GENERAL HOSPITAL

1. GENERALHOSPITAL 2 Ki 5:1-14

2. Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) is not nearly as contagious as once thought.

3. Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) is not nearly as contagious as once thought. • 95% of the world’s population is immune from the bacteria.

4. Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) is not nearly as contagious as once thought. • 95% of the world’s population is immune from the bacteria. • There was likely little benefit from the leper colonies in Hawaii & elsewhere.

5. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses.

6. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. • God gave the priests specific instructions on diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13).

7. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. • God gave the priests specific instructions on diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated.

8. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. • God gave the priests specific instructions on diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated. • What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC.

9. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. • God gave the priests specific instructions on diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated. • What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC. • Archeological evidence suggests it wasn’t in Palestine until about AD 500.

10. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. • God gave the priests specific instructions on diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated. • What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC. • Archeological evidence suggests it wasn’t in Palestine until about AD 500. • The Hebrew actually means “infectious skin disease” (cf. NIV).

11. But, that wasn’t the case in the days of Moses. • God gave the priests specific instructions on diagnosing leprosy (Lev 13). Those infected with the disease were to be isolated. • What we call leprosy has only been around since about 600 BC. • Archeological evidence suggests it wasn’t in Palestine until about AD 500. • The Hebrew actually means “infectious skin disease” (cf. NIV). • There are a variety of skin diseases—besides what we call leprosy—that are contagious, disfiguring, & deadly.

12. Tonight’s text is about a man who suffered from such a disease—Naaman the leper.

13. Tonight’s text is about a man who suffered from such a disease—Naaman the leper. • Naaman’s health is so poor that he needs a GENERAL HOSPITAL—i.e., a hospital that specializes in military generals.

14. 2 KINGS 5:1-14

15. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria.

16. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman.

17. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods.

18. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods. • But, here victory is ascribed to God.

19. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods. • But, here victory is ascribed to God. • Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s servant girl was from Israel.

20. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods. • But, here victory is ascribed to God. • Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s servant girl was from Israel. • Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to GENERAL HOSPITAL.

21. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods. • But, here victory is ascribed to God. • Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s servant girl was from Israel. • Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to GENERAL HOSPITAL. • It’s difficult to preach this text without alluding to baptism.

22. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods. • But, here victory is ascribed to God. • Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s servant girl was from Israel. • Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to GENERAL HOSPITAL. • It’s difficult to preach this text without alluding to baptism. • However, I’ve purposefully stayed away from such allusions tonight.

23. Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Syria. • Naaman was great in the eyes of the Syrian king, for God had given Syria victory through Naaman. • Pagans often ascribed military victory to their gods. • But, here victory is ascribed to God. • Naaman had victory over Israel, for his wife’s servant girl was from Israel. • Tonight’s text is about Naaman’s getting to GENERAL HOSPITAL. • It’s difficult to preach this text without alluding to baptism. • However, I’ve purposefully stayed away from such allusions tonight. Tonight, we know the truth about baptism.

24. We want to examine the process Naaman took to get to GENERAL HOSPITAL.

25. We want to examine the process Naaman took to get to GENERAL HOSPITAL. • That process?

26. HELP • HOSTILITY • HEALING

27. HELP Vv 2-5

28. “Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, ‘Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ So Naaman went in and told his lord, ‘Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.’ And the king of Syria said, ‘Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel’” (vv 2-5, ESV).

29. If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed.

30. If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed. • How many people in the world do not know that Jesus can heal their souls?

31. If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed. • How many people in the world do not know that Jesus can heal their souls? • 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola, 72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola, & 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola.

32. If this little girl had not told Naaman’s wife about Elisha, Naaman would likely have never been healed. • How many people in the world do not know that Jesus can heal their souls? • 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola, 72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola, & 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola. • But, how many of the world know of Jesus Christ?

33. We so desperately need to be like that little girl!

34. We so desperately need to be like that little girl! • “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV).

35. We so desperately need to be like that little girl! • “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV). • If Coca-Cola can make disciples throughout the world, why can’t we?

36. We so desperately need to be like that little girl! • “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV). • If Coca-Cola can make disciples throughout the world, why can’t we? • The early church did so: “Those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4, ESV).

37. I am utterly amazed by this servant girl!

38. I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! • She’s been captured on a raid in Israel & taken back to Syria.

39. I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! • She’s been captured on a raid in Israel & taken back to Syria. • If we were captives, how willing would we be to help our captors?

40. I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! • She’s been captured on a raid in Israel & taken back to Syria. • If we were captives, how willing would we be to help our captors? • This little girl holds no grudges & tells her master where he can be healed.

41. I am utterly amazed by this servant girl! • She’s been captured on a raid in Israel & taken back to Syria. • If we were captives, how willing would we be to help our captors? • This little girl holds no grudges & tells her master where he can be healed. • Centuries before Jesus, she puts some of the Lord’s most difficult teaching into practice.

42. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Mt 5:38-40, ESV).

43. Mt 5:38-40. • “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:43-48, ESV).

44. HOSTILITY Vv 9-12

45. “So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.’ But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage” (vv 9-12, ESV).

46. Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house.

47. Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. • Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored.

48. Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. • Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored. • Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said.

49. Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. • Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored. • Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said. • He wanted Elisha to perform some great feat.

50. Naaman goes & stands at the entrance of Elisha’s house. • Elisha sends a servant to tell Naaman to dip in the Jordan 7 times & his flesh will be restored. • Naaman had great HOSTILITY toward what Elisha had said. • He wanted Elisha to perform some great feat. • He also doesn’t understand why he can’t wash in the rivers of Syria.