2 Kings 7:3-8 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?… I. THE LEPERS SOUGHT DELIVERANCE FROM DEATH. "Why sit we here until we die?" (vers. 3, 4). 1. They sought deliverance under very solemn feelings. They were perishing of hunger, and so were their friends whom they might never see again. Unless the Syrian granted immediate relief, they would die. The hour was dark and solemn. Solemn too are the feelings of a sinner when fleeing from the city of destruction he cries, "Life, life, eternal life!" He looks at the law, and feels, "I have broken that"; he looks towards heaven, and feels, "I have forfeited that"; he looks towards hell, and feels, "I have deserved that." 2. They sought deliverance in the face of discouragements. They were the subjects of a disease the most repulsive. They had no promise of help. They knew that the Syrian was the avowed foe of Israel. What could have been more discouraging? Had they been sound in health, had they been going to a friend, or had they but one promise of relief, it would have been different. But notwithstanding all, they sought deliverance. Sinner, are your discouragements greater in relation to spiritual life than were those of the lepers in relation to temporal? What are your discouragements? Bring them forward. "I am defiled by sin"; but Jesus can cleanse you. "I am condemned by law"; but Jesus can justify you. "I am outside the fold"; but Jesus is the good Shepherd, and He is come to restore you. II. THE LEPERS FOUND DELIVERANCE FROM DEATH. "And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver and gold," etc. (ver. 8). 1. They found a more abundant deliverance than they expected. What did they seek? Deliverance from famine. What did they find? Deliverance from famine, nakedness, and poverty. And such a deliverance! How great the surprise of the lepers to find the treasures of an army in their custody! How changed their condition now! Famine was now fled; poverty fled; fear fled; obscurity fled. So with the sinner when he comes for salvation to Jesus; he always finds more than he expected; — more mercy, more peace, more blessedness, and more glory. Bartimeus comes for bodily eyesight; he obtains that, and spiritual sight too. A paralytic is let down through a roof with the hope of receiving power to walk the ways of earth; and not only is that granted, but power also to walk the ways of heaven. 2. These men found a deliverance more divine than they expected (ver. 6). Whether this noise was in the air or in the imagination I know not. Evidently it was God that wrought this wonderful deliverance. Little did the lepers expect a deliverance so divine. So when a sinner is delivered from spiritual death he sees more of God in salvation than even he expected. If a man denies the divinity of the Christian redemption he only proves that he is a stranger to it. 3. These men found deliverance more easily than they expected. They counted on commending themselves to the favour of the Syrian by earnest appeals. They thought that, do what they might, possibly they could not awaken his compassion; they might, after all, be put to death. How great their mistake! Nothing was more necessary but to arise, go forth, and partake of the abundance which kind Providence had provided. When a man trusts in Jesus, he feels astonished that he should ever have made a difficulty of believing. "How strange," he feels, "that I could so long have closed my eyes to the truth." "By grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." III. THE LEPERS ANNOUNCED DELIVERANCE FROM DEATH. They went and announced the "good tidings" to the king's household, and through that household to the city. 1. They announced deliverance under a sense of duty (ver. 9). They felt that silence would brand them with the charge of heartlessness and expose them to the lightnings of justice. If these men felt it their duty to announce deliverance to a perishing city, how much more should Christians feel this to be their duty as it respects a perishing world? 2. They announced deliverance without delay. Feeling, as they did, that solemnly on them was flung the duty of saving Samaria, and that to delay, even till the sun again reddened the forehead of the eastern sky, was to sacrifice life, they lost no time in heralding "the good tidings." Oh, ye that are at ease in Zion, is it enough that you have been blest with the Bread of Life? Does not Heaven solemnly call on you to announce without delay "the good tidings" to others? " If you tarry till the morning, some mischief will come upon you." (F. Fox Thomas.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? |
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