OT Characters: Four Lepers (CLEAN Series)

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/clean-podcast-10-ot-character-podcast-58/">website</a>.</p><p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><ul><li>Previous studies in Section II (Leprosy) have studied four <i>individual</i> lepers. Today we will consider the lives of four lepers all together.</li><li>Although these men are not healed of their leprosy, they end up in a positive, victorious place nonetheless.</li></ul><p><strong>Scriptural study: 2 Kings 6:24-31; 7:3-5, 8-10.</strong></p><ul><li>Siege conditions in Samaria: famine!</li><li>Cannibalism was forewarned in Deut 28—and mentioned several times in scripture.</li><li>This is a desperate situation!</li><li>The king’s anger is misdirected—towards Elisha—who soon predicts and end to the famine (7:1)</li><li>We’re skipping the story of the faithless captain, as well as other important parts of the story, as these lie outside the text we are examining.</li><li>Meet our lepers—four in all (7:3).</li><li>Notice the role of reason. They have nothing to lose!</li><li>Instead of encountering the Syrians, the camp has been abandoned -- full of food, supplies, money...</li><li>A sumptuous feast was just a short walk away! (The Great Banquet is potentially as close to your neighbors as the distance to your home!)</li><li>Their initial reaction is to horde. Yet, as with the message of Christ, the good news is to be shared!</li><li>Since others are starving, not sharing would be a culpable, criminal behavior (v.9).</li><li>They make a reasonable decision: to share.</li><li>The matter is time sensitive. People are starving. People are dying.</li><li>They came… and told… (v.10). Like the words of John: “Come… and see…” (1:39,46; 4:29; 11:34)</li><li>Although these men were not cured of their leprosy, they are still winners:<ul><li>Their lives are saved.</li><li>They purposed to save the lives of many others, and they saved a city.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Application</strong></p><ol><li>We are but poor lepers. We hav