The Pilgrim Path---II Kings 5: 9—12

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was very angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

NAAMAN HAD TO LEARN (Often---So Do We)

---Naaman went with some serious money (that was not the key to wholeness)

---Naaman wanted God’s man to meet him (but was Naaman ready to meet God?)

---Naaman went with “all” sorts of preconceptions about the matter / not very open---was he?

---Naaman had no intention of “washing” in the Jordan (certainly not seven times)

---Naaman really got angry when God did not “do” things his way (uh oh---I have done this/Sorry LORD)

---Naaman had some wise servants that prevailed upon him and said: “God’s Prophet spoke a great word---will you not do it? And be clean?”

---Naaman had to learn about obedience and humility (We all work on these for the rest of our lives)

II Kings 5: 14 “So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: We map out beforehand the path of providence and the method of his mercy, forgetting that the Lord’s footsteps are not known. When the Lord does not choose to act according to our notions, we cry, half indignantly, “I thought he would surely act otherwise.” This folly is seen in believers sometimes in reference to their way to heaven. They are like the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt; there is a straight road to Canaan---why are they not allowed to take it? Instead, they are led round about; their course is in turn progressive, retrograde, and standing still---to the right and to the left, forward and retreat. Does not providence often perplex us and run counter not only to our wishes but also to our deliberate judgments? That which seems to be the best does not happen to us, while that which appears to be distressingly injurious overtakes us. Our forecasts do not come true, our daydreams are not realized, and our schemes for life are not carried out. We have ventured to propose such inquiries, but we have not been able to answer them; it is as well that we should not, for our business is not the solution of problems but the performance of precepts. Let us cease from our own wisdom and leave all arrangements in the hand of the heavenly Father. Our thoughts are vanity; his thoughts are precious.

From Philip G. Ryken: Part of what Syria’s warrior failed to understand was the cleansing power of God’s grace, which had nothing to do with water quality. The cure came purely and simply through the cleansing power of God’s grace. The remedy was so simple that Naaman’s servants begged him to try…They called the invitation to wash and be clean “a great word.” We might even call it “good news,” which is another way of saying “the gospel.” Naaman’s bath in the Jordan River is a picture of the forgiveness of sins---the same forgiveness that is signified in Christian baptism. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit does not wash away sin in and of itself, but it does show the cleansing power of God’s grace. It is a sign and seal of the washing away of our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who cleanses his people “by the washing of water with the word” (Eph. 5: 26).

From Samuel Rutherford: In building, we hewn stones and timbers under hammers and axes, yet the house in its beauty we do not see at the present, but it is in the mind of the builder. We also see unbroken clods, furrows, and stones, but we do not see the summer lilies, roses, and the beauty of a garden. Even so we do not presently see the outcome of God’s decrees, with his blessed purpose. It is hard to believe when his purpose is hidden and underground. Providence has a thousand keys to deliver his own even when all hope is gone. Let us be faithful and care for our own part, which is to do and suffer for him, and lay Christ’s part on himself, and leave it there; duties are ours, events are the Lord’s.

God’s Divine favor can break through our hard-headedness and hard-heartedness--- Thanks Be to God!

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason