Contents
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1. Leviticus 25:25 - The brother redeems
2. 2 Kings 5 - Naaman, Elisha and Gehazi
3. Luke 11:9,10 - Ask, and it shall be given you
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Weekly reading: Be-Har, Lev 25:1-26:2
If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away [some] of his
possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he
redeem that which his brother sold. (Leviticus 25:25)
It was the will of God, that the possession was kept in the family. It
could happen, however, that someone was waxen poor, and that he had to
sell his land, because he needed money. But yet, it was the will of
God, that everybody kept his possession in his family, so there was
something to restore. Our text says, that, in the case somebody has
sold his inheritance, any of his kin could come to redeem it. This
means, that he bought the land back, and gave it to his poor brother,
who had not the money himself to buy it.
We see then, in short, that there was a man who was waxen poor and
had sold his land. His brother could come then, redeem it, and give it
back to that man. This is an earthly picture of spiritual things. Our
text will now be filled in with the spiritual things.
If thy brother is waxen poor through his sinning, and has sold away
his heavenly possession, and if his brother come to redeem the
heavenly reward, then shall he redeem that which his brother has
wasted.
Mankind has lost his heavenly possession through his sinning. We
therefore have need of a brother, to redeem us. He who redeems us,
must be of the same human race as whereof we are, for he must be our
brother. Who of the people on this earth has enough money to pay for
our sins? A man born from the flesh has not, but we need one who is
born of God, and is yet our brother. Jesus Christ has enough money to
redeem our heavenly possession, and to restore it to us. He did not
sin Himself. He payed the money for the inheritance of the believers
in Him, to restore it to them. Through His obedience, and through His
suffering, He has earned this possession for all who believe in Him.
He is our brother according to the flesh, for He is of the family of
David. He is God's Son, according to the spirit, for He is born of
God. He is the Only, Who is able to pay the price of our sins. His
work of redeeming was depicted in our text. When His Name is filled
in, you read the following:
If thy brother is waxen poor through his sins, and has sold away
his heavenly inheritance, and if Jesus Christ comes to redeem it,
then shall He redeem that which His brother wasted.
When that brother, in our text, would say: No, thank you, I will pay
by myself; and he had not enough money to pay, then he had lost his
inheritance forever. Likewise, when we say: No, thank You, LORD, I
will pay by myself; and we have not enough money to pay (what is the
truth), then we loose our heavenly inheritance forever. Instead of
that inheritance, we are thrown out. God will say: "When you not
accept My ransom-money, then you are not redeemed, and you are left in
your sins. Go out, you unbeliever!" When we, therefore, reject Jesus
Christ, the Redeemer sent by God, our Brother according to the flesh,
then we are left in our sins. In the old Israel, there was the year of
jubile. When one's possession was not redeemed by anyone, he got it
back in that year of jubile. This was free grace; he had not earned
it. So, when one rejects God's free grace, and not believes in Jesus
Christ for the remission of his sins, there is no year of jubile left;
when you reject the free grace, there is no grace left.
What do you have to do? If you are waxen poor through your sinning,
and when you have sold away your heavenly reward (as you indeed have
done), and if Jesus offers to redeem you, you have to believe that.
Then Christ shall come and redeem you. You may ask: "I'm not sure that
He does this offer also to me. Does He also invite me to belief in
Him?" Then the answer is: Listen to Christ, Who says:
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me
should not abide in darkness. (John 12:46)
When you believe on Him, you will not abide in darkness, but you are
passed unto the light. He that hears Jesus' word, and believes on God
the Father, Who sent Him, has everlasting life, and shall not come
into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
2. 2 Kings 5 - Naaman, Elisha and Gehazi
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In this chapter, we read the story of Naaman, the leper, Elisha, the
prophet, and Gehazi, the servant of Elisha.
1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great
man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given
deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he
was] a leper.
Naaman, was a great man and honourable, because the LORD had used him
to give deliverance unto Syria. Naaman was a wise man, and mighty in
deeds, and had delivered Syria in the wars and other dangers. We see
that the LORD, as this verse says, governs all, even the unknowing
heathen. Not only Israel was delivered by Him, but also Syria. But
however mighty and honourable Haman was, he was a leper. Being a
leper, he had a sure death before his eyes. All his honour availed him
nothing, nor his greatness, nor his valour. He could fight, helped by
the LORD, against the enemies of Syria, but against the leprosy, he
couldn't do anything. This general truth can be drawn from the
passage: When we have all earthly things, as honour, might, goods, but
when we are ill, seriously and deathly ill, all our goods avail
nothing.
2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away
captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on
Naaman's wife.
The Syrians had gone out, and taken a little maid our of the land of
Israel. In the previous verse was said that the LORD helped the
Syrians. Has He also helped them against the Israelites? Yes, He has,
namely to punish Israel for their sins. He sent, because of their
disobedience, the Syrians into their land. Among all the captives,
there was also a little maid, who served in Naaman's house.
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord [were] with the
prophet that [is] in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
The little maid was brought up with the knowledge of the true God, and
she also knew of Elisha the prophet. She was assured that he could
recover Naaman of his leprosy. We see the great value of a godly
upbringing. This little maid, even in her captivity, passed on the
belief in God and His prophets.
4 And [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the
maid that [is] of the land of Israel.
When Naaman heard the words of the maid, that there was a possibility
to be delivered of his leprosy, he went in to the king, his lord, and
told him.
5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto
the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of
silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
The king of Syria allowed Naaman to go to Israel. When there was this
possibility of recovery for his honourable servant Naaman, he wished
not to leave the case untried.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when
this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have [therewith] sent Naaman
my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
When Naaman said that the king might recover him of his leprosy, we
know, that he meant, that this would be done by the prophet. But the
king of Israel did not understand this, as appears in the next verse.
7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter,
that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make
alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his
leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a
quarrel against me.
The king of Israel said: Am I God, to heal this man from his leprosy?
Herein we see that it was well known that only God could heal the
leper; human help was insufficient. He thought therefore, that Syria
sought any pretext for a new war. Syria could then say: I sent my
servant to you, to be recovered of his leprosy; you recovered him not;
therefore I begin a war against you.
8 And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king
of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying,
Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he
shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
Elisha heard that the king had rent his clothes as a sign of mourning.
He said: Let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet
in Israel. This means: I will heal him, and thereby shall he know that
there is a prophet. We see that prophets, who only utter words, cannot
be considered as prophets. It must come to deeds, and then shall he be
known as a true prophet. The prophet, whose words are confirmed by the
LORD, is a true; he, whose words are spoken in vain, or prove to be
untrue, is not a prophet, that is, a false prophet. Let Naaman come,
therefore, to Elisha, the true prophet, and he shall see it.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at
the door of the house of Elisha.
We see how great Naaman was. It is especially mentioned in this verse,
that he came with his horses and with his chariot. He might have
thought: I am nearly the greatest of Syria, and I will prove myself
thus. His horses and chariot, and his suite were signs of this. But
also, they were a sign of Naaman's pride.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan
seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be
clean.
In this behaviour of Elisha, we see a good example of the behaviour of
God. Naaman came in full splendour, but Elisha was not impressed by
that. He send his messenger, but he even did not come himself. The
same does God. When we come in our pride unto Him, he will beat that
down first. Proud people will be humbled. Maybe, Naaman thought that
he came to a simple prophet, but in fact, he came to God. It might be
that Naaman was nearly the most important man in Syria, yet, God was
the King of kings, Ruler of not ony Syria, but of the whole world.
Pride is not fitting then. Let we keep this in mind.
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought,
He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the
LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the
leper.
Naaman was accustomed to the vain witch doctors of Syria, who struck
over the place, got the money, but recovered no leper. These people
used much idle ceremony, like calling on the name of their idols, like
using much splendour, striking over the place, and much more. Now,
when Naaman came unto Elisha, the true prophet, the true doctor, he
got another treatment. God's service has not outward splendour, but it
is accepted in faith. His first treatment, as we see in our verses, is
to abase us. He first heals our pride. What was the result of this
first treatment? Naaman was very wroth, and went away. Look, he wished
to be recovered of his leprosy, but he wished not to use God's method
therein.
12 [Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all
the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he
turned and went away in a rage.
Naaman had, as he thought, his better rivers than Jordan, that small
brook of Israel. In fact, he despised Elisha's counsel, who said that
he had to wash himself in Jordan, not in Abana or Pharpar. His rage
led him away.
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My
father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some] great thing, wouldest
thou not have done [it]? how much rather then, when he saith to thee,
Wash, and be clean?
Fortunately, he had good servants. They used the right method of
reasoning. They said: when you was asked to do very great things,
would you not have done it? How much rather then this little thing?
This good counsel had effect.
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan,
according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again
like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
In the previous verses, Naaman thought the treatment of the prophet
too humiliating, and despised his words. But here we read that he
dipped himself in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God.
The last sentence deserved our notice. He did so according to the
saying of the man of God. That is important. When we do according to
the sayings of God's servants, according to God's Word, it will be
well to us. Naaman did so, and was recovered of his leprosy. When he
had rejected God's Words, he would not have been recovered. When we
reject the words of God's servants, we stay a leper. The leprosy was a
picture of a sinner. When we reject God's Word, we will stay in our
sins, but when we do what He says, washing ourselves in Jordan, that
is, washing ourselves in the blood of God's Son, we will recover of
our leprosy. This is, we will be freed from the deathly burden of our
sins.
15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and
came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that
[there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I
pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
Naaman was thankful. After being recovered, he returned to Elisha. He
now had experienced in his own flesh, that there is no God in all the
earth, but in Israel. Is he still proud? No, for we read that he calls
himself the servant of Elisha. He is no longer the captain of the host
of the king of Syria, but he is now Elisha's servant. The treatment of
God has done its work. First, he was abased, and secondly he was freed
from his leprosy. And the result? He acknowledged God to be the one
God, and none besides Him.
16 But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will
receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused.
Naaman wished to give the prophet his due reward, but the prophet
refused. He refused, to let Naaman know, that God does not need any
reward of people. He does not need our gold, silver, and precious
things. It is just opposite. He has al such things at His disposal,
and He gives it to whom He wills. Our translators have translated: As
the LORD liveth, I will receive none. The Hebrew gives, literally,
[As] the LORD lives, if I take it. That means: As sure as the LORD
lives, if I take it, then He shall punish me. This second clause,
"then He shall punish me" is often kept silent about, in the Hebrew.
It means, that when Elisha took gold and silver, at this moment, God
would punish him. It was now not the moment to take money, as the
reward of the cure. God gives His grace freely, and He does not need
anything of us.
17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy
servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth
offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto
the LORD.
If you then not want to accept my gifts, then I ask something of you.
Give me earth to built an altar of, for I will from now on offer to no
other god, but the LORD. Naaman had now some knowledge of the true
God, but it was mingled with much ignorance. He thought that the earth
of Israel was more holy then that of his own country. Therefore he
asked it. Ignorance will cause men to do so. Still in our days, there
are people who consider the ground of Israel more holy then any other
ground. They prove to be followers of Naaman, in this point, having
nearly any knowledge of God (though they pretend to have).
18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, [that] when my master
goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my
hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself
in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
Naaman now asks pardon for sins, which he knows that he will commit.
He knew that it was not allowed to worship any other God than
Israel's, but nevertheless, he will do so. Surely, he himself would
not serve that Syrian idol, but yet, he knew that it was sin to help
any other in his worship.
19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little
way.
Elisha says: Go in peace. He does not grant Naaman his wish, nor does
he say that it was allowed to bow down before an image, without giving
it honour. He only says: Go in peace.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my
master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands
that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after
him, and take somewhat of him.
Gehazi was after silver and gold. He found it very dull of Elisha,
that he not received the gifts of Naaman. We see herein, that the mean
Gehazi knew nothing about spiritual duties; that he not knew that
there was a time to refrain from receiving. He only thought about
becoming rich. "I will follow him", he said.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him] running
after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said,
[Is] all well?
22 And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold,
even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the
sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and
two changes of garments.
Gehazi says that his master has sent him. So, being a miser, he also
is a liar. He uses the invented coming of the holy prophets for his
avarice.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him,
and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of
garments, and laid [them] upon two of his servants; and they bare
[them] before him.
Naaman, being glad that he now can show his thankfulness for his
recovery, gives not one talent, but two.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their hand, and
bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they
departed.
Gehazi was afraid that Elisha saw it. Therefore, he bestowed the
silver and garments in a house. He did not consider, however, that
Elisha was a prophet, and therefore could know what his servant had
done. Gehazi covers his deeds, of which appears that he knew it to be
sin.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto
him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no
whither.
Gehazi, with a face as if there had nothing happened, comes in and
stands before his master. On the question of Elisha, he gives a lying
answer: Thy servant went no whither. Once having begun lying, he must
continue therein. The one sin calls up the next.
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man
turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive
money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and
sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
It was no time now, to receive money, garments, oliveyards, vineyards,
sheep, oxen, menservants and maidservants, Gehazi! It was now another
time, namely to show to Naaman, that the God of Israel needs no
payment. He is gracious, and not like the heathen gods, whose priests
were miserly.
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto
thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as
white] as snow.
Naaman was freed from his leprosy, and the same leprosy now came upon
Gehazi. That was the punishment of his deliberate sin. Let therefore
the present ungodly keep this in mind. When you are pursuing gold,
silver, riches, wealth, and all kinds of precious things, know that it
is not the time for such things. It is now time to serve God, and to
subject yourself to Him.
3. Luke 11:9,10 - Ask, and it shall be given you
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And I say unto you,
ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
These are Jesus' words. Ask, and it shall be given you. Have you the
burden of you daily transgressions laying on your neck? Ask pardon,
and it shall be given you. Do you earnestly wish to have the knowledge
of God? Ask for it, and it shall be granted you. Are you seeking Him,
more then silver and gold? Seek Him, and you shall find. Or better
said: you will find Him, because He will find you. Everyone that seeks
will find. Do you stand before the closed door of God's kingdom?
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Are you as it were caught in
the prison of darkness? Knock, and the door unto life shall be opened
unto you, and God's light shall come in your heart. Are you caught in
the snares of the world? Ask if you may be freed, lest the poacher
comes and kills you therein. Ask freedom of the world's snares, and it
will be granted you. Many seek good, like is written: "There be many
that say, Who will shew us any good?" The prophet continues saying
that we ought to seek the true good. So, "LORD, lift thou up the light
of thy countenance upon us." (Psalms 4:6) Seek you the good? Say:
LORD, give me Thy light to shine upon me. Seek it, and it will be
granted you. Do you bear the burden of this life? Has all become
difficult to you? Ask the grace, that you may willingly resign
yourself to the will of God, and the burden will become light. Do you
seek gold and silver, like Gehazi did? To your benefit, seek the godly
things, not those wordly.
Ask, and it shall be given you; for every one that asks receives.
Seek, and ye shall find; for he that seeks finds. Knock, and it shall
be opened unto you; for to him that knocks it shall be opened.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Bible to Israel
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
End of The Scriptures opened, 31
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