Latest / A Chapter a Day Bible Reading / February 10 - 2 Kings 5

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February 10 - 2 Kings 5 · A Chapter a Day Bible Reading

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Hello friends, it's Sean here. It's Monday, it is the 10th of
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February and it's great to have your company at the beginning of
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another week. I hope you are going well as you
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put down whatever it is that your day is giving you so that
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you can touch base with God's Word again and allow the rhythm
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of God's ideas and thoughts to come in and punctuate your day.
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And the section of Second Kings that we're reading through at
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the moment, this is really kind of doing a deep dive into
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building the credibility of Elisha as God's prophet.
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It is going to show him doing miracle after miracle and with
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each miracle in each new circumstance, it just builds
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this reputation and this understanding from the people
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around him that God is still present and still speaking
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through his people. And that it's not just miracles,
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but the word of God also comes through these these men.
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And so when they speak God's word, it can be heard as God
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speaking with his own authority. So this really is the building
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of the legend of Elisha and the story we're going to read today
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about the healing of Naman. This is one of the most popular
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stories which seeks to bolster his credibility.
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So without further delay, friends, let us dive right into
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it, reading together Second Kings Chapter 5.
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The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the
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commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given
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Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty
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warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
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At this time, Aramean Raiders had invaded the land of Israel,
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and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to
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Naaman's wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her
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mistress, I wish my master would go and see the prophet in
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Samaria. He would heal him of his
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leprosy. So Naaman told the king what the
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young girl from Israel had said, Go and visit the prophet.
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The king of Aram told him, I will send a letter of
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introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.
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So Naaman started out carrying as gifts 750 lbs of silver, 150
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lbs of gold, and 10 sets of clothing.
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The letter to the king of Israel said, With this letter, I
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present my servant Naman, I want you to heal him of his leprosy.
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When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in
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dismay and said, Am I God that I can give life and take it away?
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Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy?
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I can see that he's just trying to pick a fight with me.
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But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel
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had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him.
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Why are you so upset? Send Naman to me and he will
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learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.
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So Naman went with his horses and Chariots and waited at the
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door of Elisha's house. But Elisha sent a messenger out
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to him with this message. Go and wash yourself 7 times in
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the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored
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and you will be healed of your leprosy.
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But Naaman became angry and stalked away.
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I thought he would certainly come out to meet me, he said.
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I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the
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name of the Lord his God and heal me.
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Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Ibana, and the Farpa better
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than any of the rivers in Israel?
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Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?
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Sir Naaman turned and went away in a rage, but his officers
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tried to reason with him and said, Sir, if the Prophet had
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told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have
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done it? So you should certainly obey him
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when he says simply go and wash and be cured.
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Sir Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself
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7 times as the man of God had instructed him, and his skin
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became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was
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healed. Then Naaman and his entire party
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went back to find the man of God.
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They stood before him, and Naaman said, Now I know that
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there is no God in all the world except in Israel, so please
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accept a gift from your servant. But Elisha replied, As surely as
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the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.
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And though Naaman urged him to take the gifts, Elijah refused.
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Then Naaman said, all right, but please allow me to load two of
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my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back
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home with me. From now on, I will never again
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offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other God
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except the Lord. However, may the Lord pardon me
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in this one thing, when my master the king goes into the
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temple of the God Rimon to worship there and leans on my
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arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow to go in peace.
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Elisha said. So Naman started home again.
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But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to
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himself, My master should not have let this Aramean get away
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without accepting any of these gifts.
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As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get
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something from him. So Ghazi set off after Naaman.
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When Naaman saw Ghazi running after him, he climbed down from
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his chariot and went to meet him.
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Is everything all right? Naaman asked.
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Yes, Ghazi said. But my master has sent me to
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tell you that two young prophets from the Hill Country of Ephraim
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have just arrived. He would like 75 lbs of silver
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and two sets of clothing to give to them.
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Oh, by all means, take twice as much silver.
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Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of
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clothing, tied up the money in two bags and sent two of his
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servants to carry the gifts for Ghazi.
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But when they arrived at the citadel, Ghazi took the gifts
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from the servants and sent the men back.
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Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.
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When he went in to his master, Elijah asked him, Where have you
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been, Ghazi? I haven't been anywhere, he
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replied. But Elijah asked him, Don't you
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realise that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down
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from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive
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money and clothing, olive Groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle
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and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you
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and your descendants will suffer from Naaman's leprosy forever.
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When Ghazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy.
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His skin was white as snow. Our Father, we hear in this
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story that when we come before you with the heart seeking your
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goodness, that you are indeed good to us and that we do not
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have to be self seeking, looking after our own needs first and
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foremost above all else, like this servant Gehazi.
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But you show that you will provide for our needs.
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And Father, so we come before you with a repentant heart and
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with our arms outstretched, ready to receive you.
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Receive your spirit. Have you grow inside us so that
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we can truly grow more and more to be more like you, Jesus,
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every day, and that as we do that as the fruits of your
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Spirit grow inside us, that you can use us to further Your
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Kingdom for Your glory, because we are Your servants.
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Thank You for the provisions that you give us, all the things
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that we will enjoy today, given generously from Your hand.
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But most of all, Father, we thank you for giving us Jesus,
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who has saved us and brought us to you, in whose name we pray.
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All these things. Amen.