Date: 24 Jan 2000
Time: 21:28:57
Kool! I am doing a series of sermons on the prophets. There is something simple, and homey about this one.
Date: 26 Jan 2000
Time: 16:40:25
It must have taken a lot of courage and humility (or desperation?) for Naaman to do such a silly thing as washing up in the Jordan.
Date: 31 Jan 2000
Time: 04:20:58
Horay for Elisha'''' he knew that his power lies in God and not himself. He didn't want to make a show ( hey look at me I am a great man of God)
some of us think that it takes something great when all we have to have is simple faith in God, and be obedent to him. like the mustard seed is small but it will move a large mountain or something a little smaller like a tree, But it is the same size seed. This way Naaman whent away beleiving in God not man. Roger from West Virginia
Date: 02 Feb 2000
Time: 12:11:16
I like it that an unknown little slave girl, apparently carried off in a raid, is wishing the best for her captor, wishing he knew what she knew about the prophet in Israel, and the possibility --or the certainty -- that he could be healed. And Elisha gives as his reason "that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." I think it's congruent with the comment on the Gospel, about the power of the grapevine.
Date: 04 Feb 2000
Time: 14:54:40
Does God sometimes ask us to do really mundane things, instead of grand and glorious things? Does God sometimes tell us to stay where we are or to go to a place that seems to be unpleasant, uncomfortable.....instead of "fixing" things for us the way WE would like to see them fixed? Do we trust in His guidance........? Early thoughts.....
RevJanet in CNY
Date: 06 Feb 2000
Time: 14:42:46
"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?'
Sometimes doing something simple, with humility, is a thousand times more difficult than doing something difficult, with pride...
DLC
Date: 06 Feb 2000
Time: 18:18:27
Isn't it interesting that it is the servants in this story who know what is going on and know where the real power is. Just some early thoughts
John in PA
Date: 07 Feb 2000
Time: 14:45:04
My thoughts are more on the one way to be clean. We are so like the general wanting to have something to do with our own cleansing. We want it by our power in our own way but to humble ourselves and do what God says when it seems so simple is beyond our understanding. We still believe you can't get something for nothing. If we only understood that our humbleness and obedience is what God is asking. It is a gift, of our own choosing, we give God. MCM
Date: 07 Feb 2000
Time: 14:47:15
On the first reading, what catches me is Naaman's initial reaction. He is angry because he thought the answer to his prayer, the healing would be accomplished in a way HE had envisioned. Suddenly, silly pride sets in, silly because who, in the midst of a terrible disease, would ever rationally think of rating rivers! Isn't Naaman's reaction like ours so many times, when God fashions an UNEXPECTED answer to prayer?
Date: 07 Feb 2000
Time: 14:48:00
On the first reading, what catches me is Naaman's initial reaction. He is angry because he thought the answer to his prayer, the healing would be accomplished in a way HE had envisioned. Suddenly, silly pride sets in, silly because who, in the midst of a terrible disease, would ever rationally think of rating rivers! Isn't Naaman's reaction like ours so many times, when God fashions an UNEXPECTED answer to prayer? What do you think about this approach? Mc
Date: 08 Feb 2000
Time: 02:48:53
Naaman's real problem is that he is so impressed with himself that he expects things to be done according to his own expectations. Even though he is afflicted with a horrible disease he still has so much ego that he thinks that the cure should be on his terms. It is only when he disciplines or controls his own ego that he can be healed. Perhaps the real healing is his own self-concept. FHS in KS
Date: 08 Feb 2000
Time: 04:06:54
The servants in this section understand, yet in the verses after 14, Elisha's servant clearly misunderstands Elisha's point of view.... Or he is just greedy. He thinks Elisha won't find out, just as we somehow think God doesn't know the Truth about us..... JPH in PA
Date: 08 Feb 2000
Time: 19:08:34
Mc:
You took the words right out of my mouth. This too is the way the passage hit me initially. Naaman wanted God (or the prophet) to heal him in the way he himself envisioned it. How often we block God's grace because we want to see it in our own way, on our own terms and not God's. Real food for thought here, especially in our consumeristic culture where we're so accustomed to writing out a check or flashing the plastic card and getting what we want. Keep thinking on those lines! Craig in Maine.
Date: 08 Feb 2000
Time: 23:18:34
Naaman has always impressed me. He's in a position of power and wealth, yet (perhaps in desperation) listens to a powerless girl and acts on her advice. Even when he refuses the prophets message, his servants are bold enough (certainly they had learned that this master would listen instead of cutting off their heads!) to argue with him and again HE LISTENS to his subordinate's wisdom. He's my kind of boss!
The rest of the chapter is great, too. The humility he shows to the prophet and his understanding of the idolatry he will have to engage in back home. Why doesn't Elisha ask him to take a stand for the truth? I don't know. Then an Israelite shows himself to be greedy and false. Reminds me of Jesus' comment "There were many lepers in Israel, but only the Gentile Naaman was healed!"
BroKen
Date: 08 Feb 2000
Time: 23:57:32
I was struck by the simplicity of Elisha's instructions. How could it be that simple? Wash 7 times in the Jordan River. How could healing of such a terrible disease be accomplished by such a simple act? Its just like the gospel message. How can salvation be so simple? We want to make it more complicated. We want to do something to deserve salvation. We want to earn it. We still have trouble understanding that it is so simple. Hopefully, someone will urge us to take that simple step and believe. Hopefully, like Naaman, we will listen and take that simple "cure". Believe that the gospel message is simple. Don't try to make it difficult! Have faith in the simple cure. That'll preach brothers and sisters.
Tom in Tennessee
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 02:32:17
Perhaps Naaman's simple washing in the Jordan is much like our "washing" in baptism. Such a simple act but so filled with God's grace. We are healed and so is Naaman by God's pure, unearned grace. Springboro Joe
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 03:14:16
Always wanting to offer a tangible reality for the people of God to reflect on each Sunday, I find Naaman a great example of our own mirror image. We don't need to think in terms of wealth and power, in America we all think we are rich and powerful. We all think we are in control of our own destanty. This is what we are taught from the day we were born. The reality is that God is in control. When we realize God's power, obedience is merily living out God's will in our lives. Are we in command or Commanders under the Great Commander, Christ Jesus. Thom in DC
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 03:50:44
Are we willing to get our hands and bodies dirty in our desires to do God's will?/. Leporsy is a dirty disease/ unclean. To become clean he is asked to get even more dirty. If I were the lepar I would think thice about this alternative medicine approach. mary from Mo.
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 13:21:05
For me the question is: "What gets in the way of obedience?"
John near Pitts.
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 16:05:30
What strikes me about this passage is the way money and power are linked together. The King assumes it is the King of Israel who will heal. And Naaman assumes that money will make it happen. And he goes off in a rage when Elisha doesn't come out for him, after all he is rich and powerful and.... fill in the blank. It is just amazing to me that he would rather go off in a rage with leprosy than get over whatever he needs to get over to receive God's healing. PL in RI
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 16:25:44
Tom in Tn and springboro Joe - i was thinking along the same lines about how simple salvation seems and the simple act of baptism. But that simplicity also brings with it a responsiblity. simply we are accepted and forgiven, but then we are asked to make Jesus our Lord, and that is a daily commitment and often flies in the face of others around us. How much easier it would be if you could just buy something - a certificate, maybe - that would assure that you were God's and not have to let God be in control.
like PL in RI i too was amused that the king of syria assumed that the prophet in Israel was the king of Israel. funny how our minds work that way.
rachel - also in TN (and MS)
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 16:47:33
I once heard a sermon called 7 Ducks in a Muddy River. It was an imaginative exploration into the thought processes that Naaman may have gone through as he carries out this silly exercise. I'm not sure I remember the 7. But they could have been 1. Breaking the ice 2. Getting wet 3. Braving the cold 4. Completely submerged 5. Repeating the process – Persistence 6. Repeating again – Resisting the temptation to chicken out 7. The Last Duck – The grace of God
Clarence in Iowa
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 23:33:50
I see the characters in this story in a modern church:
The King of Aram is the Christian who wants to pick a fight, blame others in the church/in society for what's wrong. (I say this, because I think it's possible that his letter to the King of Israel intentionally implied that the King was to heal Naaman, and that the King of Aram used this event as a pretext for another war. Yes, this is just speculation)
The King of Israel is the modern Christian who sees no solution, just dead ends. He sees not possibility, only impossibility.
Naaman, the war hero, is the modern Christian who needs to swallow his pride and submit to his superior: God
And the slave girl is the one who sees possibility, who speaks the (often quiet) words of hope and faith.
Danny in CA
Date: 09 Feb 2000
Time: 23:44:14
09 FEB 00 Between this text and the gospel for this Sunday we see no one set way that God heals. For Naaman,some effort/participation is required; for the annonymous leper, faith seems a pre-requisite but even that's not always required for God to initiate mercy. There's no one "right" way. Just like "we" (and the "in crowd" w/ Jesus) learn something from the faith of ostrasized foreigners/Gentiles, we learn something from the non-religious. Would Naaman--a ritually unclean leper--have risen to such a prominant position in the military of Israel? Who do we want to exclude? When we "draw our lines in the sand" seems that Jesus is always there on the other side, with our enemies, the pagans, the strangers, the "unclean" (He's with us too, which is just the point). So much good stuff and plenty of Gospel in this fine story! Blessings to all. Peter in CA
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 05:20:22
I will use tie this text in to Valentines and the importance of commitment. Naaman was more committed to his own pride than the healing of his leprosy. How often do we do the same. It is so important to be committed to each other and above all Almighty GOD through our LORD and savior JESUS CHRIST. I feel many in this day are sitting on the fence. Many times, our materialistic society breeds monetary committment, not necessarily commitment from the heart. Pastor Keith
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 11:45:29
I used these same texts one time in preaching on aids, I compared the two and showed how today there are people with aids who maybe did not deserve to get it, yet they still have it. We think of aids the same way they did Leporsey. We think of it as a dirty sickness that nobody wants to touch and all those who have it must have done something wrong to get it. Even though it is not true. We need to remember that Jesus healed those who were unclean and did not shy away from them. Have had trouble with my computer and not been able to reach the site and realy missed it. MR in NY
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 13:24:11
I encourage you to read the entire chapter before coming down to hard on Naaman. It is in fact, not a "foreigner" who shows the improper attitude and actions, but it is in fact a servant of Elisha. Naaman's repentance is refreshing, as well as his generousity (spurred on by grace). This is a good story to retell instead of just reading the lectionary passage as listed.
John near Pitts
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 15:29:38
THE TEXT HERE STRIKES ME MUCH IN THE SAME WAY AS PAUL'S WRITING TO THE ROMANS IN CHAPTER THREE. HE TELLS THE ROMANS OF THE JUSTIFICATION FOUND THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, YET IT SEEMS THAT THE JEWS WERE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE BELIEF THAT THEIR JUSTIFICATION CAME THROUGH THEIR WORKS. NAAMAN GOT IT RIGHT AFTER BEING WISE ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF OTHERS (FRIENDS). IF PEOPLE TODAY COULD SEE THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM NOT BEING SELFISH,AND DOGMATIC THEN MAYBE WE WOULD SEE MORE TRUE CHRISTIANS. JUST AS IF THE JEWS IN ROME HAD REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO THE WORDS OF THE O.T. WHICH THEY SO PROUDLY LIVED BY, THEY WOULD HAVE BETTER UNDERSTOOD WHAT PAUL WAS TRYING TO TELL THEM AND PERHAPS PAUL'S MESSAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN RECIEVED WITH EVEN GREATER ACCEPTANCE!
ODIE FROM MEGEES X RDS
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 15:33:30
I see the story as basically one of a power struggle. Naaman is a "mighty warrior." In other words, a powerful man. Yet, the narrator informs us that his power is from the Lord. Is he aware of this?
As powerful as Naaman is, he suffers from a disease even more powerful. No doubt, this was very perplexing to him.
Then, a captured slave girl informs his wife of the existence of a great prophet in Israel that could help Naaman. Instead of charging off to find this prophet, he goes through the chain of command.
His king refers him to Israel's king who both represent political power. This is a power that Naaman can understand and respect. Yet, the political power is shown as being helpless in this crisis.
Elisha steps into the scene and says, "Send him to me that he might know there is a prophet in Israel."
Elisha knows where all authority resides. God gave him the power to heal as part of his prophetic ministry. He knows that Naaman will be healed, but he doesn't submit to Naaman's power. Instead he makes Naaman submit to the power of God.
The result? Naaman is converted. Now that's power.
Paul in Illinois
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 17:29:23
I'm not sure if "John near Pitts" was chastising me, though his admonition to read the entire chapter/passage vice just the pericope is always good counsel. The "lesson" we sometimes learn from the non-religious was really a simple bit of "humanism", I suppose--the apparent non-discrimination of the Armeans to allow a leprous man to rise to the rank of Commander of the king's army. Indeed, the "catalysts" in this story include an anonymous slave girl, a messenger of Elisha and Naaman's "servants". Our people often need encouragement that it is the "insignificant", ostensibly anonymous and faithful servant that provides a means for the power of God. Peter in CA
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 20:25:42
I plan to bring the irony of this passage out. The general is met by the king but the prophet doesn't even come out to talk to him. The general may be one who killed a king of Israel yet has to go to Israel for healing. The general must dip in the Jordan rather than his own rivers. After he gives up and obeys at the behest of his servants Elisha is happy to meet and talk to him. This is a beautiful story of God's reversals that bring wholeness and humility.
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 21:35:44
I think you're exactly right about all the irony in this passage. The gospel irony is that all the powerful people are so busy reacting emotionally to one another that they cannot see the possibility of God working in their midst. Instead, they are, in order, mistaken from an inability to hear accurately (sending a letter to the king instead of the prophet), suspicious and paranoid (tearing clothes, or, in a more modern translation, "getting his panties in a wad" thinking the king is picking a fight) and then more assumption of malevalent intent on the part of Naaman when he seems to assume Elisha is poking fun at him, or "dissing" him, if you're preaching to the pierced and tattooed set. Thanks for all of your comments. NM in TX
Date: 10 Feb 2000
Time: 22:47:13
Peter in CA
*I'm not sure if "John near Pitts" was chastising me*
Not at all, Peter.
John near Pitts.
Date: 11 Feb 2000
Time: 15:23:26
I like the irony angle. Hadn't thought about it, but it fits. The irony of God's mercy is always a bit shocking isn't it? Mark Alan Powerl (Proclamaton 6 Series B) makes the point that Naaman's sense of personal importance, fueled by his own nationalistic pride, prevents him from recogizing his quest for healing is an appeal for mercy. Am working to develop this angle. Thanks for all your reflecitons and insights. PL in RI
Date: 12 Feb 2000
Time: 02:51:04
Naaman a great and powerful man. Full of success. with many trophies. But he has a minor problem that would normally seperate him from society. This to me is much like today illnesses. (alcoholism, drug addiction, aids.) All diseases that eventually seperate the victims from society. But by the grace of God(servant girl-witness program) Naaman is lead to healing (restoration with God/and salvation)
Naaman's pride is one of the stumbling blocks that get in his way. It seems that it blocks his path to healing and salvation. Again I am thinking is terms of the drug addict or alcoholic. How their pride will not let them seek the help to escape the disease.
tg in nc
Date: 12 Feb 2000
Time: 03:49:50
Gee, no one picked up on the fact that Yahweh was working through Naaman to give victory to Aram. Yahweh is over all of the nations! Isn't it ironic that God blesses a country that is raiding Israel? And in fact uses one of the victims of the raid to bring healing (and salvation as well I guess as Naaman ends up trusting in Yahweh).
John near Pitts.
Date: 12 Feb 2000
Time: 11:57:48
I find it interesting that whatever Naaman's illness was, it was probably not leprosy (=Hansen's disease). Naaman was strong, able to command an army, and not an outcast (the Jews were not the only culture to ostracize people with leprosy), since he had servants and others about him. Perhaps his problem was psoriasis or vitiligo. Maybe he was allergic to wool and didn't know it (like a cousin of mine). Who knows?
It is also interesting to me that Elisha is himself a prideful man, touchy and one to stand on his privileges as a prophet. I mean, here he sends a servant with his message. By contrast, Jesus touched the leper in the gospel accounts of such miracles. If Jesus healed at a distance, it was because those who came to him had faith he could do just that. When the woman of Shunem's son became ill and died, Elisha gave his staff to a servant and told HIM to go and lay it on the child. And he wouldn't come himself until the woman becamse angry and grabbed hold of him and wouldn't let him go. Elisha is the one who asks not only for Elijah's spirit, but for a "double" portion, which even Elijah says is a "difficult thing." Then there is his reaction to the little boys who tease him--he summons two she-bears out of the woods that prompty maul 42 of the boys--all because he couldn't stand being called Baldy! When Gehazi, trying to be helpful, asks Naaman for some money to help support the company of prophets, Elisha is so angry that Gehazi disobeyed him that he strikes Gehazi with Naaman's leprosy. It is Elisha who asks God to strike with blindness the invading army that has come to seize him. And even when it comes to anointing the next king, Elisha doesn't deign to go himself, but sends a servant with a flask of oil to do the job.
All in all, I do not think that Elisha's humility was anything to write home about. He is an interesting character study.
Peace to all, Sister Elias Freeman, Sol.S.B., Trinity Episcopal Church, Woodbridge, NJ
Date: 13 Feb 2000
Time: 03:25:58
Got Dirt?!
For some reason, I keep coming back to this question... What does the dirt represent for us as people of faith? Do we have some dirt with us to welcome God's presence in our lives? What do we stand upon when we worship?!
Steve in Central Ohio