Lessons from four lepers

Introduction

The city of Samaria had been surrounded by the Syrian army, and there was a great famine in the city. Food was so scarce that people were eating human flesh.

o   II Kings 6:24-31ܒ. ܡܠܟ̈ܐ ܘ:24 – 31

There were four lepers sitting at the gate of the city deciding what they should do.

o   II Kings 7:3-4ܒ. ܡܠܟ̈ܐ ܙ:3 – 4 

They arose and entered the camp of the Syrians; but, they found no one there.

o   II Kings 7:5-8ܒ. ܡܠܟ̈ܐ ܙ:5 – 8 

Why is this story in the Word of God, and how does it teach us redemption in Jesus?

1)      These dying lepers represent the human race under the judgment and curse of sin

o   Revelation 3:17 ܓܠܝܢܐ ܓ:17 

o   Ephesians 2:12ܐܦܣܝ̈ܐ ܒ:12 

o   Romans 3:10-19; 5:12  ܖ̈ܗܘܡܝܐ ܓ:10 – 19، ܗ:12

2)      The lepers, knowing their helpless state, considered three alternatives.

a)       If we stay where we are, we shall perish (Hebrews 9:27)ܥܒܼܖ̈ܝܐ ܛ:27

b)      If we go into the city, we shall die there.

c)       We can cast ourselves on the mercy of God (Psalm 130:1-4)ܡܙܡܘܖ̈ܐ ܩܠ:1 – 4 

There are several reasons to have a good hope for mercy when one comes to the Lord.

1)      It is the gracious nature of God to show mercy

o   Exodus 34:6-7ܡܦܩܢܐ ܠܕ:6 – 7 

o   Micah 7:18-19ܡܝܟܼܐ ܙ:18 – 19 

2)      The Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners

o   Galatians 4:4-5ܓܠܛܝ̈ܐ ܕ:4 – 5 

o   Luke 19:10ܠܘܩܐ ܝܛ:10 

o   I Timothy 1:15ܐ. ܛܝܡܬܐܘܣ ܐ:15 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. How?

(a)    By His righteousness and sacrifice

-          Romans 3:24-26ܖ̈ܗܘܡܝܐ ܓ:24– 26 

(b)    It is the chief glory of God to save

-          Exodus 33:18-19ܡܦܩܢܐ ܠܓ:18 – 19 

(c)     It is the command of God for us to come to Him

-          Isaiah 45:21-22ܐܫܥܝܐ ܡܗ:21 – 22 

-          I John 3:23ܐ. ܝܘܚܢܢ ܓ:23 

Conclusion   –                                Jeremiah 29:13-14ܐܪܡܝܐ ܟܛ:13 – 14