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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 4 October 2025:
2 Kings 5:1-3 — Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Naaman had position, prestige, and power, but he also had an incurable disease that no worldly influence could heal. His greatness could not erase his helplessness. How telling it is that the hope for his healing came not from another general, king, or worldly physician, but from a powerless slave girl taken captive in war. God often works through the lowly and overlooked to accomplish His will (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). She pointed Naaman toward God’s prophet, testifying in simple faith. Though she had lost her freedom, her family, and her homeland, she had not lost her confidence in the Lord. She is a picture of true faith and witness, reminding us that our circumstances do not silence our testimony.
2 Kings 5:4-7 — So Naaman went in and told his lord… and the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” … When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?”
The king of Syria assumed that healing would come by political or royal power, but Israel’s king knew that the request was impossible for him. This highlights the futility of relying on human authority for what only God can do. Psalm 146:3 says, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.” Naaman’s journey was a process of being stripped of pride and redirected from the power of kings to the power of God.
2 Kings 5:8-12 — But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” … And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.”
Naaman expected a dramatic display, a healing worthy of his status, and he despised the Jordan River as inferior. Pride nearly robbed him of God’s blessing. Like many of us, he wanted God’s power but on his own terms. God’s instructions, however, require humility and simple obedience, not spectacle. The same principle applies to the gospel — salvation comes not through grand human effort but through the humility of repentance and faith in the crucified Christ, acted upon through obedience (1 Corinthians 1:18).
2 Kings 5:13-14 – But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
As mentioned above, simple pride stands between many people and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Many simply refuse to humble themselves to accept salvation on God’s terms — to them it is illogical, too unsophisticated, too accessible, too easy, or unspectacular. The prideful mind can’t fathom the gift of total forgiveness and righteousness (being made right in the His sight) from God through the Christ, a forgiveness and redemptino which is undeserved, unmerited, and available to the lowliest of sinners, removing all pride of accomplishment, superiority, or special favor.
- John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life….
- Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 — For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The mighty Syrian commander Naaman wanted to be healed but on his terms, in a way that appealed to his sense of pride, in a spectacular way fit for a great person, in a way that honored him rather than revealing his total dependence on mercy and grace. Naaman could not humble himself in order to accept God’s healing on God’s terms. He expected God’s prophet to honor him and treat him special. However, Elisha intentionally did not come out to see Naaman, sending a messenger instead. All Naaman had to do was accept the free gift of healing from God, but he considered it beneath him. The message couldn’t have been more clear or simple — ‘Wash, and be clean’. But the message was ridiculous to Naaman. Fortunately, Naaman’s servants were willing to talk some sense into him (likely at great personal risk), and Naaman relented. Who do you know that simply refuses to accept the simplicity of the Gospel? Are you willing to come near to them and appeal to them to be reconciled to God?
2 Kings 5:15, 16 — And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.”
Many who have received the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ still act as if they need to earn it, so they try to work for it, pay for it in some way, or make some sort of exchange with God. Often, Christians do this without even realizing they are doing it. How offended would someone be if they gave you a priceless gift out of love, and in response you said, “Here’s $50 for what you gave me.” Consider how offensive it is to try to ‘pay’ for salvation (or earn it through deeds) which was given as a loving sacrifice through the blood of Christ. Consider the role pride plays in an unwillingness to demonstrated complete insufficiency and dependence and to be rescued from oneself by someone far greater. Don’t insult God, cheapen the Gospel, or distract from the Gospel message by trying to work your way into Heaven or in some way contribute to the sufficiency of Christ. And be very careful not to display your good deeds before others (boast) as if you somehow have anything to do with your own salvation. Yes, obey God, but out of love, not pride or duty (doing it because you know you are supposed to), and always give God the glory. When others are inclined to praise you for your behavior, use the opportunity to share the Gospel so “they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12) Finally, don’t sacrifice your peace, rest, security, and joy in Christ by trying to carry a burden of self-justification you can’t carry – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
2 Kings 5:18, 19 — In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” He said to him, “Go in peace.”
Many who accept God’s free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ live powerless, insignificant lives because they compromise with the world, don’t walk in grace and loving obedience, and don’t proclaim the Gospel to others in word and deed and God intends them to do:
Naaman the Syrian was the only Leper cured by Elisha (Luke 4:27), not even any Jews were healed. Naaman could have been a powerful witness in Syria, but because he continued to comprise with the wicked practices of his culture for the sake of maintaining his position, the Bible records no other significant events in the life of Naaman — he was healed and then nothing. He is never mentioned again in the Old Testament. What might have happened in Syria if Naaman had acted like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel and had refused to bow down to foreign gods and had refused to conceal his faith in order to avoid conflict? Perhaps his impact would have transformed Syria like Daniel’s impact transformed Babylon. How has compromise hindered our impact on the world around us? The compromising Christian may be saved, but ineffective or irrelevant at a time and place when God seeks faithful witnesses.
Consider what is happening today in America: Many are boldly proclaiming a position on politics or social issues, but how many people are boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ as the only Way to peace and reconciliation, and the only Truth, and as the only way to Life? How many Christians are acting like Naaman, quietly believing without having any real impact on the world – “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Elisha’s ‘Go in peace’ was not an endorsement but rather a polite dismissal. Having received healing and life, Naaman, in turn, should have committed his life to faithfully serving God without compromise. Elisha did not condemn Naaman, but neither did he commend him or commission him — Elisha was done with him. Christians often see salvation as having eternal life, but they fail to recognize that eternal life starts now (see John 17:3) and fail to understand we are not just saved for eternity, we are saved to live out “thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” to serve God now on earth, to be priests, ambassadors, salt and light, and to bring glory to God every day. Like so many others, Naaman apparently viewed his gift of life as something intended for him rather than for God’s glory. As demonstrated by Paul, Grace should compel us to live our lives for Christ alone, to know Him more and more each day and to make Him known more and more each day. Don’t render yourself irrelevant through compromise and lack of conviction. Serve God wholeheartedly.
2 Kings 5:20-27 – Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, thought, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” … And Elisha said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments…? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.”
In contrast to Naaman, who eventually humbled himself and was cleansed, Gehazi succumbed to greed and deceit and was struck with the very leprosy from which Naaman was freed. This shows that proximity to godliness is not the same as personal holiness. Gehazi had seen God’s power firsthand but allowed covetousness to corrupt him. His story warns us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and no amount of religious association can substitute for genuine obedience and integrity before God.
2 Kings 5:26 — Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?
A final point: To attempt to use the power of God in your life for personal gain is a curse. Make sure your motive in all you do is truly God’s glory and not self-glorification or self-interest. The grace you received from God was free (to you but not to Him) and God-centered. In the same way, give grace freely to others at your own expense in gratitude for the grace you have received and out of genuine love for those your Lord loved enough to die for, always proclaiming Christ alone (nothing about yourself) — “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.'” (Matthew 10:5-8)
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 4 October 2025: 2 Kings 5 teaches that pride, position, and possessions cannot save or cleanse us; only humble faith in God’s word can. Like Naaman, we must lay aside pride and obey God, even when His instructions seem simple or unimpressive. Like the slave girl and Naaman’s servants, we must be faithful to point others to Christ and encourage humility. Like Elisha, we must refuse to corrupt God’s grace with greed. Today, practice this by humbling yourself before God in a specific area where pride resists His will. Obey Him fully, even in what seems small or unimpressive, and choose to see His grace as priceless, not something to be leveraged for gain.
Pray: “Father, thank You for showing me that Your grace cannot be earned, bought, or manipulated. Forgive me for the pride and self-reliance that keep me from simply trusting and obeying You. Help me to humble myself before You, to be faithful in small acts of obedience, and to live with integrity. Guard me from the greed of Gehazi and give me the faith of the little servant girl, pointing others to You. Cleanse me and make me new, not because of who I am, but because of who You are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 