he goeth," is noteworthy. How unlike the case of many in spiritual things; who stagger through unbelief; allowing solemn monition and conviction to pass unheeded; conjuring up to themselves some supposed necessity for postponement and delay; resolving to set out on the pilgrimage at some time, but "not yet"; imagining the chariots and horses of salvation to be at their call whenever they wish, and their malignant leprosy a thing that may be safely postponed for a death-bed cure. As Naaman felt, so well may they, that restoration may be with them "now or never." The king said to the sufferer, "Go to, go." It is thus our Lord speaks. This is the Great Physician's prescription to the seeking soul, Wait not a moment; linger not in all the plain; confer not with any earthly adviser. Let the chariots be ordered. Haste thee; flee for thy life! "Go to! go!" for a long eternity is suspended on the resolve. 3. Let us note Naaman's reception. The journey is accomplished; the chief and his retainers have reached Samaria, the capital of Israel, situated on its steep hill; a city "which combined in a union not elsewhere found in Palestine, strength and beauty." Naaman sends one of his troop to the palace of Jehoram with the royal letter of Ben-hadad. The monarch reads it. Commencing, doubtless, with the wonted Oriental complimentary salutations, the perusal leads to a burst of indignant anger. It seemed little else than an insult; an arrogant imposition on royal credulity; the studied, designed occasion of a fresh quarrel. He sees in the letter only a pretext for drawing swords again, for anew ravaging his territories and deluging his valleys with blood. Alas! will the monarch of Israel — the head and ruler of the theocratic tribes — refuse to give glory to whom, as it specially became him to testify, glory is due? (J. R. Macduff, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. |
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