The Medicine We Are Too Proud to Take is a sermon teaching us that we should set aside our pride and in simple faith, always surrender our hearts to the Lord.
The true story of II Kings 5 took place almost 3,000 years ago when Israel was being oppressed by the Syrians. It holds truth to learn both then and now. Naaman was the commanding general of the entire Syrian army. He was held in high regard by his king and was a mighty man of courage, valor, and honor, but he was also a leper. He probably concealed it for a time. Leprosy at that time had no treatment and no cure. But God was going to do something great in the life of Naaman who knew of God but did not know God.
Leprosy is like a picture of sin, you may try to conceal it but only you and God know you have it. At least before it reveals itself so that others can see. A servant girl mentioned to his wife that the prophet in Samaria could help him. Word reaches the king of Syria who sends Naaman with a letter to the king of Israel asking to cure him. The king of Israel rent his clothes and interpreted the letter as a provocation of war since he could not cure the man.
Elisha, the man of God, heard about the incident and told the king of Israel that this is a spiritual matter and to send the man to him. Elisha said that the Syrians will know that the God of Israel is real. Naaman came to Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent his servant to tell Naaman to go wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be restored to good health.
God is telling Naaman to obey God’s Word, not to question it, just to do it. But Naaman was angry and left in a rage because Elisha didn’t even come out to face him, a man of high rank and importance. This was a simple matter of faith, believing what God wants him to do. Elisha was obeying God.
Naaman was too proud to follow the simple instruction. All God asks us to do is put our faith in Him and we will be cleansed of sin. But we want to do things our way, we want to decide our own destiny and be in control. We can try but to our own detriment. There are things beyond our control. Naaman was too proud to take the medicine Elisha gave him.
Naaman’s servants cared about him and convinced him to do as Elisha said, to wash and be clean. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from ALL sin. Naaman followed the instructions Elisha gave and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, and he was cleaned, washed, and renewed.
Naaman is grateful and is a changed man. He returned to Elisha and said there is no god in all the Earth except the God of Israel, the one true God. Naaman wanted to compensate Elisha but he did not accept. Naaman said he would only worship the Savior, Jehovah. Naaman would continue rituals with his king, but he would only worship Jehovah in his heart. The gift of God is eternal life, we cannot pay for it.
But Elisha’s servant ran after Naaman and lied, asking for compensation and received the gifts. Then the servant lied to Elisha as to where he was. Naaman was just saved, but the servant could only think about the gifts. The servant violated that which was sacred and made it secular, so he became cursed with the leprosy that was Naaman’s. We need to set aside our pride and in simple faith surrender our hearts to the Lord. The Christian life is one of continual surrender and obedience.
The Medicine We Are Too Proud to Take sermon starts with verses from II Kings 5:1-27:
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 in valour,Ā but he wasĀ a leper.
2 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.
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lordĀ wereĀ with the prophet thatĀ isĀ in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
4 AndĀ oneĀ went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid thatĀ isĀ of the land of Israel.
5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousandĀ piecesĀ of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I haveĀ therewithĀ sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said,Ā AmĀ I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
8 And it wasĀ 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 hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11 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.
12 AreĀ not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of 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.
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father,Ā ifĀ the prophet had bid theeĀ do someĀ great thing, wouldest thou not have doneĀ it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 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.
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 thatĀ there isĀ no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
16 But he said,Ā AsĀ the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to takeĀ it; but he refused.
17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant,Ā thatĀ when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth 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 thy servant in this thing.
19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but,Ā asĀ the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman sawĀ himĀ running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said,Ā IsĀ all well?
22 And he said, AllĀ isĀ well. My master hath 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 thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 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 laidĀ themĀ upon two of his servants; and they bareĀ themĀ before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he tookĀ themĀ from their hand, and bestowedĀ themĀ in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, WhenceĀ comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heartĀ with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee?Ā Is itĀ a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leperĀ as whiteĀ as snow.
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About the Speaker
Dr. Michael L. McClure
Senior Pastor
Dr. Michael L. McClure, our lead pastor, is known for his in-depth knowledge and effective teaching style of biblical truths applicable to everyday living.