2 Kings 7:9-11 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace… I. First, THE BLESSEDNESS OF GOSPEL TIMES. It is "a day of good tidings." Mark the goodness of the tidings which the Gospel brings. When these lepers drew year to the porter of the gate of Samaria, there was no doubt it was a gospel which they had to proclaim. Now, instead of famine, there should be abundance; instead of darkness, light; instead of terror, peace; instead of despair, hope. And is not this the very character of the tidings which your ministers bring to you from Sabbath to Sabbath — good tidings of great joy? If, then, Samaria was told that a mighty enemy had been affrighted, and that Samaria need no longer fear, so now I bring you the tidings that Satan, our great enemy, has had a fright. He has heard the approaching footsteps of One stronger than he, and now there is enough and to spare for all hungry and thirsty souls. Let me once more proclaim this Gospel to every one of you. I have good tidings for every soul in this assembly. Guilty spirit, listen! "The Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.'" Struggling spirit, listen! "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Bewildered spirit, listen! "All things work together for good to them that love God, and to them that are called according to His purpose." Tired, weary spirit, listen! "I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go I will come again, and receive you to Myself, that where I am ye may be also." These are the tidings I bring to you. Thus much for the goodness of these tidings; a word as to their newness. Why, even at this moment "They are a new tidings to a very large portion of the inhabitants of our world. II. THE EVIL OF SELFISHLY ENJOYING THESE GOSPEL TIMES. "We do not well," these lepers said to one another; we do not well; "this day is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace." "We do not well"; we show a wart of common benevolence if we simply receive the Gospel and make no effort to diffuse it. There is a close tie between man and man. Reason and Scripture both tell us of a bond of brotherhood which unites me to every other individual of my race. I ought to abound in sympathy, to rejoice with them that rejoice, and to weep with them that weep. The second commandment is not repealed by the Gospel, it is sanctioned, enforced, confirmed — "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Now just suppose that these lepers had revelled down there at the bottom of the hill among the luxuries of the Syrian camp and sent no tidings into Samaria. Suppose that by some accident one of the Samaritans heard that there were these men revelling, and that there was enough and to spare, and they had sent no tidings into the city: how the selfishness of these men would be cursed! What a howl of indignation would ring through all the streets and homes of Samaria! We do not well, for there is a want of loving obedience in this. We do not well, for we rob ourselves of the highest enjoyment of the Gospel. There is nothing, that appears clearer to those of us who have got into middle age, and are getting on to the end of life, than this. I never can be happy if I simply try to make myself happy. Selfishness always defeats itself. (F. Tucker, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. |
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