2 Kings 5:
In this chapter are recorded the histories of three people who had to do with God:the "little maid," Naaman, and Gehazi.
The three illustrate clearly three kinds of profession there are today among those who are known to the world as the Lord's people. Would that all the Lord's people were as the " little maid" in the earnestness and simplicity of their profession of their God and Saviour!
She was little in this world, not seeking for great things, nor anxious for positions and honors. She was a captive, longing, no doubt, with all her heart to be at home and with the "man of God;" detained as a foreigner against her will.
Meanwhile she performed her appointed task, she "waited," and the result shows she did her work in such a way as to command the respect of those with whom she came in contact; for when she delivered her message, they paid heed to it. Her message was all about one who could give healing, the "man of God," Elisha, which means "God is Saviour."
O fellow-Christian, to whomsoever these words will come, will you not, in this day of empty profession and open desertion of our Lord Jesus Christ, heed the message which the Spirit of God would give us from this portion of the Word ?
Be satisfied to be of no account in this world :" Seekest thou great things for thyself ? seek them not:for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh" (Jer. 45:5). We are but captives here. Let us live with our hearts away from this scene, our minds ever turning homeward, where our blessed Lord is, "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ."
We are but strangers here. Our citizenship is. in heaven. Let us then be as strangers and pilgrims passing through a foreign country, our heart not with it, but with " the man of God."
While we are here let us do with our might what our hands find to do, seeking, by quiet, contented, earnest exhibition of our dear Lord's example, to impress others with respect, and thus to command a hearing when we shall find occasion to deliver our message.
Our message is to guilty, sin-defiled lepers, and it is all about One who can give healing-the true Elisha, of whom it is written "God is Saviour" (Titus 1:3, 4; i Tim. 1:i).
Let us be clear about that, dear friends. This same Jesus, who "shall save His people from their sins;" this same Jesus, who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification; this same Jesus, who His own self bore our sins in His own body on the tree, is also the mighty God-the Father of eternity-the great God who shall appear in glory-the Christ, Son of the living God, and the God whose throne is for ever and ever (Matt. 1:21; Rom. 4:25; i Peter 2:24; Isa. 9:6; Titus 2:13; Matt. 16:16; Heb. 1:8).
Our message to lost sinners should be clear as to the person and power of the blessed Lord, as was the little maid's :" The prophet . . . would recover him of his leprosy." "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."
Blessed person ! blessed power ! Let us always confess both; and let us walk here in humble, childlike confession of Him who loves us and gave Himself for us. This is the true profession which delights the heart of Him whom we love.
There is no doubt that Naaman was healed of his leprosy; "he was clean" (ver. 14). In this he represents a sinner defiled by the leprosy of sin, who, taking his place under judgment (in Jordan), the place of true repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Jno. 5:24), is cleansed. In his love to the God whom he has just come to know, he rightly determines not to offer "burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord." But, alas! there is a halting:he makes reservation.
Had he been true to his profession, he would undoubtedly have lost caste with his master the king; he might have lost his position and wealth and honor; he would probably have been deprived of his command in the army; but he would have been right with God.
When we have a single eye, an out-and-out acknowledgment of the Lord Jesus Christ, the world has no place for us any more. It gives its honors and rewards to those who are agreeable and '' pleasant" to it, as Naaman's name indicates. The world wants no one who is continually reminding it of judgment to come, but wants men and women who will deal pleasantly with it. '' Tactful" these half-hearted Christians are sometimes called, saying nothing to give offense; doing nothing to remind the world that it all lies in the wicked one, is under the curse, and hastening on to judgment.
"When I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing." No doubt "the house of Rimmon" was beautiful, and Naaman's master goeth there and leaneth on his hand; but the God of Israel was not there, and Naaman must walk in a path apart from Him when he went to "the house of Rimmon."
Have we no house of Rimmon to which we sometimes go, and leave Christ outside ?-some place of worldly beauty or worldly advancement? – some place to which we go with the king, but upon whose threshold we part with Christ ? Naaman may have held his honors and his king's friendship in the house of Rimmon, but he is never heard of as having a name among God's people, Israel. Had he chosen "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," and "counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures" of Syria, what a place might have been his among God's people !
O soul that at heart loves the Lord Jesus Christ, forsake the house of Rimmon! forsake the world's favor, and let it not lean on your hand! Let our answer from a grateful, devoted heart be, "Jesus only." Forsaking all else, let us "follow Him wholly."
Unfortunate it is that the profession of Gehazi (denier, or diminisher) is only too common among those who claim to be Christians. He was a servant of the man of God, but one of the unprofitable ones, who will be cast into outer darkness. He never served the Lord from his heart, or his judgment would not have come upon him. Spite of his apparent service to Elisha, he was at heart a "denier." He was one who stood in the way of others being blest, and one who could not be recognized by God as having power with Him.
When the Shunammite's son lay dead, and she would bring her trouble to the man of God, Gehazi would come near to thrust her away. How many false professors there are who not only will not bow to Christ themselves, but hinder others from coming! How often is the name of Christ a reproach because of false professors of Christianity! It certainly does not excuse those who do not come that there is a "denier" in the way. Nevertheless a Gehazi is responsible many times for dishonor done to the name of the Lord. Then, when Gehazi essays to use Elisha's staff to bring life to the child (4:31), there is "neither voice nor hearing." There can be no fruit for God from the life of a false professor.
And now his true character comes out, as well as his judgment. We cannot see into men's hearts, and are not to judge their profession except as the leprosy in them shall be manifested; but when the Lord comes, He "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." Think not, false professor, that because others do not see your evil heart of unbelief and greed, that God does not. Outside of the holy city will be "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie;" and if in your heart you are false before God, you are hastening on to judgment, as was Gehazi.
The 20th verse shows us Gehazi coveting, which the apostle tells us is idolatry. All idolaters, alas, are not to be found outside of the Christian profession.
The 22nd verse shows us Gehazi lying; one sin leading down to another, and worse.
The 24th verse shows us Gehazi stealing; and his iniquity being full, there is nothing now left before him but judgment,
And judgment swift and terrible falls. The appointed time has come, and nothing can stay his punishment. The wheat and tares may grow together until the harvest, and men may not be able to discern much difference, but in that day "God shall judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus, according to my gospel." The judgment on Gehazi is "forever." Just as sure as it is that those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are eternally saved, so all who deny Him will be under judgment everlasting.
May the Lord lead His people into simple, childlike confession of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, that we may honor His name among all with whom we come in contact, for His own name's sake. Amen. F.