Sunday, July 13, 2014 pm
WHY ARE WE SITTING HERE
UNTIL WE DIE?
2 Kings 7:3
a.
In 2 Kings 6 we find
that Jehoram, son of Ahab is king of Israel (North).
He was an evil king, following in the ways of his father.
Israel is facing oppression from the Syrians.
Elisha is prophesying to the king and performing many miracles.
The power of God has been demonstrated against Syria including an
occasion when a band of Syrian raiders are blinded by the Lord and
Elisha leads them to the king of Israel where they are released (per the
prophet’s instructions), but they keep coming.
Beginning in 2 Kings 6:24 we read that Syria besieges Samaria (capital
of Israel) so that there is a great famine in the city.
Supplies become so scarce that a donkey’s head sells for 80
shekels of silver (about $400), and dove’s droppings sells for 5 shekels
of silver (about $25).
On one occasion as the king was passing by on the wall, a woman cries
out to him pleading for his help.
The king notes, if the Lord won’t help us, how can I?
The woman tells her story – her and another woman agreed to boil
their sons and eat. One
woman boiled her son the first day and the next day when it was time to
boil the second son the mother refused and hid him.
The king then tears his clothes and he is wearing sackcloth underneath.
He swears to behead Elisha that day.
When the king comes to Elisha, Elisha tells him, “Hear the word
of the Lord. Thus says
the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour (about 6.6
quarts – Baker’s Bible Encyclopedia) shall be sold for a shekel,
and 2 seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” (7:1)
BUT an officer of the king says that is not possible.
He said that even if the Lord were to open the windows of heaven
it could not happen. Elisha
tells this servant he would see it but would not eat of it.
b.
Four lepers (7:3-20) –
the text we want to discuss.
There were 4 lepers outside the city gates.
Lepers were outcasts by law and because they were contagious.
In this time of famine they say to one another, “Why are we
sitting here until we die?”
Their circumstances seem hopeless.
They discuss their options: 1) If we stay out here we will die
very soon; 2) IF we go into the city, there is famine we will die there
as well; 3) We can go to camp of the Syrians and surrender – if they
kill us, so what? But maybe
they will let us live.
They decide the last option was the best (though certainly not ideal).
When they arrive at the camp of the Syrians at twilight they find that
the camp has been abandoned.
We are told in the text that the Lord had cause the army of Syrians to
flee in haste. They heard
the noise of chariots and horses and thought that Israel had hired the
Hittites and Egyptians to deliver them.
So they fled the camp and left everything – horses, tents,
donkeys, weapons, etc.
(7:6-7)
The lepers go into a tent eat to their full and take the silver and gold
and go and hide it. They
enter another tent and begin to do the same thing.
Vs. 9 tells us they speak to one another saying, “We are not doing
right. This day is a day of
good news, and we remain silent.
IF we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon
us.” They decided to go and
tell the king’s household about the camp.
The king’s servants hear about it and think it is a trap.
But they go out to the camp anyways and there they find the
message to be true. They
come back and tell the king and the city.
The servant of the king who doubted the prophet Elisha was appointed to
the gate that led to the camp.
He was trampled to death by the people and thus, just as Elisha
had said it happened to him.
And a seah of flour was sold for a shekel and 2 seahs of barley for a
shekel.
a.
Why are we sitting here until we die? Sometimes
we find ourselves in dire circumstances.
There may be some circumstance that we find ourselves in where we find
there is no hope whatsoever.
A man finds that he has cancer and is told his chance of survival is
only about 10%. So what does he do?
There may be some sin we are caught up in in this life.
There just seems to be no way out of it.
There are CHURCHES that are dying.
They have quit growing and as the years go by things just seem to
be getting worse and worse.
Things seem to be hopeless as it seems that no one is interested in the
gospel, no one is interested in standing for truth, no one seems to
really care or willing to put forth any effort (there is indifference
and apathy). Perhaps they reason that everything we have tried has
failed so what’s the use?
It is in such situations that we need to ask ourselves, WHY ARE WE
SITTING HERE UNTIL WE DIE?
b.
Do something
–
i.
The gospel is about
action. It is not simply
about what we DON’T do.
The great commission says, “Go
into all the world” (Mark 16:16).
Matthew 10:7 in sending the 2 apostles to build up their confidence,
Jesus said to them, “As you go,
preach…”
2 Tim. 2:15 says, “Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God…”
A passage clearly dealing with study of God’s word, it is an
“imperative” meaning a command.
Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone
who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who
DOES the will of My Father in heaven.”
ii.
Sometimes there are
circumstances where it seems that no matter what you do there is going
to be consequences. Provided
we are doing our best, God does not hold us accountable for the results.
That is God’s “end of the stick” –
1 Cor. 3:6, Paul planted, Apollos watered, God gives the increase
In the Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:3 begins saying, “Behold, a
sower went out to sow.”
Then we find the results based upon different types of soil the seed
fell upon. NOTE the
responsibility of the sower was to SOW the seed.
The results are God’s concern.
I find it interesting that in Matthew 13:18, Jesus describes it
as “The parable of the sower.” (not the seeds).
iii.
BUT even when all the
alternatives seem bad, you HAVE TO do something.
You don’t know what the outcome will be.
Often times the consequences are not as bad as we think.
But even if you fail, at least you did SOMETHING.
Why do we withdraw from sinning brethren?
We hope they will return (1 Cor.
5:4-5). This does not always
happen! But we DO keep the
church pure when we do it properly (1 Cor. 5:6).
Why do we go to sinning brethren?
We hope that they will repent.
(Matthew 18:15-17)
But often they don’t.
In fact, Jesus gives 4 steps in the process, indicating there might be
failure. Regardless, you
have done your part.
Ezekiel 3:16-21, as a watchman, Ezekiel was commanded to go and preach.
He was held accountable for preaching the message, NOT the
response of the hearers.
IF he did his job, “you will have delivered your soul.”
iv.
One thing is certain, if
you do NOTHING, failure is guaranteed!
c.
Everyone can do something.
i.
We read here of 4 lepers
– outcasts from society, but even they could do something.
In fact, they become the SOURCE of salvation to a languishing and
hopeless city.
ii.
Everyone has a part.
Ephesians 4:16 speaks of every part doing its share causing growth.
Romans 12:3-8 – Paul begins by addressing the need to avoid arrogance.
This is followed by noting that all members do not have the same
function (just as with a body).
Then vs. 6 says, “Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, let us use them.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 gives a more detailed description of the body in
a context where Paul is calling for cooperation.
He notes that every part is important, hand, foot, eye, ear,
presentable part and unpresentable parts – they are ALL part of the body
and have a function.
iii.
We need to be careful to
not dismiss the efforts of everyone.
We can all do something.
We can all be a proper example.
We can all show that we care.
We can all be here and exhort and edify one another.
We can all promote godly attitudes.
We can all contribute to the work (remember God is concerned
about the heart and our liberality – cf. Mark 12:43-44)
iv.
Mark 14:3-9 addresses
the woman who comes in and anoints the feet of Jesus in the presence of
some who were indignant because of her supposed waste.
Jesus notes, “She has done a good work for Me.” (vs. 6)
In verse 8 Jesus says, “She has done what she could.”
d.
THIS too is a day of
good news.
i.
As the city of Samaria
languished, the lepers were enjoying spoils that would give them life.
It was there in such abundance that it was not possible for them
to use it all themselves. We
are told they were taking the treasures and hiding it.
BUT then they realize, “This is too good to keep to ourselves.”
They even noted that if they did, punishment would befall them.
They needed to go tell the king’s household.
And they did.
ii.
Making application to
our theme, when we think of our salvation, “This IS a day of good news”.
After all, what is the “gospel”?
It is “good news”. The
very word indicates good news.
Romans 1:16 tells us the gospel is the power of God unto
salvation.
WE are surrounded by a world that is dying and destined for eternal
destruction. The broad way
is like a 10 lane interstate headed straight to hell and it is busier
than the worst rush hour.
(Matthew 7:13, 14). 2
Thess. 1:8 tells us that flaming fire of God vengeance awaits those who
do not know God and do not obey the gospel.
There is so much misery in this sin-sick world.
So many are living without hope.
While there are many who are satisfied to be on such a path,
there are others who are searching and want to find something with REAL
hope.
The gospel of Christ is a gospel of hope.
Paul said in Colossians 1:3-5, “We give thanks to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard
of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you
heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,”
Colossians 1:23 tells us it was the hope of the gospel that was preached
to every creature under heaven.
We have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Our sins have been washed away (Acts 22:16, 2:38, etc.).
We have hope in so many ways!
We have direction in this life that makes it good and meaningful.
What are we doing with this treasure?
iii.
We have to think about
others – we can’t keep silent!
1.
We shouldn’t want to
– do our hearts burn within us.
Luke 24:32 speaks of the disciples who had been with Jesus on the
road to Emmaus. As He
vanished and they headed back to Jerusalem to tell others we are told,
“Did not our hearts burn within us.”
There is something about the gospel, when it is firmly rooted in
our lives, that it ought to burn within us.
IT is something that we can’t keep it to ourselves.
We have to tell someone.
Jeremiah 20:7-10,
“O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are
stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone
mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and
plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me A reproach and a
derision daily. Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak
anymore in His name.” But His
word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was
weary of holding it back, And I could not. For I heard many mocking:
“Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All
my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be
induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge
on him.”” See also Psalm
39:1-3 – David held his peace even from good, but “My
heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue.”
How excited are we about the gospel?
Something to think about.
2.
We realize the fate of
those who do not obey the gospel –
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well
pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according
to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the
terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God,
and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” (2 Corinthians
5:9–11)
Paul said, “For if I
preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid
upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1
Corinthians 9:16)
While we may are not apostles, and may not even be leaders, there is a
sense in which we need to have this attitude.
And
thus we can see a valuable lesson from this Old Testament account.
Friends, when we look at our lives, are we dying?
Are we growing as we ought to?
Either personally or as the Lord’s body here?
If not, let us take these things to heart and seek to change.
Don’t just sit around dying.
An invitation
– we are all sinners. If one
has never obeyed the gospel, he is dying in sin, just as sure as those
lepers were facing imminent death.
Our choices – 1) Do nothing and assure that you die in your sins
(John 8:24); 2) You can go into the “dying city” – sink deeper into the
depths of the world where there is NO hope and you will die in your sins
there as well; 3) You can go and surrender to your “enemy.”
Consider James 4:4, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not
know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever
therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of
God.” NO God is not an
enemy in the way Satan is, but if you reject Him He is YOUR enemy!
You are HIS enemy.
BUT, in His love and grace He does NOT want it that way – He wants to
welcome you to His family.
If you will but come to Him and submit to His will.