In these verses there is an anticipation of the gospel that would go out from Israel through Messiah and then out from the church carrying the light of Jesus Christ to the Gentile nations. Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. His name suggests he had undoubtedly been a handsome man, at least before the leprosy.
Further, the implication is that he was also a gracious and delightful man. But his name became a reproach and a striking contrast to his appearance and probably also to his disposition because of the disease which had attacked his body. The way Naaman is first described gives us a picture of him as he was seen by people who tend to look mostly on the outward appearance. He was a man of great authority and position. He was a national hero as the general who had been victorious over the enemies of the nation of Aram. Upon his head were the laurels or wreaths of victory and upon his chest, medals of honor and valor.
But would you also note the biblical perspective and truth regarding the source of victory and valor; it is the sovereign plan and power of God. Here again we see how the Lord uses the saved and unsaved alike to carry out His purposes and plans. But being so used does not save a person.
He was a Leper. One may be great, successful, wealthy, honorable and mighty, but spiritually lost. But what exactly does leprosy in the Bible teach us about our sin and its effect in our lives? The biblical instructions for leprosy, the separation, isolation, and cleansing of the leper and thus the biblical foundation as a picture of sin are described for us in Leviticus Scholars are somewhat in disagreement regarding biblical leprosy, but it appears that there were two main types.
Both start with discoloration of a patch of skin. This patch may be white or pink. It is most likely to appear on the brow, nose, ear, cheek or chin. As this form begins to spread, portions of the eyebrow may disappear, then spongy tumor like swellings appear on the face and body. The disease is systemic and involves the internal organs as well. It is deep seated in the bones, joints and marrow of the body resulting in the deterioration of the tissues between the bones.
The results are deformity, loss of feeling in the appendages, and in the fingers and toes eventually falling off. This form is incurable and lasts until the victim finally dies often by the invasion of other diseases because of the weakened condition. They may live for twenty or thirty years in this miserable condition.
King James Version (KJV)
This form is less severe and begins much like the lepromatous form with a change in skin color in one area and then spreading to other areas. This form is limited in its effects and often only lasts from one to three years. The person with this form, unless miraculously healed, could return to the priest and be declared cleansed or healed after observation. Other types of skin diseases were observed and when found not be to true leprosy or they disappeared, the people with these forms were also declared clean.
In modern times there are very effective medicines available, and leprosy patients are usually not isolated. One thing is certain, the term leprosy referred to several types of skin diseases which were rooted in the blood stream. When they were the lepromatous type, they were incurable and led to horrible consequences.
Because of this, specific directions were given for leprosy in Leviticus This was done first as a protection against possible spread in case it was contagious, but there was also a ceremonial or spiritual reason. Leprosy stood as a picture of sin and all its features and effects upon man and upon his relationship with God. There is nothing man himself can do to deal with his sin problem. Further, his sin separates him from God and even from intimate fellowship with people cf.
When the Lord healed a leper, therefore, the picture should have been obvious. He could then be reconciled to society. The point is the mouth speaks and hands do as a result of what the heart is and thinks Luke 6: With this in mind, compare Leviticus Even the slightest blemish in the skin, a swelling a boil , a scab a small tumor , or a bright spot a red or scaly place was to be carefully observed to see if it was the product of something deeper, i. So today, since Christ has provided cleansing from sin, every believer as a believer priest is to detect sin in their own life and pronounce it sin when it first appears 1 John 1: They saw portions of their bodies become numb, muscles atrophy waste away , tendons contract making the hands like claws, and then the ulceration of the fingers and toes and hands and feet resulting in their loss bit by bit until the whole hand or foot was gone.
We must not miss the picture God wants us to see from this emphasis in Scripture. Sin is like this. He often does not experience severe pain from his sin and waywardness, only insensitivity, restless misery, and futility, ever seeking some means of fulfillment running from one thing to another cf. Even in apparent prosperity and happiness, not only is there a certain amount of inner peace and true happiness missing, but their ultimate plight is death, loss, and the judgment of separation Ps.
So men without Christ are nothing more than the living dead; though walking about they are spiritual zombies Eph. Naaman was a man of position and prestige, but he was also leprous. God used this to remind Israel of His holiness.
The Healing of King Nabonindus 4Q
Cleansing a leper meant being restored back to a normal life. Sin deforms us, but in Christ we are made new creations and can be transformed into His glorious likeness 2 Cor. See also 2 Kings 5: Namaan held a high position, but had a very great problem. We need to understand that God often uses the personal failures, sicknesses, and problems of men as a means so bring them to the end of themselves and to a knowledge of the Lord and His salvation. This chapter illustrates this. As we will see, Naaman came to know the true God.
So, with verses 2 and following we will see how God worked in various ways, through the disease and through people to bring Naaman to the Lord. In these verses we have portraits of how God saves. Then he would cure him of his leprosy. Here we see how the Lord always has His messengers of the Word. When there is a person whose heart has been prepared, God always has his messengers. But what kind of messenger does God use? He uses those who are available--those who know and love the Lord.
Here was a small girl, humble, obedient, insignificant to men, living under dire conditions, but with a Romans 8: Though small, weak, and insignificant, this little girl knew the omnipotent and sovereign Lord of the universe with whom there was healing. Why do you suppose Naaman listened to her? After all what could a slave know?
May I suggest that he listened because perhaps her life spoke volumes! Her life had been such a testimony that it gave credibility to her words.
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But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me. In verses , we have an excellent illustration of how salvation cannot be obtained. Oh, how these verses reveal the natural tendencies and perspective of the carnal mind. Here is a typical man who recognized his need to some extent, but he wanted to have a part in his healing. He was trusting first in power, position, and riches. First, in verse 4, Naaman went into the king with the news and to get permission from his king to go to Israel.
They thought they could buy the favors of God from the prophet of Yahweh through the king of Israel. So Naaman was sent to the king of Israel rather than to the prophet of God. With him he took a large amount of silver, gold and clothes as payment. So now with verse 7 we see the response of the king of Israel. First, this was the wrong response for the king. Though he had power, position and wealth, yet unlike the little slave girl, he had no witness. Instead of immediately pointing Naaman to Elisha, the prophet of God, he was paralyzed with fear; he was paranoid.
He thought that the king of Aram was seeking some cause to create an incident and reason to attack. Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to demonstrate the power of the Lord, he thought only of himself. What a contrast to the little slave girl who thought of others rather than her own plight. Note that she could have thought, as many would, that he was getting just what he deserved.
Or she could have tried to strike a bargain in exchange for her freedom. Because we are blinded and paralyzed by our self love. But wait a minute, maybe there is a lesson for us here. Through her accountability to her master, her service to his wife, and her own suffering being uprooted from her home and family, this little girl had learned to trust the Lord and then to think of others and their needs.
The king, on the other hand, considered himself accountable to no one a serious error. Further, he was always served by others and failed to see himself as a servant of the people. Thinking only of himself was simply a natural product of the kind of luxurious life he lived.
It shattered part of his trust in his human resources. That which he thought would buy his cure was worthless. He was literally left holding the bag, the bag of money in his leprous hand.
Money, power and wealth cannot save us, make us spiritual, effective witnesses, or deserving of responsibility or leadership in the body of Jesus Christ. Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. Again, God has his messengers. Though some will fail in their responsibility and ministry, the Lord watches over the seeking soul and at just the right moment, he sends one of his own with whatever is necessary to take the seeking person another step toward the Lord and salvation cf.
Naaman represents the seeking soul, one in need of the Lord. Remember, God was using his leprosy as a means to bring him to a knowledge of the Lord. Elisha on the other hand represents the Lord. Could I not wash in them and be clean?
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In these verses we have a picture of the simplicity of salvation and of the necessity of humility in finding the Lord. This must have been an imposing picture. Naaman was a proud man. He was proud of his accomplishments, talents, power, position, and wealth.
A French author, 1 with a prolixity more Teutonic than Gallic, has prepared a volume in which he traces the origin and development of this notion. The English aspects of the method were covered in a scholarly monograph by Crawfurd. Testimony is also presented to the effect that Philip's grandfather healed people, although not especially those suffering from scrofula. Bloch, the French investigator, makes short shrift of the evidence that any pre-Norman king of England, even Edward the Confessor, ever claimed this virtue.
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