"All Cleaned Up And Ready To Glow"

(2 Kings 5:1-14)

Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

2 Kings 5:1-14

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. ²Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. ³She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." ⁴So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. ⁵And the king of Aram said, "Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel."

He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. ⁶He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy." ⁷When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me."

⁸But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." ⁹So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. ¹⁰Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." ¹¹But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! ¹²Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. ¹³But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?" ¹⁴So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

INTRODUCTION:

A recent Family Circus by Bil Keane showed Mom sitting in a chair, holding and hugging her two boys, Billy and P.J., while talking to Dad. She says: "Now that my cold is gone, I'm making up for lost hugs." (1)

In my opinion, hugs, natural part of life. Feels good to give a hug. And it feels even better to get one. We hug our children, our grandchildren, our spouses, our parents, our friends. We hug hello, we hug good-bye. We hug to congratulate. We hug to console. We hug to express appreciation. Sometimes we hug just to hug.

For those folks who are natural huggers, hugs are a natural form of communication and a much needed part of life. And according to some, hugs are needed almost as much as oxygen, food and water.

According to Dr. Virginia Satir in her book, "Family Happiness is Homemade," hugging is vital for our emotional well-being. Dr. Satir claims that "everybody feels skin hunger throughout their lives, and unless that hunger is satisfied by touching, there's a vital void in the emotional make-up that's will cause deep unhappiness."

She goes on to say that we all know how babies thrive on frequent holding and stroking and she claims that adults aren't any different. When they're not patted on the hand, embraced around the shoulder or hugged, they withdraw into themselves. She prescribes four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance and twelve for continued growth. (2)

Because of his leprosy, Naaman, the main character from our reading in 2 Kings this morning, was probably suffering deeply from this skin-hunger. He probably hadn't been hugged or touched in a long time. You see, as a leper, NO ONE wanted to hug him.

But through God all of that changed. And the funny thing is God hugged him into healing without anyone touching him. So, let's look at story.

I. HE WAS QUALIFIED, DIGNIFIED AND MORTIFIED:

A. We might want to begin with a simple question? Who was this guy Naaman and why is he in our Bible? Well, from what we read, we find out that he wasn't a Jew. He was an Aramean or Syrian, military commander. He was the pride of the King and the pride of the King's army because he had been victorious over Israel. Naaman was sort of the Aramean equivalent of General "Stormin' Norman" Schwarzkopf. They might have even called him something General "Flamin' Naaman." Who knows.

But the story is filled with all kinds of irony. First and foremost is the whole idea that it was God who made Naaman's foray's to the South victorious. Now, why would God let the Chosen People be defeated? Why would God put them through so much? Well, the answer is simple. They had turned away from God. They were worshipping idols. They were being unfaithful. And their hearts weren't in their faith any more. Many of them were only giving lip service to God and going through the motions of worship.

Secondly, there is irony simply in Naaman's name. You see it means "Pleasantness" or Loveliness." And yet this is a story about a man with one of the most disfiguring skin diseases of all, Leprosy. It makes you wonder if his negative energy from not being hugged in so long wasn't being channeled into his military aggression.

B. This is the story of a man who is Qualified, Dignified and yet Mortified. You see, he was the best Qualified military leader of his country. As a result, when he wasn't leading the battles, he would have lived a Dignified life. But all of that changed because he was Mortified by Leprosy.

At the time, Judaism didn't differentiate between what we now know as Leprosy or Hansen's Disease. Leprosy then consisted of anything from skin cancer to smallpox to "the heartbreak of psoriasis." Lepers were shunned and sent away.

Again, ironically, a powerless young servant girl, one of the spoils of war, offers powerful news to this powerful man who has been mortified by his powerlessness over this disease that has mortified his body. This powerless young girl's faith in the prophet Elisha became a powerful promise of hope for Naaman.

And so he put in for Leave with his king so he can see about being cured by this prophet of Israel. And the king jumps on it. He even does more than just grant Naaman leave. He writes a letter of introduction and gifts to the King of Israel.

II. HE HAD TO SLIDE HIS PRIDE ASIDE:

A. And that's where everything shifts. Naaman makes his way to Israel, visits with the king (who really thinks this is a trap by the King of Syria to provoke a war). But despite that Naaman is eventually directed to the prophet Elisha. Elisha was Elijah's student and heir to the office of prophet.

Naaman in all of his trappings, drives up to Elisha's house in his BMW Chariot. BMW in this case means Chariot with Big Metal Wheels. And Elisha, who has heard all about Naaman, sends out a messenger who tells Naaman to go down to the Jordan River and bathe seven times. And then the messenger leaves.

Naaman is absolutely furious. "Who does this prophet think he is? Doesn't he know how far I've traveled? Doesn't he know who I am? What am I chopped liver, that he doesn't even come out to see me himself but sends his servant? And what's with this Jordan River thing. Aren't the Abana and Pharpar and the rivers of Damascus better than all the water of Israel? How dare he!" Naaman's pride was some kind of big time hurt.

Naaman reminds me of a story I read years ago about Christian Herter who was running hard for reelection as Governor of Massachusetts. One day he arrived late at a barbecue. He'd had no breakfast or lunch, and was famished. As he moved down the serving line, he held out his plate and received one piece of chicken. The Governor said to the serving lady, "Excuse me, do you mind if I get another piece of chicken. I'm very hungry."

The woman replied, "Sorry, I'm supposed to give one piece to each person."

He repeated, "But I'm starved,"

And again she said: "Only one to a customer."

Herter was normally a modest man, but he decided this was the time to use the weight of his office and said, "Madam, do you know who I am? I am the governor of this state."

And she answered, "Do you know who I am? I'm the lady in charge of chicken. Now, move along, mister." (3)

Like Gov. Herter, Naaman was flabbergasted. Why? because of his pride. You see, Naaman Had To Slide His Pride Aside.

B. I think that's what this passage is really about. It's a parable about pride. God was sending Israel a message. God is God and the people of Israel needed to slide their pride aside. They had forgotten who their TRUE king was. So God used Naaman and Aram to teach them all a lesson.

Naaman had to Slide His Pride Aside in order to be healed. he had to get past what he considered a slap in the face. He had slide his pride aside and listen to the powerless people in his life, his servants. They basically told him, "If the prophet had told you to shave your head and paint it yellow, then paint your legs from the knees down green, stand on your head with a dead chicken in each hand while singing the words to Mame backwards, you would have done it. If he had told you to make a potion out of some ungodly concoction and mix it with snow from Mount Hermon before rubbing it all over yourself, you would have done it without even thinking. So, what's the problem. He gave you something simple to do. All you have to do is do it."

And that was the problem. Surely someone of his stature needed to do more than just bathe in the Jordan River. The truth was all he had to do was simply obey and follow directions. He Had to Slide His Pride Aside.

III. HE WAS PURIFIED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE:

A. And when he did, He Was Purified Inside and Outside. But the inside had to come first. Like the Prodigal Son he had to come to himself first.

INSIDE: One of truths of our relationship with God is that although God can and does bring healing in our lives, 99% of the time it has to begin from the inside out. God can heal instantly and has done so. But the healing of Naaman began with a change of heart and a change of attitude. You see, when God changes a heart, then that heart is open to God changing the person and that persons particular predicament. Outside Change begins with Inside Change.

A number of years ago, in a mental institution outside Boston, a young girl known as "Little Annie" was locked in the dungeon. The doctors said the dungeon was the only place for those who were hopelessly insane. In Little Annie's case, the doctors saw no hope, so she was consigned to a living death in a small cage which received little light and even less hope.

About that time, an elderly nurse was nearing retirement. She felt there WAS hope for all of God's children. So, she started taking her lunch into the dungeon and eating just outside Little Annie's cage. She felt maybe she could communicate some love and hope to this little girl.

In many ways, Little Annie was like an animal. On occasions, she would violently attack the person who came into her cage. At other times, she would completely ignore them. When the elderly nurse started visiting her, Little Annie gave no indication that she was even aware of her presence. One day, the nurse brought some brownies to the dungeon and left them outside the cage. Little Annie gave no hint she knew they were there, but when the nurse returned the next day, the brownies were gone.

From that time on, the nurse would bring brownies when she made her Thursday visits. It wasn't long after, that the doctors in the institution noticed a change was taking place. After a period of time they decided to move Little Annie upstairs. Finally, the day came when the hopeless case was told she could return home. But Little Annie did not want to leave. She chose to stay and to help others.

It was Little Annie who cared for, taught, and nurtured another young hopeless case by the name of Helen Keller. You see, Little Annie's name was Anne Sullivan.

B. OUTSIDE: Little Annie's healing took place from the inside out through the love of that nurse. Naaman's healing took place from the inside out as well. His Inside had to be Purified of its Pride before he could be healed and Purified on the Outside. And once his Pride was pushed Aside, he could give himself permission to simply obey and bathe in the Jordan seven times. And when he did, he came out with skin like a young man. He was all cleaned up and ready and ready to glow.

CONCLUSION:

I think this passage has two lessons for us. First: Like Naaman, sometimes we let our pride get in the way. Sometimes its in the way of our healing. Sometimes its in the way of our service to God. Like Naaman, we may think the answer to our problem is too simple. We deserve more than that. Or maybe our pride gets in the way of doing what God wants us to do. How could God ask us to love THEM. How could God ask us to reach out to THAT person. When the truth is, that just like Naaman, all we are really asked to do is Obey.

And the second thing I think it teaches us is that God can and does heal. God's healing power is not limited to our understanding.

Dawn Weiss' life was falling apart. Dawn, a recovering alcoholic, moved to Tennessee after the California earthquake of 1994. She got a job as a waitress and enrolled in school. But Dawn had never confronted the stress of the earthquake, of moving, or of leaving loved ones. One night, she felt ready to give up. She prayed for help, but didn't feel any better. That night, Dawn decided that after work she would go out drinking.

When Dawn got to work, she noticed that every single customer in the restaurant was wearing a button that read, "I am a friend of Bill W." Bill W. is the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and this slogan helps AA members discreetly recognize one another. To Dawn's surprise, there was a huge Alcoholics Anonymous convention in town that weekend. All the customers at her restaurant that night were attending it. After Dawn revealed her own struggle with addiction, a group of customers offered to stay with her all night and protect her from drinking. Dawn had prayed for help, and even though she hadn't felt any better after the prayer, God sent her a whole convention of people who understood her problem. (5)

The Good News is that our Lord and Savior can do things like that. Christ can send those to help and Christ clean us up and make us whole. All we have to do is obey and get out of the way. If we Slide Our Pride Aside and simply obey then God will get us All Cleaned Up And Ready To Glow. Then we can Glow for Him.

Where in your life is Pride getting in the way? Either in an area of your life where you've requested healing or in what God is calling you to do in service to Him? I invite you to Slide Your Pride Aside and let God bring that healing. I invite you to Slide Your Pride Aside and Obey.

This is the Word of the Lord for this day.

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Bibliography

1. The Family Circus by Bil Keane and Jeff, 2/7/00

2. Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), June 1993

3. Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), May 1986

4. Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), March 1985

5. Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal, SMALL MIRACLES II (Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corp., 1998), pp. 206ff.

Other References Consulted

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