Naaman and Psalm 24

More years ago than I care to remember, I had a neighbour who knew everything that was happening in the street. It’s not that she was told everything that was happening. No, she made it her business to move her venetian blinds a fraction whenever she heard the merest sound outside and to surreptitiously peer out and see for herself so she could report on what she had seen.

Which makes it surprising to me that Elisha, living in sparsely populated Jericho, didn’t go outside when the “great man”, Naaman from Syria, came to visit him with all his attendant horses and chariots.

Let’s backtrack this story to understand what was happening here.

Naaman was a well-renowned and very successful captain of the army of Syria. He had a problem, though – he was covered in unsightly, white leprous sores. A captured young female from Israel was a servant to his wife and she suggested that if Naaman were to visit the prophet Elisha in Israel, he would be healed.

Fast forward the account in 2 Kings 5, and Naaman, laden with expensive gifts, paid Elisha a visit. Elisha already knew that Naaman was coming yet he sent a servant to greet Naaman to give him the message to wash 7 times in the Jordan River and he would to be healed.

Naaman was indignant that Elisha didn’t acknowledge him personally and further he was offended that he was told to wash in a muddy excuse for a river and so he angrily refused. His servants pressed him and finally Naaman capitulated and did as he was instructed. His leprosy disappeared and Naaman acknowledged the God of Israel as the God of all the earth.

So what was going on in Naaman that he hesitated to wash in the Jordan River?

I believe Psalm 24 (NLT) hold the key to Naaman’s misguided mindset.

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.² For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.

³ Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?⁴ Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.⁵ They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

⁶ Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. Interlude

Naaman was an idolater who did not acknowledge that there even was a God over all the earth. He couldn’t receive the blessing of healing until he was in a right relationship with God, his Saviour. For that to happen, he had to overcome his own pride.

⁷ Open up, ancient gates!  Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.⁸ Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle.⁹ Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.¹⁰ Who is the King of glory?  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.  Interlude

I can hear Naaman in this refrain – “Who is the King of glory?” He scoffed at God for being told to do a humble, self-deprecating deed in order to be healed.

Naaman, the mighty captain of an earthly army, in his acquiescence to the command of God, had to finally acknowledge that the King of glory was “strong and mighty”, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies”, “invincible in battle”. In his humble submission the ancient doors of Naaman’s heart were opened and Naaman boldly proclaimed, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel."

So going back to our opening question about what was going on in Naaman’s heart we can conclude that pride was holding him back from having a relationship with the King of glory.

When Jesus comes to visit us and knocks softly at the doors of our heart, will we open that door?

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20 NLT)

Will you submit to a Saviour who took on all the filth and mud of this sinful world so that you can be cleansed spiritually and physically?

#kristinatrott #christian #christianblogger @kristina_trott #Naaman #leprosy #Psalm24 #kingofglory #whoisthekingofglory #Saviour #JordanRiver #Revelation3verse20