IN the course of the history of the ten tribes of Israel, Samaria, their capital city, was besieged by Benhadad, king of Syria, and reduced to the greatest extremity through famine (2 Rings 6:24). The king, though he clothed himself with sackcloth within upon his flesh, as a sign of repentance and humbling before God, being severely tested by the awful distress, manifested the deep-seated enmity of his heart against God, by seeking to take the life of Elisha the prophet, His servant.
Notwithstanding this further desperate wickedness of the king, the Lord, great in mercy, sent him a message of pure grace through His servant, who said, “Hear ye the word of the Lord, Tomorrow, about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria” (7:1). But it was accompanied with a threat of death for a lord, on whose hand the king leaned, who dared to break in with an “if,” thus openly questioning the Lord’s gracious message.
Now, at the entering in of the gate of the city sat four leprous men (7:3). In addition to all the horrors of the siege and famine, these poor wretches were suffering from an incurable disease, and in consequence were separated from the rest of their fellows.
How strikingly all this shadows forth man’s condition today! He is in a world surrounded with the whole power of Satan and his hosts, suffering from a grievous famine of all that will really satisfy his soul. He is clothed on his flesh with a profession of religion, but his heart is as full of enmity against God, and His Son, the true Prophet, as in the day when the Jewish mob cried, “Away with him, away with him; crucify him, crucify him.” Moreover, man is an alien, suffering from the awful and incurable malady of sin, ―he is a moral leper.
But the four leprous men, in the depth of their misery, began to think. It is a great thing to begin to think, to weigh and consider our state. The lepers were brought to it, and it led to very good results. See them sitting day by day at Samaria’s gate, the picture of misery and hopelessness, with nothing but death staring them in the face. At last their lips give expression to their inmost thoughts, and they say one to another, “Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill as, we shall but die” (7:3, 4).
It was a question of choosing one of three things. Firstly, should they go into the city? There was nothing but famine there. That would be certain death. Secondly, should they remain where they were? In the event of an assault by the Syrians, there was no place more exposed than the gate. And meanwhile they were without food. It was certain death there also. Thirdly, if they were to go into the camp of the enemy, what then? Well, that seemed at first sight almost as desperate as the other two; but there was just one ray of hope. They were poor lepers, non-combatants. There might be a spark of pity in the hearts of their relentless foes. They might save them alive. At any rate, they might as well be killed by the foe in the camp as die of famine in the city or perish at the gate. It was the best plan of the three. The lepers in their first consultation came to the decision that they would face the difficulty at all costs. They rose up in the twilight to go into the camp of the Syrians.
Dear reader, have you ever sat down to think? Have you ever weighed and considered with others your real state before God? Have you realized the extremity in which you are as a poor lost sinner? If you turn back to, or go on with the world, you will share the world’s doom. Judgment rests upon it. If you still remain in indifference as to your state and what will become of you, you will perish. You are exposed to the wages of sin, death, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). But if you, face the difficulty, instead of reaping the fruits of the fall and your guilt, you will surely reap salvation, life out of and beyond death, and all the rich blessings of the gospel. How? Let us see.
The lepers rose up to go into the enemy’s camp, and what did they find? Approaching tremblingly, not knowing what the result of their venture might be, to their immense surprise, not a foe was there! NOT ONE. And why? Because the Lord had been there before them. He had been in the camp of the enemy, and with His mighty arm He had wrought the victory. He had caused the foe to hear the noise of a great host, and filled with fright, they ran for their lives, leaving their tents, their horses, their asses, and most of their wealth and belongings as they were. Hence the poor lepers, instead of famine found plenty, instead of death life, instead of poverty wealth. The Lord had spoiled the foe, and di the spoil was there for the taking.
And so also, poor trembling sinner, if only you are decided; if only you face the momentous question of your salvation, you will find that Jesus, God’s Son, has been into the camp of the foe and wrought a mighty victory on your behalf. At Calvary He died and glorified God. He rose from the dead, overcame once and forever the whole power of Satan, sin, death, and judgment for every one that believeth. The victory has been won by another for you. And now all you need is offered you freely. Every famished soul may eat and be satisfied, and all the wealth of the gospel―silver, gold, raiment, redemption, righteousness, Christ―all are yours. Instead of perishing with hunger, you may be satisfied; instead of dying in your sin, life in Christ is offered you; instead of misery and poverty, untold wealth is proffered you in the risen Christ.
More than satisfied, the lepers held a second consultation. They said one to another, “We do not well this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household” (chap.7:9). So they came and called unto the porter of the city. In short, the lepers being saved, became evangelistic. It was impossible to keep such good news to themselves. They feared some mischief, if they did. As another said later, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:1616For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)). And the moment the lepers told it out, it spread far and wide. First, they made it known to the city porter. He told it to the outside porters of the palace, and, though it was night-time, they told it to the king’s house within, and it was very soon communicated to the king himself. And in an incredibly short time the whole city was cognizant of it.
Now the king rose in the night, but he was not prepared to receive the glad tidings without question. Like a good many more today, when they hear the gospel, he had his own thoughts about it. Besides, was he not the king, and he would like to make a little show of his wisdom. Although he had heard the words of the prophet in the name of the Lord, and had had it confirmed by witnesses who were already proving the truth of it, he still doubted. He puts it down to a trick of the enemy (2 Kings 7:1212And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city. (2 Kings 7:12)). But one of his servants was wiser than he, and proposed to send five of the horses that remained in the city, and see. The king, tossed to and fro between doubt and hope, consented that two chariot horses should be sent. If the news proved true, good; but if not, he had still a reserve, and could hold out a little longer. He ventured two on the authority of the word of the Lord, but kept back three, in case of eventualities! What a striking picture of the mistrust of God in man’s heart!
“And the messengers returned and told the king. (And really it was far better than they expected, for they discovered spoil alt the way to Jordan.) And the people went out and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord”(vs. 16).” And the king appointed the lord, on whose hand he leaned, to have the charge of the gate: and the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him” (vs. 17).
The grace and the judgment were both equally cure. Tomorrow about this time so much food should be sold at a certain spot, said the prophet. And though every outward circumstance completely militated against it, it came to pass. The man who doubted it, and said “If,” was threatened with death. And it came upon him in the most unexpected way. Appointed to a post of honor by the king, so great was the crush of the famished crowd at the gate to obtain food, that he was knocked down, trodden under foot, and died.
Poor famishing sinner, you have not to wait till tomorrow, but today, this moment, now, Christ and salvation are offered you freely, where and as you are. All is without measure and without price. He has gained the mighty victory once for all at Calvary, and He is seated as the accepted Man in the glory of God, a present and everlasting Saviour. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). You need not take a step elsewhere to receive the blessing. And the terms are freely. The moment is now. The place is where you are. “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Believe on Him, and thou shalt be (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). But he that believeth not, will surely, like that poor lord who said “If,” come into the judgment of God. “The grace of God, which bringeth salvation unto all men, hath appeared.” It is sent to the Gentiles (Acts 28:2828Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28)), and it is free as the air we breathe. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)). But, on the other hand, it is equally sure, that whosoever believeth not God’s testimony concerning His beloved Son, will reap the fruit of his unbelief in the eternal judgment of God.
May His abounding grace lead each reader of these lines first to weigh the question of his salvation, and being saved, the question of making the glad tidings known to all around!
“Jesus died for sinners, on the cross He bled
To redeem from hell my guilty soul;
Bearing all the wrath, in death He bowed his head,
And his dying caves, and makes me whole.
Sinner, trust Him, for He died for thee,
Trust Him now, and thou shalt pardoned be;
Trust Him for salvation, trust without a doubt;
None who come to Him will be cast out.”
E. H. C.