Yet, I want you to consider the utterly hopeless condition of four particular lepers who lived long ago. For, theirs is a story that entails a miraculous deliverance, and important insights regarding the mind of God.
In ancient times, people lived in walled cities. The four lepers in our true story (found in 2 Kings 6:24-7:20), lived outside the walls of an ancient city in Israel, named Samaria. They largely depended, for their occasional food, upon the charity of those who lived in that city. But for many weeks Samaria had been besieged by a massive army of Syrians. Starvation had reached the point, within the city, that some had resorted to murder and to cannibalism.
Now, there also lived within the city of Samaria a famous prophet of the LORD, named Elisha. Doubtless Elisha was also suffering hunger, as a result of the siege. Whereas, in Scripture, the focus of this story appears to center upon Elisha; yet, the four lepers are also integral to the story. I suppose it is therefore not unreasonable--in view of what actually did happen (as that is reported in Scripture), to imagine how their own circumstances might have appeared, that is, from the point of view of those four lepers. . . .
They were surrounded by the host of Syrians, whose tents were pitched at some distance around the entire perimeter of Samaria's walls. The lepers thus could neither escape to another location, nor could they enter the city--the gates of which were barricaded from within. Long days and nights had already passed, and the lepers--themselves also under siege, had exhausted their meager supplies of food and water. Their situation was rapidly growing desperate. Starvation and the unrelenting siege had cast them into deep despair. The lepers sat for long periods of time motionless and silent--though their hearts desperately reached out to God. I can imagine that, on a certain night, they may have spoken one to another, thus:
"What are we going to do?"
"We've nothing left to do, but die!""Why has God forsaken us? As if the plague wasn't enough...."
"Doesn't the Prophet live in the city?"
"Yes.""They say he raised someone from the dead."
"...a boy, I think...""Has God forsaken him, too--do you suppose?"
"He's just a man, after all. Who knows?""But we're still alive...and the soldiers haven't come to..."
"Yet!""If we're still alive, then the Prophet is probably..."
"He doesn't even know we're out here!""Sure he does! He's given us food before. And if he's alive..."
"Then he's praying.""Yeah. Him and who else...?"
"Right. Nobody. That's why we're all in this mess!"
"Well, I'm praying..."
"You--leper?""...me, too."
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The Bible tells us the lepers reasoned among themselves and decided they had only one course of action open to them: they would go out to the Syrians' encampment. If the Syrians killed the lepers, then at least they would die quickly--which, they agreed, would be better than dying of slow and painful starvation. But, there was perhaps a small chance that the Syrians would give them something to eat, and send them away--seeing, they were lepers.
So, the four lepers headed out in the "twilight", toward the Syrians. When they arrived at the outskirts of the encampment, however, they were surprised to find that no one was there. The Syrians were all gone; but they had left all of their stuff! Whereupon, the lepers gorged themselves on food, even as they attempted to hide various items of treasure they found amongst the tents. But soon a sense of dread came over them. They realized they could neither keep so much treasure to themselves, nor could they keep so great a thing secret. And, fearing that evil would befall them if they did not report what they found, they returned to inform the Samaritans, of their great discovery.
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Now, why is that story in the Bible? And why did I choose to tell it from the perspective of the lepers? Here's why.
I see three different "groups" of Samaritans, as follows:
- the people of the city: because of whose sins, God allowed them to suffer the siege;
- the four lepers, outside the gate of Samaria
- Elisha -- (and a small handful of "elders" within the city)
GROUP #1
Samaria was the chief city of the northern kingdom of Israel (which split off from the larger kingdom of Israel, after the days of Solomon). Accordingly, the Samaritans still considered themselves to be God's chosen people; notwithstanding, there was open hostility between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.
We also know, from the text in 2 Kings, something about the sinful condition of the Samaritans. For, the king of Samaria not only blamed the prophet Elisha, for the siege and the resulting famine; but that same king also then purposed to kill Elisha. Moreover, we see that at least two women in Samaria conspired together to kill and eat each other's children. And if that was the case with "Mothers in Israel", then what must have been true of the city?
I thus take the first group, above mentioned (the "people of the city"), to represent the vast number of professing Christians--who are nevertheless unwilling to renounce and to turn from sin. For which cause, the contemporary Church (I speak of America) has been, and yet remains, under siege by the forces of darkness.
GROUP #2
Yet, I also see two other, albeit much smaller "groups" closely associated with the first group. There are the four lepers, who must live as outcasts from the city. Though they "belong" to the city, yet, the lepers are not welcome within the gates--lest they might "infect" others within the city, with the disease of leprosy. Leprosy yields four significant results (4 lepers?); namely, leprosy:
- produces white lesions in the skin. (Lepers can thus be readily identified, even at some distance, by reason of the whiteness of their skin);
- leads to increasing incapacitation of the flesh;
- is always ostracized from, and by, "polite" company; and thus,
- results in a lifestyle marked by separation and isolation, of the affected individual.
I thus take the second group, above mentioned (the four lepers), to represent that very small Remnant of faithful Christians, who are compelled--by reason of the "whiteness" (cleanness) of their "appearance" (their conduct and speech), to live "outside the gates", as it were, of the "city" (the much larger, professing Church). Just as the Samaritans feared to allow the lepers inside the city, lest the city-dwellers might become afflicted with the plague of leprosy; similarly, nominal Christians do not want to give place to true Believers (the Remnant) inside the churches, lest the nominal church-goers might become "afflicted" with that "plague" of holiness.
Nominal, professing Christians view holiness as: something which cripples and incapacitates one's otherwise free and enjoyable lifestyle; and, which makes one stand out in a crowd, as one who is "marked"; and, which thus causes one to be unwelcome amidst polite company (ostracized). Holiness, in a word, is a "plague", to nominal "Christians".
Indeed, true Christians experience increasing incapacitation of the "flesh"; as we learn to put our trust in God alone. True Christians furthermore learn that holiness of life does result in a significant feeling of isolation. For, just in order as we ourselves are separated from worldliness; so, then, will we find ourselves to be separated from those who love the world.
GROUP #3
The third group also consists of a very small number of persons. When the siege at length appears to have brought the city to the point of utter defeat, we find the prophet Elisha seated in his house, together with some (few) "elders". Though Scripture does not explicitly say so, yet, we are sure that Elisha and the elders must have been seeking the Lord, concerning the siege and the famine.
I thus take the third group, above mentioned (Elisha and the elders), to represent that very small number of God's faithful ministers, who give themselves to intercede for the Church of Jesus Christ, according to the will of God.
Elisha, as well as each of those elders, was in the very same circumstances as was everyone else in Samaria. But neither was Elisha, nor were those few elders, reacting to those circumstances in the same way as did the rest of Samaria's residents. But Elisha and those elders were gathered together for a prayer meeting. Doubtless each of those men had been praying every day since the siege began--and before then. But, now, they have come together to pray. And that is a very important fact. For, God has not only given unique promises to those who will come and pray, together. But God has moreover commanded the same:
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand" (Joel 1:14-15)But what else does the prophet Joel say?
"Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
"THEN will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
"And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD [that is, after the people obey, and come together to pray and seek the Lord], that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:12-29)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Finally, then, I see a picture of Revival emerge from that calamitous story in 2 Kings 6; which, story, I want to compare to our present situation. Today, we should realize that the Church in America has been suffering a very lengthy siege, due to the Apostasy which yet continues within the vast majority of churches. The forces of darkness have thus prevailed to hinder and afflict the whole nation, by means of that siege--as the direct result of the Church's weakness.
Even faithful Christians have suffered much because of that siege. But faithful Christians have furthermore suffered as outcasts from the society of the Church-at-large. The faithful Remnant of true Believers is like that small group of lepers outside the gate of Samaria: separate (holy), but still very hungry. Not unlike those lepers, the Remnant seems very uncertain about how the situation may end for them. And, also, not unlike those lepers who looked hopefully, for their deliverance, toward the Syrian encampment in the near distance; so, too, do many of the Remnant look hopefully, for deliverance, to the Rapture--in the near distance.
Meanwhile, hidden from view (inside of a house), the prophet and the elders were gathered together in prayer for all the inhabitants of the city--including the lepers. In other words, the Lord's ministers are interceding not only for the faithful Remnant; and not only for the host of backslidden church-goers; but, also, for the unsaved world.
And when it appeared as if things could not possibly get any worse (the king was on his way to Elisha's house, to kill him), suddenly, God spoke. I said, "suddenly", God spoke. The word of prophecy came forth instantly and with overwhelming power! And the power of that word was demonstrated in the boldness with which the prophet declared it, no less than it was in the boldness of faith by which he dared to speak such a seemingly impossible thing to come! The king's own counsellor scoffed at that word--albeit, to his own damnation.
"To morrow, about this time", the prophet proclaimed. That reminds me exactly of something that happened a few years ago, somewhere in Kentucky. A couple of (female) college students got together to pray for their school. Soon, a few more students gathered with them to pray. What started with two young girls praying for their school, soon turned into a virtual prayer movement within that school. A couple of months later, scores of students were meeting daily for prayer. As they were praying, one day, suddenly one of the students heard a word from God. He was bold enough to speak it out: "To morrow, about this time", he said that the Lord said to him, "Revival will come".
When deliverance came to Samaria, it came supernaturally; it came suddenly, even unexpectedly; and it came in great, overflowing abundance.
Importantly, it came in direct answer to prevailing prayer and obedience. Important, too, it came FIRST TO THE LEPERS -- that is, to the faithful Remnant!
Revival is coming! I have not, yet, heard exactly when it is coming. But I know it will be very, very soon. But as the Lord's hidden ones are gathering together in prayer -- (are they not?) -- the Holy Ghost is going to whisper in the ears of someone: "To morrow, about this time...."
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I must not conclude without mentioning one other, important event, in the story in 2 Kings.
Two days -- 48 hours -- before God gave that miraculous deliverance to the inhabitants of Samaria, a desperate, but unbelieving, Mother destroyed her young son, her only son. She not only killed him with her own hands, but she proceeded to cook and to eat his flesh. In the process of coming, first, to contemplate, and finally to embrace that decision, her soul became possessed of evil. Her fleshly appetite was thus momentarily satisfied. But her suffering had only really just begun.
For, on the second day, when the Deliverance came from God, and she herself should then have been blessed beyond measure--together with her only son: instead, the sight of that Deliverance brought her no joy, but it drove her stark-raving mad.
On that day, she might have said to her young son: "See, honey, Mommy told you so! I told you that God will not fail those who wait for Him. You can trust Him, son." And from that day forward, that Mother could have shared with her only son a powerful Testimony, and a precious memory, which would have sustained both her and him throughout the rest of their lives.
But on that day, that Mother became, instead: "the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird": when she realized she could never escape the horrific consequences of her unbelief.
So shall it also come to pass for those, professing but unfaithful Christians, who even now are destroying their own children--whether literal or spiritual; by reason of their unbelief and by their sinful ways. Multitudes--especially, of young persons, are being led astray not so much by the world, but by a worldly "Church"!
When Revival comes, shall the faithless "mothers in Israel" -- that is, the apostate churches, then be able to enter in to it?
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