II Kings 5
King of Syria honors his captain Naamanverse 1
Now Naaman – captain of the host of the king of Syria
was a great man with his master – and honorable
because by him the LORD
had given deliverance to Syria
He was also a mighty man in valor – BUT he was a leper
Israelite maid tells of prophet in Israelverses 2-3
And the Syrians had gone out by companies
and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel
a little maid and she waited on Naaman’s wife
and she said to her mistress
Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria?
for he would recover him of his leprosy
King of Syria sends letter to Israelverses 4-6
And one went in – and told his lord
saying
Thus and thus
said the maid that is of the land of Israel
And the king of Syria
said
Go to – go – and I will send a letter
to the king of Israel
And he departed – and took with him
ten talents of silver – six thousand pieces of gold
ten changes of raiment
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel
saying
Now when this letter is come to you
BEHOLD
I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to you
that you may recover him of his leprosy
King of Israel concerned over letterverse 7
And it came to pass – when the king of Israel had read the letter
that he rent his clothes
and said
Am I God – to kill and to make alive
that this man does sent unto me to recover a man of
his leprosy?
Wherefore consider – I pray you
and see how he seeks a quarrel against me
Elisha hears of letter concerningverse 8
And it was so – when Elisha the man of God
had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes
that he sent to the king
saying
Wherefore has you rent your clothes?
let him come now to me
and he shall know that
there is a prophet in Israel
Elisha tells Naaman to wash in the Jordanverses 9-10
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot
and stood at the door of the house of Elisha
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him
saying
Go and wash in Jordan seven times
and your flesh shall come again to you
and you shall be clean
Naaman angry over Elisha’s instructionsverses 11-12
BUT Naaman was wroth – and went away
and said
BEHOLD – I thought – He will surely come out to me
and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God
and strike his hand over the place
and recover the leper
Are not Abana and Pharpar – rivers in Damascus
better than all the waters of Israel?
May I not wash in them and be clean?
so he turned and went away in a rage
Naaman’s men tell him to try it and he is healedverses 13-14
And his servants came near – and spoke unto him
and said
My father – IF the prophet had bid you do some great thing
would you not have done it?
How much rather then – when he said to you
Wash – and be clean?
Then went he down – and dipped himself seven times in Jordan
according to the saying of the man of God
and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of
a little child – and he was clean
Naaman praised God and offers a giftverse 15
And he returned to the man of God – he and his company
and came and stood before him
and he said
BEHOLD – now I know that there is no God in all the earth
BUT in Israel – now therefore – I pray you
take a blessing of your servant
Elisha refuses the giftverse 16
BUT he said
As the LORD lives – before WHOM I stand
I will receive none
And he urged him to take it – BUT he refused
Naaman takes soil from Israel and worships the LORDverses 17-19
And Naaman
said
Shall there not then – I pray you
be given to your servant two mules’ burden of earth?
for your servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering
nor sacrifice to other gods
BUT to the LORD
In this thing the LORD pardon your servant
that when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to
worship there and he lean on my hand
And I bow myself in the house of Rimmon
when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon
the LORD pardon your servant in this thing
And he said
Go in peace
So he departed from him a little way
Gehazi wants giftverses 20-21
But Gehazi – the servant of Elisha the man of God
said
BEHOLD – my master has spared Naaman this Syrian
in not receiving at his hands that which he brought
BUT – as the LORD lives – I will run after him
and take somewhat of him
So Gehazi followed after Naaman
and when Naaman saw him running after him
he lighted down from the chariot to meet him
and said
Is all well?
Gehazi lies to Naamanverse 22
And he said
All is well – My master has sent me
saying
BEHOLD – even now there be come to me from
mount Ephraim two young men
of the sons of the prophets
give them – I pray you
a talent of silver
and two changes of garment
Naaman gives Gehazi giftverses 23-24
And Naaman said
Be content – take two talents and he urged him
and bound two talents of silver in two bags
with two changes of garments
and laid them upon two of his servants
and they bare them before him
And when he came to the tower – he took them from their hand
and bestowed them in the house – and he let the men go
and they departed
Elisha confronts Gehazi and gives him leprosyverses 25-27
BUT he went in – and stood before his master
And Elisha said to him
Whence come you Gehazi?
And he said
Your servant went no whither
And he
said to him
Went not mine heart with you
when the man turned again
from his chariot to meet you?
Is it a time to receive – money – garments – oliveyards
vineyards – sheep – oxen – menservants – maidservants?
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave to you
and to your seed for ever
And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper. (8668 “deliverance” [tashuw‘ah] means help, victory, preserving from harm and unpleasantness, or rescue)
DEVOTION: This is a unique verse. Here we have a captain in the army of Syria that is an honorable man. He knew about the LORD but was not a follower of the LORD. Yet this verse says that the LORD gave him victories in his battles.
He was a man that was a leper who had a Jewish maid that was working for his wife. She told her mistress that if her husband would go to Israel, he would find a prophet who would heal him of his incurable disease.
This showed the belief of this maid. She still believed in the LORD and counted HIM able to heal even a leper. Her faith was genuine. So her mistress listened to her and told her husband.
This gave him hope. He acted on the statement of the maid. He went to the received permission to go to Israel for the healing. The king even gave him payment for the healing.
How is our faith when it comes to acknowledging the healing ability of the LORD? I believe that the LORD uses doctors but HE also has the ability to heal any disease that we can have in this world as long as it brings HIM glory.
I have stated before that God’s promise for healing mainly deals with sin in our life. HE sent HIS Son Jesus to die on the cross for our salvation from sin. We need to realize that some sickness does bring glory to the LORD even when there is not the healing we want or expect.
We have been praying for some individuals who are presently in wheelchairs that the LORD would heal them if it is HIS will. This might not be HIS will but that doesn’t show any doubt in HIS ability to heal. There have been individuals who have used their disability to bring much glory to the LORD with a proper attitude toward HIM regarding healing.
Never stop going to the LORD if you have a sickness or disease but be willing to allow HIM to use it for HIS glory whether HE heals or not.
This occasion was one where the individual was healed and the LORD received the glory in his life. He became a true worshiper of the LORD.
God had a testimony in a heathen land with the healing of Naaman. Others might have become followers of Jehovah because of his testimony.
CHALLENGE: Praise HIM for his actions but don’t question HIS ability to heal even today.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 But Naaman was worth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. (5130 “strike” [nuwph] means to quiver, vibrate up and down, rock to and fro, sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, shake, or wave)
DEVOTION: The Bible states that at times a little child shall lead people to the LORD. Here we find a young maid told her mistress that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal her husband of his leprosy. She believed that God could do such a miracle.
The king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel concerning this matter. The king of Israel didn’t seem to believe that God was able to heal leprosy. However, Elisha heard of the letter and the visit and told the king to send Naaman to him.
Once Naaman arrived at Elisha’s door, what did Elisha do? He sent his servant to tell Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. He didn’t even come out to meet Naaman.
Naaman was mad. He wanted to be healed in the manner in which he thought he should be healed. The servants had to convince him to wash in the Jordan. They told him that if the prophet had asked for some brave act, he would have done it. They said just try it. He washed and was healed.
All people have their thoughts regarding how the LORD heals. Some think HE should do it one way and others think another. The Bible gives us instructions regarding healing. We know that God can heal all people. We know that God does not heal all people. HE has his reasons.
Here is a non-Israelite coming to Israel to see the power of God. Naaman believed that Elisha should have come to him and done something special. He thought he should have said something special. He thought he should have done something special. He didn’t like the fact that he didn’t even show up. When God heals, HE doesn’t have to make a special visit to the person. HE can heal from where HE is in heaven.
Sometimes we believe like Naaman. We look for some great miracle to occur around us, yet God sometimes works through different means. HE used washing in a dirty river to heal Naaman. What are we willing to do if God tells us do something for healing? Remember the most important healing is from sin. Christ came to heal us from sin. Have we been healed from our sin by the blood of Jesus Christ yet? We have to believe that HIS power is still available today. HE is the GREAT PHYSICIAN.
CHALLENGE: Stop looking for the spectacular and settle for the routine in our life. Naaman wanted the spectacular. God uses whatever means to accomplish HIS purposes. Watch out for false healers which are false teachers following a false god!!
: 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore , I pray you, take a blessing of your servant. (3045 “know” [yada] means notice, hear of, learn, to realize, to believe to be the case, to perceive, observe, or to find out and discern)
DEVOTION: Elisha wanted the LORD to receive all the glory for the healing of Naaman. When he was offered money, he refused. It is a far cry from what is happening today in many circles where individuals are expecting money to heal those who are sick.
The testimony of Naaman was great. It came to the believer that there is NO OTHER GOD in the world except Jehovah. This was a great testimony because he came from a heathen nation that required people to worship a false god.
He would go back to his country and have to go to the false temple of Rimmon with the king of Syria. He asked the LORD to forgive him ahead of time for this action because it was expected of him by the king.
We are told to honor the king or president in the country in which we live. This does not mean that we have to worship the same god of the king or president. We have a choice where we can pray for our leader even when we know he is worshiping the wrong god. Our prayer should be for the salvation of such a leader.
I can see Naaman giving a testimony to the king of Syria and the king respecting his testimony because of his faithful service to him and his knowledge that Naaman is an honorable man.
If we are honorable in our dealings with people they will listen to our testimony and consider following Jesus Christ even today. Those in our world are looking for consistent individuals who don’t claim to be perfect but are consistent in their life regarding their testimony.
There are individuals who will look for as many faults in believers just so they can say they are inconsistent in their actions and reject Jesus Christ. Those individuals will be right in their thoughts that all Christians are sinners but will still have to stand before the LORD at the Great White Throne Judgment and realize that they have rejected Jesus Christ and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
CHALLENGE: The LORD will show them where they have rejected the witness of that believer.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 18 In this thing the LORD pardon your servant, that when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this thing. (5545 “pardon” [calach] means to be indulgent towards, forgive, to stop blaming or taking an offense into account, practice forbearance, or remove guilt associated with a moral sin or wrongdoing associated with ritual or vows.)
DEVOTION: The general now knew that there was no real God but Jehovah. He had seen HIS power. He had understood what he had to do from that point on. He had to worship only the God of Israel. This was his new conviction.
However, he was still a general in the army of the king of Aram and part of his responsibilities to this king was that he had to go into a temple of a false god with his king and worship the false god as he had done before even if his heart was not in it. He knew he would be killed if he didn’t obey his king.
He wanted the LORD to forgive him for this sin beforehand. He asked to have this before he even went back home. He knew the difference between a false god and the one true God from that point on.
We need to realize that we are to worship only the one true God today. We don’t live in a country that wants us to worship a false god but there are those who live in countries that worship a false god or no god at all. The government sends out orders that no other god or person can be worshiped except the leader of the nation or the god of the nation.
Nations have their preferred religion and some of them worship false gods and have rules that if someone doesn’t worship the false god they are to be killed. Many individuals in these nations have been killed for their belief in Jesus.
We need to be praying for anyone who lives in such nations that the LORD will give them the strength to worship the only true God. Most of the time they have to do it in secret.
It might come to the point that even in America we might be told not to worship the one true God of the Bible. Colleges and Universities are now taking crosses off their chapels. Teachers are telling students in their classes that Christianity is a false religion and to worship HIM is silly and make fun of anyone who does.
Standing up for Christ in the future will be more and more difficult in all nations if we read what is supposed to happen in the end times. It seems that they are coming quicker than we would like.
Our times is going to affect our grandchildren and their children more and more. We have to give them a good example now if they are to keep the faith that is taught in the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Are you training your children and grandchildren by example that Christ is number one in your life? Do you have to take a stand at times with your friends and at work regarding what you believe the Bible teaches? Are you doing it?
: 22 And he said, All is well, My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from Mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray you, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. (7971 “sent” [shalach] means dispatch, to cause to go somewhere, or direct.)
DEVOTION: Greed is a terrible thing in the life of a believer. The definition of “enough” by many people is “a little bit more.” Even believers can be caught in the rat race of life thinking that the one with the most toys at death “wins.” That is wrong thinking.
Elisha was more concerned with the testimony of Naaman then in any material wealth he could give him. He knew that if he took any money from him that the testimony of the LORD would be hindered.
He refused but Gehazi lied to receive money from him. Here is a servant that faithfully served Elisha and the LORD was overwhelmed with the need for wealth instead of listening to the teachings of Elisha.
He received the possessions he wanted but received immediate judgment from the LORD for his actions. He became the leper who had to live with the disease for the rest of his life and his family was going to inherit his disease as well. He brought judgment on not only himself but those around him.
When money or possession are more important to us than our witness for the LORD, we are walking down the wrong path and judgment might be around the corner if we don’t repent.
He lied to Naaman and to Elisha to receive the possessions he coveted. Remember to covet is breaking one of the Ten Commandments. We need to be satisfied with what the LORD gives us and praise HIM for what possessions we have while living on this earth.
CHALLENGE: We can be looking for the real treasures that are found in heaven waiting for us when we see Jesus.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 1, 11, 16-18, 20
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 3, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15
LORD his Godverse 11
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Naamanverses 1-9, 11-23
Captain of the host of the king of Syria
Great man
Mighty man of valor
Honorable
Given deliverance by the LORD
Leper
Letter from the king to king of Israel
Went to house of Elisha
Mad that he was told to wash in Jordan
Thought rivers of Damascus cleaner
Abana and Pharpar
Washed in Jordan
Promised to not offer gifts and sacrifices
to other gods only to LORD
King of Syrian sends letter to king of Israelverse 5
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Quarrelverse 7
Wrathverse 11
Rageverse 12
Offer sacrifice to other godsverses 17, 18
Worship in the temple of false godverse 18
House of Rimmon
Lieverses 22, 25
Greedverse 26
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prophet – Elishaverses 3, 8-10
Man of Godverse 14
Miracleverse 14
No God in the earth but in Israelverse 15
Ask for pardonverse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Land of Israelverse 2
Little Jewish maid in captivityverses 2-4
Waited on Naaman’s wife
Prophet in Samariaverse 3
King of Israel verses 5-7
Ten talents of silver
Six thousand pieces of gold
Ten changes of raiment
Thought king of Syria wanted a quarrel
Elisha – man of God verses 8-20, 25-27
Prophet in Israel
Told Naaman to wash in Jordan
Refused gift from Naaman
Confronted Gehazi for taking gifts from Naaman
Told Naaman that he and his family would have disease of leprosy
Gehaziverses 20-27
Servant of Elisha
Followed after Naaman
Wanted two talents of silver and two changes of garments
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
27 Accordingly Elisha announced Gehazi’s punishment: Naaman’s leprosy would become Gehazi’s. Elisha’s privileged aide was banished in disgrace, for he had misused his favored position in an attempt to acquire wealth to himself. Gehazi needed to learn that the ministry has no place for those who would make merchandise of it. The moral and spiritual flaws in his character that one senses in the previous record have surfaced. His basic spiritual insensitivity had betrayed him in the time of testing so that rather than his character being resumed his work was refused (cf. 1 Peter 1:6–7). (Patterson, R. D., & Austel, H. J. (1988). 1, 2 Kings. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, p. 190). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
5:25–27. Shortly thereafter Gehazi returned to Elisha. He did not realize that God had revealed his whereabouts to his master. So to cover one lie he told another. Elisha then explained that he was aware of everything Gehazi had done. Elisha added that true servants of the Lord should not take personal rewards from people, especially influential non-Israelites, in return for blessings that God, not His servant, had given them. False prophets were selfishly lining their own pockets and bringing contempt on the prophetic office; true prophets should avoid conduct that might be misunderstood as self-seeking.
Naaman’s leprosy had been removed from him for his trust in and obedience to God. Now, ironically, leprosy would cling to Gehazi for his lack of trust in and obedience to God. The servant had brought dishonor to Yahweh’s name. A bad case of leprosy turned one’s skin and hair white as snow. Gehazi’s judgment was serious because his sin had far-reaching consequences; this story was probably told all over Aram and Israel. As a servant of God Gehazi had more privilege than most people and therefore more responsibility than most people.
This story contains many lessons. Naaman’s healing was another great proof of the Lord’s power to restore health, power which only Baal supposedly possessed. This incident also helped spread the fame of Yahweh to another part of the ancient world. The contrasting behaviors of Elisha and Gehazi also model positive and negative attitudes and actions for God’s servants of all ages. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 2 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 548–549). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
He lied to Elisha (vv. 25–27). Acting very innocent, Gehazi went and stood before his master, awaiting orders; but he found himself on trial! Gehazi had forgotten that “all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13, nkjv). God knew what Gehazi had done and He communicated it to His servant. The scene reminds us of how Joshua interrogated Achan (Josh. 7) and Peter interrogated Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), all of whom had coveted wealth and lied about it.
Elisha not only saw what his servant had done, but he saw into his servant’s heart and knew why he did it. Gehazi longed to be a wealthy man with land, flocks and herds, expensive clothing, and servants to obey his orders. He wasn’t content to labor by the side of Elisha the prophet; he wanted to have security and comfort. There’s certainly nothing wrong with being wealthy, if that’s God’s will for your life, for Abraham and Isaac were wealthy and so was David. But it is wrong to get that wealth through deceit and to make that wealth your god. Gehazi used the ministry God gave him as a means of deceiving Naaman, and that is contrary to God’s will (1 Thes. 2:1–6; 2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2).
God judged Gehazi by giving him leprosy and promising that at least one of his descendants in each generation would be a leper. The covetousness that ate away at his heart became leprosy eating away at his body. Gehazi had hoped to leave great wealth to his descendants, but instead, he left great shame and sorrow for years to come. In Israel, lepers were considered unclean and weren’t allowed to be in the community and live normal lives. Gehazi could no longer be Elisha’s servant; he had lost his ministry. “Not greedy for money” is one of the qualifications for God’s servants (1 Tim. 3:3). One of the marks of the last days is that people will love money more than they love God or other people (2 Tim. 3:1–5). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be distinct (pp. 43–44). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)
5:27 leprosy … shall cling to you. Gehazi’s greed had cast a shadow over the integrity of Elisha’s prophetic office. This made him no better in the people’s thinking than Israel’s false prophets, who prophesied for material gain, the very thing he wanted to avoid (vv. 15, 16). Gehazi’s act betrayed a lack of faith in the Lord’s ability to provide. As a result, Elisha condemned Gehazi and his descendants to suffer Naaman’s skin disease forever. The punishment was a twist for Gehazi, who had gone to “take something” from Naaman (v. 20), but what he received was Naaman’s disease. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Ki 5:27). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 27. The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever, &c.] As long as any of his race remained; as through his covetousness he had his money, so for his punishment he should have his disease: and he went out from his presence; as one ashamed and confounded, and discharged from his master’s service: a leper as white as snow; a leprosy of which colour is the worst, and is incurable. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 789). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
25–27. It should seem from what Elisha said to Gehazi, concerning oliveyards, and vineyards, and the like, that the prophet not only knew by divine teaching the sin of Gehazi, but the design he had in seeking Naaman’s wealth. He was probably planning a scheme to dispose of the money, in the purchase of those things for himself and family. Observe, if so, what an awful purchase he had made, instead of the one he intended. He and his seed shall be marked with a loathsome disease and with infamy for ever. Oh! ye unhappy, deluded, and wretchedly mistaken parents! do ye not, when determining to be rich, pierce yourselves through with many sorrows. Oh! Sirs! what of real happiness do you entail upon your offspring, though you entail upon them the largest estates! And if for the purchase of this world’s treasure for your children, you sacrifice your own everlasting good; think in a dying hour, with what reflections in yourself, or what real thankfulness and affection from them, your mind will be comforted. Oh! for that solemn sentence of our adorable Lord, to be written on the walls of every worldly man’s house, and sounded in his ears every day; What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt. 16:26. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: 1 Kings–Esther (Vol. 3, pp. 187–188). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Jesus prays that the Father will make His disciples fruitful and give them future glory.
INSIGHT
The mark of a Christian should be love. In Matthew 22, we read that the two greatest commandments are love for God and love for our neighbor. In John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” In John 17:21, Jesus says if Christians have unity (based on love), the world will believe that Christ was sent from God. When our badge is love, the world is convinced that we are genuine disciples of Jesus, rather than hypocrisy. (Quiet Walk)
DR. DAVID TURNER writes: It’s easy to be thankful when things are going well, like when we ace the exam, when we get the raise, when we’re healthy and our life is flourishing. It’s not so easy to give thanks when we fail the exam, when we get fired, or when tragedy strikes. I have yet to see an athlete point their index fingers to the sky to give thanks after striking out or getting sacked, and I’m not holding my breath. If I saw an athlete do that, I would be really surprised. Talk about severe cognitive dissonance…Paul spoke twice about thanksgiving in a way that surprises and amazes me. In Ephesians, as he describes life full of the Spirit, he says we should always give thanks for all things (Ephesians 5:20). He was in jail when he said that, apparently after narrowly escaping a murder plot, corrupt governors, and near-death in a shipwreck. Paul also told the Thessalonians that they should give thanks in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and he wrote that after reminding them of the suffering they experienced with him when he first told them about Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14; 3:4; Acts 17:1-9). And Paul didn’t just tell others to give thanks during trying times—he actually did it himself, like when he and Barnabas prayed and sang praises to God at midnight after they had been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:25).Paul isn’t alone either in this surprising approach to suffering and thanksgiving. It turns out that other people in the Bible shared Paul’s counterintuitive conviction that we should thank God all the time, even during the worst of times.
- Joseph saw the hand of God behind his betrayal by his brothers (Genesis 45:5, 7-8; 50:20).
- Job praised God after losing everything (Job 1:21).
- Daniel thanked God, as was his custom, even when he knew it would get him thrown into the lions’ den (Daniel 6:10).
- Once Habakkuk came to realize that it was God’s prerogative to use the Babylonians to judge Israel, he promised to rejoice in God’s strength and deliverance during the coming days of hunger and misery (Habakkuk 3:16-19)
- Jesus taught his disciples to rejoice because their names were written in heaven, not because their ministry was successful (Luke 10:20). He thanked God for the bread and the cup knowing full well that the crucifixion loomed and that it was his last meal on this earth (Matthew 26:26-29).
These biblical texts teach and model a lifestyle of thanksgiving in every conceivable circumstance, but they do not directly tell us why we should always be thankful. The closest thing I can find to an explanation for the outrageously counterintuitive notion of constant thanksgiving is this: God is good, and he is faithful to his people. Psalm 136 alone reminds us of this 26 times.[1] As you experience the Thanksgiving holiday and transition toward Advent, set aside a few minutes to soak in the scriptures above. Read and reflect on how Paul and others embraced thanksgiving in the midst of pain. Why did they do that? How could they do that? What choices did they make, and what reassured them? My takeaway is that if we really grasp thanksgiving, we won’t give thanks to God just because we like what recently happened to us but because whatever happens God is good and faithful forever. Our attitude of gratitude won’t depend as much on how we value the goods and services we receive from God as much as on how we value God himself, his goodness, and his loyalty to us in Christ. We won’t thank God because he has given us stuff but because he has given us himself. Then we’ll be able to thank God when it’s hard. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Indeed, His faithful love endures forever. [1] For an interesting Bible study, take a look at how this idea unfolds in Israel’s worship from the days of David and Solomon to the days of Jeremiah’s vision of a restored Israel. The expression “he is good, and his faithful love endures forever” is found in 1 Chronicles 16:34; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1; Jeremiah 33:11. The shorter “his faithful love endures forever” occurs in 1 Chronicles 16:41; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 20:21; Psalm 118:2-4; 136:2-26.
THE CROSS OPENS THE GATE OF HEAVEN
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus…
Hebrews 10:19
Prayer means speaking to God who is in heaven, who is all-powerful to bless. How can you do that? There is only one way. Read again as the author to the epistle to the Hebrews puts it in his own incomparable manner: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
That is the problem. What do I do when I need help? What do I do when I am failing, when I am in an agony, in a crisis? I want grace to help in time of need. How can I get it? What right have I to speak to God? And there is only one answer. My only right to speak to God is that Christ has borne my punishment and has reconciled me to God and has made me at peace with God. Or, as it is put in Hebrews 10:19-22, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” He opens the gate of heaven and enables me to pray.
A Thought to Ponder: Prayer means speaking to God who is in heaven, who is all-powerful to bless. (From The Cross, pp. 192-193, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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