April 9, 2025 - 2 Kings 5-8

The story of Naaman the Syrian is one of the clearest representations of the Gospel in the Old Testament. Naaman sought help from the king of Israel but the king could not help him. Elisha, the prophet who foreshadows Jesus, knew he would be able to help him. Elisha gave him instructions on how to be healed. Naaman was offended because Elisha did not even bother to talk to him in person and his instructions were ridiculous! Dip in the Jordan river seven times? How humiliating Naaman probably thought, and why only that river? But he did it anyway after being encouraged by his friends who believed in the power of the prophet. The great Naaman went through the humbling dipping routine and was healed.

To receive the Gospel you must first humble yourself, because you must acknowledge your sinfulness and that you need Jesus’ help. You must also trust in Jesus and the message that he has sent to us without even speaking to us face to face.

This message and his instructions for godly living are foolishness to the world. But if we humble ourselves, repent, and believe we will be cleansed.

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains:

Lose all their guilty stains,

Lose all their guilty stains;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in His day;

And there have I, though vile as he,

Washed all my sins away:

Washed all my sins away,

Washed all my sins away;

And there have I, though vile as he,

Washed all my sins away. — William Cowper (1772)