2 KINGS 5:1-14 TEXT: v3 [THE LITTLE MAID]
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet
that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
While most preachers acknowledge this little unnamed Jewish slave girl
as a major player in the scenario, yet they rightly concentrate on the
role of Elisha who finally effected the healing of her leprous Syrian
master
Such is a proper thing to do – this incident is recorded to show that Elisha was indeed God’s man for the hour
Ought not to get taken up with the instruments which God uses
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
(1 Corinthians 3:5)
Every true preacher is happy if his own name perish
There is only one name that is to have glory – Jesus Christ
Perhaps fitting then: the name of this little girl – little
heroine – has not been recorded for us in the Bible, although it
is known in heaven and she shall in no wise lose her reward
She herself could do nothing to heal her master/leprosy
She had no access to the latest medical research and even if she had
– it stood powerless in the face of a spreading disease
But she knew one who could miraculously help her master
She referred to Elisha in our text – the prophet/Samaria
Elisha in himself could do nothing either
She is very careful to refer to him in his office/prophet
On his own (as another punter/street) Elisha was stripped of each and every power he possessed
But as the Lord’s man – he could (and did) plenty to heal
I want to return to this little girl again
Her comments about the prophet are so encouraging
That she dared to speak up and cared to speak up: exciting, but her
actions as related to/Bible (Herein lay Elisha’s importance) can
only bring us hope and furnish a good, solid message
4 main thoughts:
1) SHE BELIEVED THAT THE WORD OF GOD WAS TO BE HELD DEAR DESPITE HER HARROWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
A/ She had not gone voluntarily into Syria looking employment
One day, armed soldiers came and snatched her away and she was sold into slavery and eventually bought by Naaman
That cannot have been a nice experience – causes us/shudder
Naaman is described as an honourable man (v1) and that might have mollified things somewhat – but still: She was a slave
B/ Supposing that things did not go too bad under Naaman (impression given) – yet his leprosy put a great blight/her life
Her future became so uncertain and fear stalked her life
Death/Naaman might well have meant her being sold on
Sold to a complete beast of an owner and her life endangered
Truly these were very harrowing days for her
Humanly speaking, her future was so uncertain
C/ Here’s a little girl in the midst of a great captivity
A previous captivity/COI lasted over 80 years (Moses)
A future one would run to 70 years (Jeremiah)
Some people were born and bred and later died in captivity
While she always had some kind of hope for liberty, yet it was possible (highly so) that she might never see freedom again
D/ Never once, even in such circumstances, did she abandon her faith in
the word of God - at least … no record that she did
That’s not to say: she was wide eyed and knew no discouragement
We would only discourage ourselves with thoughts like that
She went through the various emotions/mood swings we all do
But here she is/passage and her faith is still intact
E/ Some people let the Bible go at the first sign/anxiety
Seems/Bible to them is a past-time rather a necessity
As said: It is not their refuse/strength in the time of trouble
That is madness!
Hymn writer: In times like these, you need your Bible
These are times when Satan takes full advantage/the situation
In smooth sailing’s, we have time to watch and take heed
Trials can divert the mind and leave doors open for attack
The last thing you want to do is to abandon your Bible
You need to keep it closer to you than ever before
David earlier had been in the deep waters/affliction:
Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. (v153)
This is my comfort/my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me. (v50)
I do not doubt that this was the exact testimony of this girl
F/ Take this a wee bit further again
This wee girl probably didn’t hide a wee copy of what Bible was then in print under her pillow!
No Gideon’s in those days who visited the schools/workplaces
What comfort she had, she drew from memory
Here is one who had hidden the word/heart in her heart
She had listened well/synagogue when she could and it paid off
How greater is our responsibility when we have, not only a Bible, but a 1,001 Bible aids and helps at our fingertips
2) SHE BELIEVED THAT THE WORD/GOD WAS UNCHANGEABLE:
A/ As seen, her circumstances had greatly changed
Circumstances had changed too for Elisha, of whom she spake
Circumstances are changing all the time and at breakneck speed
Standards are changing all the time – usually spiralling downward
Things tolerated today that would have been strangled/birth but a few short years ago – we live in a changing world
B/ But this little maid knew this: Word/God never changed
Reason why: God (whose word it is) changes not (Malachi 3:6)
People change for many reasons
[i] Their circumstances change and they would get left behind
Unforeseen circumstance arise of which they knew nothing
Of if they did know – they could do nothing about it
[ii] Their plans are forced to change because of failure on their part to carry them out
They run out of money/power/opportunity to carry them out
They are let down by others who likewise could not deliver
[iii] Their heart grows cold or hardens as time goes on
They lose interest – something else grabs their attention
How changeable man is!
Look at Peter as he blows hot/cold in a matter of a few hours
In looking/Peter – we see ourselves
Some great scheme grabs our attention - we are consumed by it
Unbounding enthusiasm – the which of like is scarcely seen!
Once the initial novelty of it passes away, we likewise wane
Regret the promises made and we shore them of their content
C/ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever
He is not a man that he should repent (change His mind)
Nothing arises that blows Him off course
Every problem is foreseen and overcome by His mighty power
His love maintains its white hot fervour for His people
Consider what John observed (13:1)
Now
before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was
come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having
loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
D/
This wee girl in her captivity knew that if she could have sent this
leper to Elisha before the captivity and the war, then she could do likewise
during and afterwards
What an encouragement we have in this matter
[i] What a message for hurting saints!
When Naomi returned home, she said: Call me Naomi no longer – call me Mara – the Lord hath dealt bitterly with me
But she still came home for the Lord had visited His people in giving them bread – and she knew there was bread for her
Hurting Christian! Remember the good times you had with God
He is still the same Saviour as you knew then
He is touched with the feelings of your infirmities, but He Himself is not infirm – He is the same Saviour you once knew
[ii] What a message for backslidden Christians!
The prodigal remembered that there was always bread and enough to spare in the Father’s house – and returned home
God says that He will restore unto you the years/locus eaten
He is the same as when you left Him
He did not leave you: Hebrews 13:5
Like the Father/parable – He will run to meet you
The kiss will be as loving as ever- the hug as warm/embracing
Only change will be in the fatted calf that awaits/slaughter
Come home! Come home! Ye that are weary…come home!
[iii] What a message there is here for the missionary
We have all read the mighty exploits of the great missionaries
Names of Carey and Brainerd and Henry Martyn etc.: revered
Yet we know this – excellency of their work was of all God
What God could do then – God can do again
If anyone knew this – it was Elisha himself
When Elisha came to the waters/River Jordan:
And
he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters,
and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten
the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (2
Kings 2:14)
I go a little further here (encouraged by words/young girl)
I put to you that Elisha had a missionary himself
Furthermore – he got it from Elijah!
Were there not many widows in Israel in Elijah’s day?
Yes- but unto none of them was he sent etc., (Luke 4:26)
Our Saviour Himself in Luke 4:27 points out the missionary enterprise of Elisha – many lepers in Israel
Doubtless a lot has changed in missionary work
The world with its travel and distances have changed
But the mighty God/Elisha is still the same
Jesus said: Greater works than these shall ye do (John 14:12)
[iv] A similar message awaits any Christian desiring to do what he can for God in these last times
We can rise above all the disappointments/life
Tap into the never failing resources of the unchanging God
What a lesson this wee lassie has to teach us all here
She is a real wee theologian with a pastoral heart
3) SHE BELIEVED THAT THE WORD OF GOD WAS ALL POWERFUL:
A/ Although she mentions the prophet in Samaria, yet she does not believe that the power lay in him per se
She does not have elevated views of mere men
Peter had to deal with that problem in Acts 3:11-12
And
as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people
ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly
wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men
of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as
though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
That’s where it all goes sour and you get the rise of man made structures and creature worship etc.,
But this wee girl wasn’t elevating Elisha when she so spoke
It was Elisha’s God she worshipped
Elisha’s God (and her God) describes himself as God Almighty
What power therefore is in His word
She had been taught that He spake the Universe/existence
He spake and it was done/commanded and it stood fast (Psalm 33:9)
She maybe even learned this Psalm as a wee girl at school
Maybe the Hebrews ran children’s meetings and taught the children these Bible songs and choruses
A wealth/good done in children’s work: the Bible is taught/song
B/ This wee girl was effectively telling Naaman that although man could not heal his leprosy – yet God’s word could
This wasn’t her trying to deaden his pain/suffering
The thrust here is evangelistic rather than pastoral
She isn’t trying to smooth his pillow for him as he passes away
She has every reason to hope that her master will do what she suggests i.e. go/Elisha and find an immediate healing by the word
C/ Consider the leprosy of sin that abounds on every hand
It is portrayed here under the picture/leprosy
Its moral wretchedness and stink in the nostrils/holy God
Its uncleanness in the sight of the law/God
It’s infective qualities that made men avoid it if they could
It’s slow lingering death etc.,
All picture sin, even in its mildest forms
Yet what is this to God? His arm shortened that it cannot save?
Can Jesus Christ not save to the very uttermost?
In the old days, even in the toughest prisons, there was an insistence that one Book grace each cell: Bible
Recognition of the power of this Book
Nowadays, the PC crowd have probably rid the cells of them
And wonder (by the same token) why the prisons are overflowing
D/ Every Christian is a missionary
You are a missionary in your own home/street
God might call you to be missionary further afield
(This wee girl, albeit in a way unthought of, became one)
But no matter where you are – you are representative/Him
Be sure to make much of the power/God to save
Spice your conversations with many references/Bible
Not only about the Bible – but from the Bible
Speak much of Christ
Christ is God’s Prophet, Priest and King
Elisha was only a shadow of the great Prophet to come
This great Prophet is Christ Himself:
God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son (Hebrews 1:1)
Elisha could do little directly for this man’s soul
At best, he could only preach unto Him, Jesus
That is all we can do – and it is enough for us
But let the sinner come face/face with Christ on the pages of the Bible and that soul can be saved eternally
E/ Elisha never shed his blood to save sinners
His blood was as tainted with sin as the blood of each and every sinner can be said to be
But Christ shed His sinless blood to redeem us from sin
The wrath/God that was our due – Upon the Lamb was laid
By the shedding/His blood – The debt for us was paid
You might never grace a mission field by your presence
But you can be a missionary wherever you and (like this young Israelite girl) even in the most harrowing circumstances
Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria!
She believed that the word of God was all powerful
4) SHE BELIEVED THAT THE WORD/GOD WAS AVAILABLE TO ALL:
A/ It doesn’t seem to have crossed her mind that somehow the fact that her master was not an Israelite might rule him out
Perhaps we see something here of the innocence of a child
Perhaps – (my inclination) she spoke with a prophetic spirit
When the Lord Jesus recalled this incident in the synagogue in Nazareth – the Jews all went ballistic at the thought
But that need not detain us here
We judge the story from the fruit that it brings forth
Reality: This man (eventually) made it to Elisha and found healing
B/ None who make it in faith/repentance to Jesus Christ are ever turned away: John 6:37
But we can go better than that!
We can/must actively proclaim salvation for all men
God has ordained the means as well as the end
Pleases God by the foolishness/preaching to save those/believe
We are clearly commanded to preach/gospel to every creature
C/ Doctrine/election is a mighty doctrine
It gives edge to the work/evangelism – we preach infallibly
assured of victory/success, despite all the apparent set backs
But election has no part to play in whom we talk to about Christ
Calvin wrote on Isaiah 42 where Christ is called Light/Gentiles:
He
calls him a light, because the Gentiles were plunged in the deepest and
thickest darkness, at the time when the Lord illuminated none but the
Jews. Now, then, the blame lies solely with ourselves, if we do not
become partakers of this salvation; for he calls all men to himself,
without a single exception, and gives Christ to all, that we may be
illuminated by him. Let us only open our eyes, he alone will dispel
the darkness, and illuminate our minds by the “light” of truth.
We view every last man as potentially elect
This little Israelite sower went out to sow the seed
The seed was the word/God and she scattered it everywhere
God used it to bring a soul to Himself
As God’s people, may we be busy doing likewise
Unsaved: may they recognise their opportunity to be converted
Naaman did not delay but sought cleansing/healing immediately