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2 Kings Chapter 7 (ESV)

3 Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” 5 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. 6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” 7 So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.

9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” 10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” 11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king’s household.

 

REFLECTION:

1. If time permits, please read the whole chapter to learn how God saved the whole city through Elisha.
2. The four lepers, outcasts of their own society and deserters to their enemy (v4), discovered that the Arameans have fled their camp, leaving all their supplies: food, livestock, and even treasures. After having satisfied their own needs, they decided that the good news, that impending death has given way to the prospect of life, is too good to be kept from dying men and women.  They made the right choice to spread the good news so entire city were saved and relieved of the dire situation.
3. As a follower of Christ, I am like the leper who was unclean and unworthy. Yet, God has given me the gift of salvation and His blessings in my life.  Now, as I take my first hesitant steps toward sharing my faith, God will already be at work in the hearts of those I approach.  The God who did the impossible and fed a starving city still does the impossible, turning hard hearts to Himself today.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to place in my heart someone “in the city” who desperately needs the good news of Jesus.  Pray for him/her.  Ask for wisdom, courage and opportunity to partner with God and to share with them my story of life with Jesus.

 

HYMN:

People Need the Lord – youtu.be/XdJZbp3Z7ks