Acknowledged As Not Right!

During the days of the prophet Elisha, Ben-hadad (King of Syria) went up to besiege Samaria. ( 2 Kings 6:24) Due to this situation food had become scarce ( 2 Kings 6:25), but God was about to bring some immediate relief. ( 2 Kings 7:1) I would suggest reading 2 Kings 6:24 through chapter 7, but I’ll try to supply a brief summary in order to bring us to a point we ought to all take to heart.

At this time there were two lepers at the entrance to the gate of Samaria who knew if they went into the city they would die from the famine, but they also knew they would die if they remained where they were. Therefore they decided to go to the camp of the Syrians and if they were spared they would live, but if they were killed they would die. ( 2 Kings 7:3-4) This latter option was the only one that appeared to provide any sense of hope. However, upon their arrival at the camp of the Syrians they found it completely abandoned with everything left behind. God had caused the Syrians to hear the sound of a great army and thinking Israel had been joined by the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt, the Syrians fled in a panic. ( 2 Kings 7:6-7) After these two lepers entered a tent where they ate, drank, and then carried off and hid silver, gold, and other plunder, they returned to another tent from which they carried away more that they also hid. ( 2 Kings 7:8) Then their consciences were struck by what they were doing.

We read. . .
“Then they said to one another, ‘WE ARE NOT DOING RIGHT. THIS DAY IS A DAY OF GOOD NEWS. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; LET US GO AND TELL the king’s household.’” ( 2 Kings 7:9 ESV)

The lives of others depended on hearing this GOOD NEWS. It was not right for them to save their own lives and forget about others. This was a blessing to be shared!

Should we not be struck by this thought even more so in view of the eternal salvation God has made possible through Christ? “We are not doing right” if we keep that GOOD NEWS to ourselves. It is GOOD NEWS to be shared because the eternal life of others is at stake. Just as God provided the occasion for this GOOD NEWS these two lepers found, so we as sinners were provided the opportunity to receive the GOOD NEWS of our salvation in Christ and it is GOOD NEWS not to be kept to ourselves!

We live in a world of spiritual famine. Let us share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus so that others may also be filled and enriched as we are in Christ. As Paul stated (quoting from Isaiah 52:7), “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ( Romans 10:15) May we not remain silent.

Have a great day RECOGNIZING THE NEWS WE KNOW WE MUST SHARE!
Carl

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