Shepherd's Guidance
19 Apr 2020

SHEPHERD'S GUIDANCE

THE UNBELIEVABLE GOOD NEWS

Shepherd’s Guidance 8/2020

18 April 2020

 

The Unbelievable Good News

(Scripture ref: 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:20)

 

For a natural man, good news is hard to believe especially when people are in distress. They look around, what they see is hopelessness and death is coming soon. This is the scenario in our study. The city of the northern kingdom of Israel was besieged by the Syrians. Gradually the food supply within the city was depleting, famine was a daily experience now. Many of us have not experienced famine in this generation. We do not appreciate food, we pick and choose and throw away fresh food. It is sad to see some people in the big cities of the world who look for food in the dumping ground. Some even wash such food and cook it for the lowest strata of the society.

 

The situation in the city of Samaria was so bad that some people were eating their own children. It sounds unthinkable but it was real. The people of God had been warned long ago. Moses the lawgiver had warned them. "And thou shall eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God had given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith  thy  enemies shall distress thee” Deuteronomy 28:53.  The king of Israel then heard a real case himself. Truth is stranger than fiction.

 

A woman came to him for help to arbiter the case of cannibalism. The mothers had turned into murderers and eating helpless children. The king was shocked by the news. He expressed his grief outwardly. He was so mad with the prophet of the day, Elisha. He held him responsible for such evil happening and he planned to kill the prophet. He did not examine his own faith, he did not read the law of God as the king of Israel was supposed to. He did not let God’s Word guide his rule over God’s people. He was deep in idol worshipping like his father Ahab. King Jehoram was leading his nation downhill spiritually and physically also. The famine in the city was so bad that even the unwanted food like ass's head was priced at a ridiculous amount. Even dove’s dung was sought after by the starving people.

 

Prophet Elisha was used by the Lord to comfort the distressed king Jehoram. The Lord was merciful to this apostate king and His covenant people. The prophet told the king to wait for the help of the Lord the next day. But the king who was used to living by sight refused to believe. To him, the right thing to do was to surrender to the powerful Syrians. What the Lord said in 2 Kings 7:1 was just wishful thinking. It was not sensible to believe such words. The market will recover much by tomorrow morning? The price of common food will be traded at a much lower price? Unthinkable! 

 

The royal officer who accompanied the king also thought this was nonsensical; how could the economy be recovered much overnight. It was unlikely. He opened his mouth to challenge the ability of the almighty God. "Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might these things be?” Such defiance to God’s Word is sure to invite God’s judgment. The LORD replied to this ungodly officer that he shall see this happen but he would not be able to eat. God’s Word is supposed to be received with faith. If God said it, He is able to perform it. He is not limited to inabilities. He will be glorified among the skeptics. Man’s disbelief will not hinder the fulfillment of His promise. Our disbelief only brings shame to ourselves.

 

There were four lepers of the Israelites who had also felt the pains of starving. They were the rejects of society. According to Leviticus 13, they were not allowed to stay in the city. Severe famine caused them to decide not to wait for death to visit them. They made up their minds to see the Syrian army. Maybe they would be saved alive, the  Syrians may give them some food for survival. If they were to be killed by the Syrians, it was alright. Afterall, there was no difference, starving would lead to death also.

 

When the lepers arrived at the Syrians camp that night, they found the place deserted. Unbelievable. God had already threatened the Syrians by making them think they heard the sound of an attacking army. That was why they arose and fled for their lives. They just left everything behind. The hungry lepers just ate and drank. Later they realised they needed to share this good news with the dying people in Samaria. It is not good to be selfish, good things must be shared with the needy people. They were fearful of divine punishment. Then they went to inform the royal officer to pass the message to the king. They were the witnesses of divine faithfulness. Their number exceeded the number of witnesses required by the law. It is wonderful that God uses the lowly to bring such good news to the needy. How we thank the Lord for using feeble vessels like us.

 

It is disappointing to observe the response of the king. Instead of giving thanks, he became suspicious of a trap. This is a sad state of a soul that has turned a deaf ear to divine revelation consistently.  To his shame, he found  out later that the news was not fake. The enemies indeed retreated. That was not a tactical withdrawal. God will honour His promises. Blessed are those who count on His Word. Then all the people ran out of the city to help themselves with the food and possessions left by the enemies. The economic recovery happened in front of the eyes of everyone. The sceptical officer who challenged heaven after he heard God’s word was trampled by the crowd in the scramble to grab food. Instead of humbling himself, he stood in the way of divine deliverance. It is not a little sin to mock God. He could have humbled himself and accepted divine revelation without openly challenging the LORD. God would have mercy on a man with little faith, but not someone who openly ridicule His Word. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 

The four lepers did not care for themselves only, they were mindful  of those who were starving in the city. They were given the fear of the coming judgment for selfishness. They went back to the city to tell the good news. They wanted everyone to share in the good things. The Lord has saved us by His gospel of salvation. Do we care for others who are still living in spiritual famine? They have not heard of the gospel and they are perishing in sin. May God help us to pray for such people and give them the good news of Jesus  Christ. Let us not be selfish. May we help to spread the gospel to every part of the world. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The words of the lepers should ring in our ears, "We do not well: this day is day of good tidings, and we hold our peace… now therefore come, that we may go and tell...”  And Jesus said  unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

 

Rev. Lee Kim Shong