Epiphany 6 2 Kings 5:1-14 February 11, 2018 “A Very Rich Story”

( Lectionary for February 11, 2018)

Today offers to the preacher one of the Bible’s great narratives, the stunning story of the healing of the Syrian general, Naaman, by the prophet, Elisha. A preacher would do well merely to tell this marvelous tale, focusing, of course, squarely on just what the story is about. But what it is in fact about needs some careful thought, since it could be said to be about more than one thing like all great narratives. Sermons, in my less than humble opinion, need to be about one thing only, so let’s choose one of the possible meanings and go from there. You may, and I am certain will, find other possibilities, so you may go in very different directions than the ones I enumerate below. I assume for my discussion that the text cannot be allowed to end in vs.14, but must include vss.15-19 as well. In truth, if you wish to go on to Gehazi’s rather darkly humorous tale of greed in vss. 19-27, you are free to do so, but I will confine my remarks to 5:1-19.

1. YHWH’s universal power. The entire story turns on the reality of YHWH’s power over all of history and nations. Naaman, the Syrian, is an enemy general, yet it is YHWH who has made possible his victories, even over the chosen people of Israel! Such a tale must have been anathema to those ardent nationalists in the land who imagined that they were God’s chosen and would always be victorious over all foes due to God’s special and exclusive interest in the survival and eventual triumph of Israel. Israel was unique, they claimed, and of particular and unrivaled value for the entire world. In our own time of “America First” and the conviction by many that the USA has an unparalleled and invaluable role to play in the world, there may be much fruit in the story to reflect on that dangerous theme. Perhaps the scene at the end where Naaman demands a few sacks of soil from Israel in order that he might perform correct worship back in his own land provides a hilarious coda to that theme (2 Kings 5:17).
2. The arrogance of human power. Naaman is a leper, but because he is still well able to perform his military duties, his “leprosy” is hardly the incapacitating Hansen’s disease, but rather some unsightly skin ailment that makes social interactions distinctly uncomfortable. The story vastly plays up the trappings of human authority, as the general brings to Israel an enormous retinue of cash and goods, along with a legion of crack troops designed to amaze Israel’s king and to force him to effect a cure of the general’s ailment. Despite the vast array of power, the king is thoroughly incapable of doing what Naaman needs and demands.Fortunately, the prophet Elisha hears of the king’s horror in the face of the Syrian army and its seemingly endless wealth, and invites Naaman to come to his hut somewhere in the sticks of Israel. The general appears at the prophet’s door, backed by his grand army and wagons laden with money and goods, expecting the prophet to do his stuff and cure him of his irritating problem. But to his shock and consternation, the prophet himself does not deign to appear but sends his slave out to announce what the great general must do. The servant tells the general to head to the Jordan River, hardly the most salubrious of streams, and dip his body there seven times to effect the cure.

Naaman is furious and will have none of that nonsense! “For me, general Naaman, I imagined that this prophet would come out and face me, incant the name of his God, wave his magic hands over my disease, and make me clean. Why should I go dip my superb body in that muddy creek, the Jordan, when I have perfectly lovely rivers back in Syria! This is an outrage!” And with that, the general turns his mighty horse around and prepares a return to Syria. However, his servants convince him to try the dip in the Jordan. I mean, they say, if the prophet had asked of you something difficult, you probably would have tried it. How much better that he has set such a simple task! Naaman does the dip, and is made instantaneously clean.

How may we all learn that we do not have all we need to get along well in this world? We are all in need of counsel and advice and careful thought if we are to navigate the troubled and frequently muddy waters that we all face. Humility is unfortunately in short supply in a world where money and influence appear to rule the time. A preacher could well go there for a lively word.

3. Where does one seek and find genuine power? The story pits those who claim power, the kings and generals, against those who appear to have little power, the servants and slaves. Naaman first learns of the possibility of cure from a tiny slave girl, captured in an Israelite raid (2 Kings 5:2-3). He then learns how to solve his problem from Elisha’s servant, rather than from the man of power himself (2 Kings 5:10). Finally, his own servants must convince him that a swim in the Jordan might by the gateway to a cure for his leprosy (2 Kings 5:13). In three cases in the tale, it is the servants who hold the keys to real power rather than the kings and the generals. Might this not be the same in our own time? Do we spend too much time currying the favor of the powerful, the beautiful, the famous, the rich, avoiding those who have little of those attributes, but who have wisdom to impart and surprising gifts to give if we but listen? To Job’s question, “Where is wisdom to be found?” (Job 28), we could answer not in the places where we usually look.

There are three possible themes that arise for me out of this glorious tale. I trust you have found a few of your own. Is it not wonderful when our lectionary collectors offer to us such rich fare? Now, go preach!