11-22-09
Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start MP3 Click here, or scroll down to view today's diagram (2 Ki 5:20) But Gehazi [Heb: valley of a visionary], the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian [“this” rather than “the” is employed, indicating disparagement], in not receiving at his hands that which he brought [“ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.” 2 Ki 5:5]: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 1. Commentary: “as the LORD liveth” = is a phrase of praise previously spoken by Elisha who was a man of God, but a hollow phrase of emptiness parroted by Gehazi who was an unbeliever. 2. Commentary: “and take somewhat of him” = “take” to oneself illustrates an unsaved man’s primary mode of interaction with other men and is of worldly origins; whereas the opposite, “give” to others illustrates the saved man’s primary mode of interaction with other men and is of heavenly origins. The first is self-centered, and the second is God-centered, i.e., the world revolves around me (a lie), versus, the world revolves around God (the truth). 3. (2 Th 2:8-12) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Ki 5:21-23) So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him [1,2,3], he lighted down from the chariot [exemplifying his new-found humility in Christ] to meet him [to lower himself to meet a lesser], and said, Is all well? And he [Gehazi] said, All is well. My master hath sent me [Gehazi’s first lie, garnished with delicious religious fruit], 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 [the lie is affixed to religion to gain authority], a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him [contrasts: as Naaman had “urged” Elisha (2 Ki 5:16) but then to no avail] [4], and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants [5]; and they bare them before him [Gehazi]. 1. Commentary: “I will run after him” v.20 (premeditation) and “running after him” v.21 = Just as Father God waited for the prodigal son to come to himself (Luke 15:17), so too Elisha, who was a type of God, waited for Naaman to come to his senses and regain “his right mind” (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35). Both the prodigal and Naaman were mentally confused and had to expend, deplete, and otherwise completely exhaust into nothingness their pride of self which was in direct conflict with the Truth of God, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exo 20:3). This inner conflict of life-style thoughts (spiritual warfare) caused cognitive dissonance in both men, resulting in an unsound mind. Neither man was accountable to God, but deemed himself accountable only to himself, each man therefore “did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Jud 17:6; 21:25), and by so doing, they set themselves above God and unaccountable to Him, which is idolatry. 2. Commentary: Please note that immediately upon coming to their senses, i.e., receiving a “sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7), both the prodigal son and Naaman fixed their eyes solely on God, as Peter did fix upon Jesus while Peter was walking upon the water; both men became single-minded versus “double-minded” (James 1:8), and came back to God (were figuratively restored) in complete humility. 3. Commentary: Gehazi ran after Naaman. How tragic this, for Gehazi was running after the things that this world says are prized and precious in a vain and quite hopeless pursuit of happiness. Gehazi was deceived by the world, and he was being conformed to the patterns of this world rather than being transformed (Rom 12:2), changed, into the mind of Christ, wherein lies the only true and eternal happiness. Contrast, if you will, foolish Gehazi running after Naaman’s precious physical things which are all destined to rot and corruption, with godly Elisha who waited for Naaman’s eternal spiritual awakening, and Father God who waited for the prodigal son’s eternal spiritual awakening. Though we may chase happiness incessantly, it is impossible to derive true happiness from the things of this world, for they are all ever tainted by time and corruption. True happiness however, is eternal, incorruptible, and may only be derived from God. The caterpillar seeks happiness in the earth below him; the butterfly knows happiness in the air above him. 4. (2 Ki 5:15,16) 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. But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he [Naaman] urged him [Elisha] to take it; but he refused. 5. Commentary: “and laid them upon two of his servants” = Firstly, it is hard to believe that all the twos mentioned, i.e., “two talents, two changes, two servants, two mules” do not have significance; however, I know not what significance. Secondly, it is interesting to note that the soil of Israel intended by Naaman for a worship function is borne to Syria by two sterile mules, while the treasures of Syria intended by Naaman for religious sacrifice to Elisha, who is a type of God, are borne to Israel by two fertile servants, who, not incidentally, were born again in type with “all his company” (2 Ki 5:15). (2 Ki 5:24-27) And when he came to the tower [of Gehazi’s pride] [1], he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go [Gehazi had controlled these two godly born again men for his own illicit purposes; and he had deceived them], and they departed [2]. But he went in [proud of himself that he had accomplished his objective and become rich, although he had done so by deception, being a liar and a thief], and stood before his master [like Judas Iscariot who innocently supped with his master]. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither [Gehazi’s second lie, and this directly to Elisha who is a type of God]. And he [Elisha] said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [God sees all, and herein Elisha manifests a gift of the Holy Spirit, “the word of knowledge” 1 Cor 12:8] Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? [an end-time reference to when believing Christians shall receive all the goods of this world] The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave [3] unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever [4]. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow [i.e., complete]. 1. tower = Heb: fortress: fort, strong hold /// to swell; fig. be elated: be lifted up. 2. Commentary: “and they departed” = This was the risky segment of Gehazi’s scheme, for the two servants of Naaman might have been observed by others of Elisha’s company. 3. (Gen 2:23,24) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave [Heb: cling or adhere; cleave fast together, be joined] unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 4. Commentary: “for ever” One-dimensional interpretation: your sin hath damned you and your seed forever. Multi-dimensional interpretation: you were born a tare not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world and shall die a tare, and your children shall be tares after your kind. Incidentally, tares never become wheat, nor do wheat ever become tares – fact, which greatly helps to identify Gehazi’s relationship as a type of professing Christian within Elisha’s ministry, and Judas Iscariot’s relationship as a type of professing Christian within Jesus’ ministry. Who are you? Amen Click here, or on the diagram for a printable (PDF) version. Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
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(2 Ki 5:20) But Gehazi [Heb: valley of a visionary], the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian [“this” rather than “the” is employed, indicating disparagement], in not receiving at his hands that which he brought [“ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.” 2 Ki 5:5]: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
1. Commentary: “as the LORD liveth” = is a phrase of praise previously spoken by Elisha who was a man of God, but a hollow phrase of emptiness parroted by Gehazi who was an unbeliever.
2. Commentary: “and take somewhat of him” = “take” to oneself illustrates an unsaved man’s primary mode of interaction with other men and is of worldly origins; whereas the opposite, “give” to others illustrates the saved man’s primary mode of interaction with other men and is of heavenly origins. The first is self-centered, and the second is God-centered, i.e., the world revolves around me (a lie), versus, the world revolves around God (the truth).
3. (2 Th 2:8-12) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(2 Ki 5:21-23) So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him [1,2,3], he lighted down from the chariot [exemplifying his new-found humility in Christ] to meet him [to lower himself to meet a lesser], and said, Is all well? And he [Gehazi] said, All is well. My master hath sent me [Gehazi’s first lie, garnished with delicious religious fruit], 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 [the lie is affixed to religion to gain authority], a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him [contrasts: as Naaman had “urged” Elisha (2 Ki 5:16) but then to no avail] [4], and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants [5]; and they bare them before him [Gehazi].
1. Commentary: “I will run after him” v.20 (premeditation) and “running after him” v.21 = Just as Father God waited for the prodigal son to come to himself (Luke 15:17), so too Elisha, who was a type of God, waited for Naaman to come to his senses and regain “his right mind” (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35). Both the prodigal and Naaman were mentally confused and had to expend, deplete, and otherwise completely exhaust into nothingness their pride of self which was in direct conflict with the Truth of God, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exo 20:3). This inner conflict of life-style thoughts (spiritual warfare) caused cognitive dissonance in both men, resulting in an unsound mind. Neither man was accountable to God, but deemed himself accountable only to himself, each man therefore “did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Jud 17:6; 21:25), and by so doing, they set themselves above God and unaccountable to Him, which is idolatry.
2. Commentary: Please note that immediately upon coming to their senses, i.e., receiving a “sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7), both the prodigal son and Naaman fixed their eyes solely on God, as Peter did fix upon Jesus while Peter was walking upon the water; both men became single-minded versus “double-minded” (James 1:8), and came back to God (were figuratively restored) in complete humility.
3. Commentary: Gehazi ran after Naaman. How tragic this, for Gehazi was running after the things that this world says are prized and precious in a vain and quite hopeless pursuit of happiness. Gehazi was deceived by the world, and he was being conformed to the patterns of this world rather than being transformed (Rom 12:2), changed, into the mind of Christ, wherein lies the only true and eternal happiness. Contrast, if you will, foolish Gehazi running after Naaman’s precious physical things which are all destined to rot and corruption, with godly Elisha who waited for Naaman’s eternal spiritual awakening, and Father God who waited for the prodigal son’s eternal spiritual awakening. Though we may chase happiness incessantly, it is impossible to derive true happiness from the things of this world, for they are all ever tainted by time and corruption. True happiness however, is eternal, incorruptible, and may only be derived from God. The caterpillar seeks happiness in the earth below him; the butterfly knows happiness in the air above him.
4. (2 Ki 5:15,16) 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. But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he [Naaman] urged him [Elisha] to take it; but he refused.
5. Commentary: “and laid them upon two of his servants” = Firstly, it is hard to believe that all the twos mentioned, i.e., “two talents, two changes, two servants, two mules” do not have significance; however, I know not what significance. Secondly, it is interesting to note that the soil of Israel intended by Naaman for a worship function is borne to Syria by two sterile mules, while the treasures of Syria intended by Naaman for religious sacrifice to Elisha, who is a type of God, are borne to Israel by two fertile servants, who, not incidentally, were born again in type with “all his company” (2 Ki 5:15).
(2 Ki 5:24-27) And when he came to the tower [of Gehazi’s pride] [1], he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go [Gehazi had controlled these two godly born again men for his own illicit purposes; and he had deceived them], and they departed [2]. But he went in [proud of himself that he had accomplished his objective and become rich, although he had done so by deception, being a liar and a thief], and stood before his master [like Judas Iscariot who innocently supped with his master]. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither [Gehazi’s second lie, and this directly to Elisha who is a type of God]. And he [Elisha] said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [God sees all, and herein Elisha manifests a gift of the Holy Spirit, “the word of knowledge” 1 Cor 12:8] Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? [an end-time reference to when believing Christians shall receive all the goods of this world] The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave [3] unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever [4]. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow [i.e., complete].
1. tower = Heb: fortress: fort, strong hold /// to swell; fig. be elated: be lifted up.
2. Commentary: “and they departed” = This was the risky segment of Gehazi’s scheme, for the two servants of Naaman might have been observed by others of Elisha’s company.
3. (Gen 2:23,24) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave [Heb: cling or adhere; cleave fast together, be joined] unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
4. Commentary: “for ever” One-dimensional interpretation: your sin hath damned you and your seed forever. Multi-dimensional interpretation: you were born a tare not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world and shall die a tare, and your children shall be tares after your kind. Incidentally, tares never become wheat, nor do wheat ever become tares – fact, which greatly helps to identify Gehazi’s relationship as a type of professing Christian within Elisha’s ministry, and Judas Iscariot’s relationship as a type of professing Christian within Jesus’ ministry. Who are you?
Amen
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