Tag: Good News Should be Told - 2 Kings 6-10

2 Kings 7:9 (ESV Strong's)

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.”

Tag:  Good News Should be Told

The setting for the above verse is found in a famine caused by the besieging Syrian army over Israel’s capital, Samaria.   The King of Syria, Ben-hadad, was set upon taking the capital and all of Israel.  The siege was so severe in the city that a four lepers decided that if they were going to die, they might as well go to the Syrian army and hope for mercy.   As they enter the Ben-hadad’s camp, everyone is gone.  The entire army has deserted their camp and left all their food and all their clothing and all their gold and silver.  Here is the initial reaction of the lepers (much like us):

2 Kings 7:8 (ESV Strong's)

And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them.

Selfishness hits all of us, at times.  But, this was not their permanent state, thankfully.  They eventually came to their senses and realized the grace they had been afforded by God to have food, clothing and riches was not to be simply consumed; it was to be shared.   Good news is meant to be repeated.   Good news is not be held as a hidden treasure.    Note Jesus’ words:

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV Strong's)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We are to be light to the world.  We have the Good News of the Gospel.  It is meant to be spilled out into the world. These four lepers have the right idea:  Today is a good news day.  If we remain silent that is one us.  If we have the knowledge.  We should go out and proclaim the glorious beauty of the Gospel.   We can’t just enjoy the banquet Christ has set for us while those around us are starving for truth.