Naaman is Healed

Introduction

I. 	Naaman was captain of the host or army of Ben-hadad                   (I Kings. 20:1), king of Syria.  II Kings 5:1. 
         A.  He was a great man and was responsible for the victories of	            
	   Syria.
         B.  Even though he was a great man, Naaman was a leper.
II. 	Naaman was in need of healing.
 	
Body

I. 	A servant girl sets events in motion by which Naaman could be healed.  II Kings 5:2-7.
A. 	The servant was a maiden out of Israel who had been among captives taken by Syria.  5:2.
1. 	Even though she was a slave in a foreign land, she had a    
good attitude toward her master, Naaman.  5:3; (Matt. 5:44-48; Rom. 12:19-13:7).
2. 	The maiden knew of the work of Elisha (II Kings 4) the prophet, in Samaria, and was convinced he could heal Naaman.  5:3.
B. 	When Naaman learns of this, he apparently told Ben-hadad, king of Syria, who went about it the wrong way.  5:4-7.
1. 	The king wanted to keep this on the top level of authority so he sent Naaman to the king of Israel with a great gift.  5:5.
2. 	Jehoram, the king of Israel was evil, and had it not been for his alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, Elisha would have nothing to do with him.  II Kings 3:1-14.
3. 	He had his own problems already and this letter from the king of Syria was a further threat.  5:6-7.
	
II. 	Elisha hears of King Jehoram’s reaction and arranges to heal Naaman. II Kings 5:8-14.
A. 	Elisha had his messenger ask Jehoram why he had torn his clothes and told him to send Naaman to him and “he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”  5:8.
1. 	It was the prophet and not the king who could heal.  5:3.
B. 	Naaman went to Elisha’s house with great pomp.  5:9.
C. 	Even though Elisha was well aware of Naaman’s “position,” he didn’t even go outside to see him, but sent word for him to go and wash in the Jordan seven times.  5:10.
D. 	Naaman must have felt a personal “affront” and was wroth because of this treatment.  5:11-12.   	
1. 	Naaman had his own judgment as to what the prophet should do to heal him.  5:11.
2. 	And if washing is necessary, the rivers of Damascus would be much better than the Jordan, according to his judgment.  5:12a.
3. 	He thus leaves in a rage.  5:12b.
E. 	One of Naaman’s servants seems to have calmed Naaman and suggests that he would do some great thing to be healed, so why not do that which was simple.  5:13.
F. 	Naaman responds, dips seven times in the Jordan and has his leprosy healed.  5:14.

III. 	Elisha refuses a reward for the healing of Naaman.  II Kings    
        5:15-19.
A. 	Naaman believed in the God of Israel and asked Elisha to take a present.  5:15.
B. 	Elisha refused, even upon the urging of Naaman.  5:16.
C. 	Naaman then asked for some dirt from Israel to be taken back to Syria to enable him to sacrifice to Jehovah and asked for pardon when he would have to go with his king into the idol’s house of Rimmon.  5:17-18.
D. 	Naaman is dismissed in peace.  5:19.
 
IV. 	Gehazi was covetous, lied in asking for a gift and became ill with
        Naaman’s leprosy.  II Kings 5:20-27.
A. 	He did not think the Syrian should be spared giving the things which he had brought so he went after him.  5:20-21.
B. 	He lied to Naaman.  5:22.
C. 	Naaman gives Gehazi more than he had asked.  5:23-24.
D. 	Gehazi comes before Elisha, lies again, is admonished and
	  told that the leprosy of Naaman would be on him.  5:25-27.

Conclusion
I. 	Salvation, like Naaman’s cleansing of leprosy, cannot be bought. Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6:23.
II. 	 We, like Naaman, must meet God’s requirements for His   
         blessings since there are no substitutes.  Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16;   	   Rom. 6:3-5, 17-18; I Pet. 3:21; Rev. 2:10.
III. 	Anger at the requirements of God will not change them.
IV. 	Covetousness is always wrong.  Col. 3:5; I Tim. 6:9-10.

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   July 23, 1996