In 2 Kings 5 we read of the miraculous healing of Naaman from leprosy. The prophet Elisha refuses to accept any money from Naaman and sends him on his way. But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, secretly goes after Naaman with this request:
“Please give me a talent of silver and two changes of garments.”
Gehazi, as the servant of Elisha, occupied a coveted position. Surely he was not unaware that Elisha had once been the servant of Elijah. And now he was in that relation to Elisha. One has to wonder if Gehazi’s position would have made him Elisha’s successor. And yet, Gehazi’s desire, which he was willing to lie to obtain (“My master has sent me” v22) was for a talent of silver and 2 changes of garments. Going to request these from Naaman in secret, he may have thought he would be able to have his stash of worldly goods and have his position with Elisha remain unaffected. But because he clung to the treasure of Naaman, the leprosy of Naaman clung to him.
Going after the things of this world will not leave us untainted. Chasing wealth will create in us a miserly greed to have more for ourselves. Chasing success will cause us to neglect the weightier matters of life. Chasing entertainment will leave our soul corrupted by the worldly things we entertain ourselves with. And we may obtain all these things….and find we have lost our place in the kingdom.
We read of Gehazi one more time in 2 Kings 8 and he is not with Elisha. But he is recounting the stories of the things he witnessed as Elisha’s servant. One must wonder if his voice was tinged with regret and longing for what he has lost. He still has the title “servant of Elisha”, but it is only a title.
I set Gehazi before us as an example of what not to do. Let us not be those who are led astray by the sparkle of silver or any such thing. But let us rather be like Moses “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” Like Moses, let us “look to the reward” – that great day when we will stand before the Lord Jesus, clothed in His righteousness, having invested our lives in knowing and sharing Him. This is the blessing that makes one rich and adds no sorrow with it. There are no regrets to a life spent pursuing Jesus and making Him known.
World, you can keep your silver. I have found a better Treasure.
After the 70 years of Babylonian captivity had been completed and Babylon had been captured by the Persians, the Lord stirred the heart of King Cyrus to send the Jewish people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. A large group returned to begin the work and they all rejoiced when the foundation of the temple was completed.
But not everyone was happy about this development. There were others living in the land, adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, who wanted the work to stop. Eventually there was a new king who was not sympathetic to the Jews and he caused the work to be stopped. Those who opposed the work “went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.” Ezra 4:23
Approximately 15 years passed and still the temple rebuilding had not been resumed. Into this scene comes Haggai the prophet with these words:
“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!”” Haggai 1:4-5
The work that they had begun with such zeal had been abandoned in the moment of opposition. The years passed and they started building their lives there and going on with things. Nothing they did really prospered, but it was life without the confrontation of enemies. Much more comfortable. They were lulled into complacency.
However, in the kingdom of Persia things had changed and a new king was in power. And God sent His word to wake His people up to the work to be done.
Do you hear that word today, for He is surely speaking it? Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.
Of a certainty the world is more wicked than it has been at any time in history. The end draws nearer every day. And there are many, so very many, that do not know our wonderful Jesus. I must ask myself, how does this affect my life? I must hear these words to me – Consider your ways.
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh you rescue the souls of men
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” Hebrews 2:1
We live in an age of communication gone crazy. Television, telephones, video games, Ipods and a multitude of other devices compete for our attention. We can hardly focus our attention on one before we are distracted by another. We seem to be a society of distraction. But there are some things we cannot afford to be distracted from. The writer of Hebrews warns us of this.
The words of Jesus are more than just words. They are life. And unless we heed those words, by listening to and obeying those words, slowly we will begin to drift, like a ship that isn’t anchored. We will become leaky vessels, unable to contain what has been entrusted to us.
In America we are so very fortunate to have the freedom to own as many Bibles as we want. I can take my Bible to work, I can read it in public places. Yet this liberty is worthless if we do not pay attention to these words of life and let them penetrate deep into our souls. This is no mere religious book. It is the revealed truth about who God is, what He has done for us and what He requires of us. Nothing in this world deserves more careful attention than this.
Let us be like Samuel – “Speak Lord, for Your servant hears.”
Cautiously she ventured in
Although an uninvited guest
But there is one that she must see
And a task she must complete
She has brought to Him her best
She approached and unashamed
Poured out her precious, fragrant oil
Disparaged and misunderstood
By those that she thought surely would
Know that He deserved it all
The smell of worship filled the room
As her perfume ran down His head
And with a heart set free from sin
She lavishes her praise on Him
Thanksgiving in each tear she shed
Betrayers and the Pharisees
Look on in scorn and with disdain
For darkened hearts can never see
The glory of a soul set free
And view such lavishness as vain
As Mary, so it is for me
Though once lost, I have tasted grace
And seeing clearly Jesus’ worth
Let my own oil be poured forth
Until that day I see His face
Romans 1:18-1:32 is a sad commentary on a people who reject the grace of God. It chronicles the descent into the depths of wickedness. One thing I noticed is that man always takes the first step:
We suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and God reveals His wrath (v. 18)
We did not glorify Him as God or thank Him, and our thoughts became vain and our hearts darkened (v. 21)
We exchange the glory of God, then He gives us up to uncleanness (v. 23-24)
We do not retain God in our knowledge, and He gives us over to a debased mind (v. 28)
As I thought on this, the pattern seemed clear – we give God up and then He gives us up. His action is a response to ours. I wondered…..is this true in the reverse? And then I remembered these verses:
“I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently will find me.” Proverbs 8:17
“Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.” James 4:8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
“Call to me and I will answer you….” Jeremiah 33:3
What an encouragement this is to me. My prayers are not just haphazardly hurled into the heavens. My worship is not merely the expression of my love and dependence on Him. But these things are a reaching up for a divine response.
“Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.” Luke 17:12
My heart was filled with pity for these men as I read this passage. These words…”who stood afar off”…what sad words these are. These men, outcasts, allowed only the companionship of their fellow sufferers, cannot even come near enough to Jesus to have Him touch them. The law forbids it. Imagine the loneliness and hopelessness of such men.
But our merciful Savior, with a word, heals them and sends them to the priest to complete the requirements of the law for one healed of leprosy. The ceremony seems a bit odd and certainly messy, but it is full of beautiful symbolism.
Leviticus 14 gives us a detailed description of this ritual to be completed when one has been healed of leprosy. Two birds are taken by the priest. One bird is killed and the other bird is dipped in its blood and set free. These birds are not brought by the leper, but they are provided for him. In this we see a picture of Christ as our substitute; His blood spilled, covers us, and we are set free. And just as the leper brought nothing for the completion of this ceremony, so we bring nothing to God, but trust completely in the atonement provided by Christ.
After 7 days, the leper comes to the priest with his offerings. In a curious ceremony, the priest takes the blood of the sacrifice and puts it on the right ear, right thumb and right big toe of the leper. Then he takes a measure of oil (about 8 ounces) and puts oil on the leper’s right ear, right thumb and right big toe. The rest of the oil is poured on the head of the leper.
All this detail seems tedious, but God is showing us something so incredibly beautiful in Leviticus 14.
You see, we are the leper; our lives undone by the leprosy of sin. Hopelessly far from God.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.
The application of the blood to the ear, thumb and toe is done no other place than the consecration of the priests. I Peter 2 says that we are a holy priesthood (v5) But in addition to the application of the blood, there is an application of oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and if that isn’t glorious enough, the oil is then poured over the head – just as in the anointing of a king.
The one most unworthy, most despised and disregarded – the leper – is anointed as a priest and a king. What a beautiful picture of what Christ has done for us.
“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” Rev 1:6
I recently read the story of Rizpah from 2 Samuel 21. Her two sons were given to the Gibeonites to be executed for their father, King Saul’s, sin in transgressing the covenant between Israel and Gibeon. Rizpah can do no more than setup watch at the spot of execution, guarding the corpses from animal predators. But she does what she can and stands between those she loves and what would tear them in pieces. With the approach of a wild animal or bird, surely a cry must have risen up in her heart and she ran towards the offending creature – NOT MY SON! Certainly with tears and anguish of soul she maintains her post, watching continually…faithfully. Daily, their lifeless bodies were a reminder that they were dead. Yet she remained, determined to provide whatever manner of protection to them that she could. She watched over the dead – a bone yard guardian.
Rizpah, to me, models the work of the intercessor – standing between the dead and the powers that would tear them to pieces, that enemy that is seeking to devour. Like Rizpah, I am a bone yard guardian, standing watch over those I love who are dead in trespasses and sin. Continually and faithfully watching.
The Lord has given me the responsibility and privilege to stand watch. So I watch and pray and cry over the deadness of their souls. And in this verse I have hope:
“….God who gives life to all things….” 1 Timothy 6:13
He is the only one that can breathe life into those dead bones. He gives life and is Life.
Can these bones live? He knows. The God who gives life to all things….He knows.
Asa, King of Judah, had experienced a mighty deliverance from his enemies by the intervention of the Lord. His prayer for help is a beautifully humble cry:
“Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” 2 Chronicles 14:11
The Lord overthrew his enemies and Asa experienced rest until the 35th year of his reign, until once again an enemy arose. This time is was Baasha, king of Israel. And this time there is no humble cry to the Lord for help. Instead, he plundered the treasuries of the house of the Lord to hire the Syrian army; an army that already had a alliance with Baasha, but was willing to trade allegiance for a bit of gold.
How often does this happen to us? Some type of difficulty arises in our life and we do not seek the heavenly solution, but instead go through all sorts of conniptions to try to engage worldly resources to aid us. How foolish to turn to the world (which by the way, cannot solve it’s own problems) when all of heaven is available to us in our time of need. Yet we turn to the faithless, fickle world.
Asa got what he paid for – Baasha was defeated, but by pursuing worldly methods he forfeited victory over the Syrians.
“…Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.” 2 Chronicles 16:7
This is the lesson for me: The enemy that you join yourself to is one that you will not have victory over. Your compromise will have further reaching implications that you might at first believe.
Let us press on in faith, fully trusting the Lord to deliver us, whatever the situation. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9
From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee
From fearing when I should aspire
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee
From subtle love of softening things
From easy choices, weakenings
Not thus are spirits fortified
Not this way went the Crucified
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me
Give me the love that leads the way
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire
The passion that will burn like fire
Let me not sink to be a clod
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God
He is my Delight 