July 12, 2009: Naaman’s Servant Girl
The text for this lesson is 2 Kings 5:1–14.
Key Points
- Just as the Lord used an ordinary servant girl and ordinary water to heal Naaman, He cares for us through the ordinary people and ordinary means He chooses.
- Law:We may consider ourselves to be too young, too unimportant, or too poorly prepared to do anything valuable for God’s kingdom.
- Gospel: God constantly creates opportunities for us to share His love with others, and He brings miraculous results from our small efforts.
- Law: We may delude ourselves into thinking we are so important that God owes us special attention.
- Gospel: Though we do not deserve it, God cares for each one of us.
- Law: We too often want or even expect God to work in dramatic and exciting ways, such as pulsating worship, spectacular results to our witnessing, or giving us personal signs.
- Gospel: God gives forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through ordinary water, through bread and wine, and through the voice of humble servants, all by the power of His simple Word.
Context
Elisha succeeded Elijah as Israel’s chief prophet. They both worked great wonders, but their main purpose was to exhort people to trust in and worship the Lord alone. Their miraculous signs were meant to turn people from false gods and lead people like Naaman to the conclusion, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15).
In the Old Testament, leprosy describes various skin conditions that made a person ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 13–14). A common misunderstanding of the Old Testament ritual system is that “uncleanness” equates to sinfulness or condemnation. The book of Leviticus shows that this was not so; states of cleanness had to do with determining which people were eligible to enter God’s holy presence in the sanctuary.
Leprosy caused discomfort and had serious social consequences. People avoided lepers and considered them cursed by God for some particular sin. Elijah’s healing of Naaman previews Christ’s healing of lepers, which fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases” (Matthew 8:17). Jesus accomplished eternal healing for all people when He died for the sins of all (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Discussion Points and Questions
- Read 2 Kings 5:2-6. How does God use the injustice of the enslaving of the young Israelite girl to accomplish His divine purpose?
- Why do you suppose the king of Israel tore his clothes when the Syrian king’s letter asked him to cure Naaman of his leprosy?
- Why was Naaman angry when he received Elisha’s words?
- Read 2 Kings 5:15. What is the purpose of Elisha’s prescription for healing?
- Who helped Naaman realize that God was able to heal him through Elisha?
- How does God work through Christian neighbors to share His love?
- Naaman was healed with simple water, directed by God’s Word. What does this remind us of today?
- What do we receive through Baptism?
- Read Ephesians 2:1-5, 10. Describe the change that takes place in us through Baptism. What effect does that change have on us? Read also 1 Peter 2:9-12. What examples can you give of Christians demonstrating these effects in their lives?
- How does God demonstrate that His ways are beyond human thought and understanding?
- God works through simple means to heal Naaman. How does God continue to work through simple means today to provide healing and strength to sinners?
- According to Luther’s teaching, what does the Lord give to us by His grace?
- How did God work through the humans in the Bible story to heal Naaman?
For next week, read about Joash repairing the temple in 2 Kings 12:1–16.
