Graham continued the 2 Kings 5 theme this week.

2 Kings 5 contd. [ 31:14 ] Play in Popup | Download

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The Unnamed Girl

2 Kings 5:2-3

Introduction
A sermon for a new year, or a sermon for believers facing difficult times.

Story of Naaman? No, there is more than one story here and more than one hero of faith.

Question – Where does this story begin? The story begins with the screams of women and children and roar of men either fighting or dying, all as a young girl is kidnapped.

What is the background to her capture? She was captured by the people of Aram. The kingdom of Aram had an uneasy peace with Israel which is hinted at in the reaction of Joram the Israelite king when he reads the letter from the Aramean king (verse 7). During this time there appears to have been border raids and skirmishes in the aftermath of Ramoth Gilead when Ahab king of Israel had died (see 1 Kings chapter 22 for more details).

1) She stands
The girl carries truth, guards her fire, until the day recorded here when she speaks. Before her work of witness comes her character. She stands.

See Ephesians 6:13,14a “Having done all, stand.”
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…

Her faith continues. She stands. The calibre of a person’s discipleship is revealed in the trial of time. Over the years as I have watched the lives of others some people have surprised me. She did not allow her past troubles or present restrictions to confine her faith.

What sustained her faith? Worship? The Word? See Psalm 1:2 for the result of a diet of the Word.

Perhaps she had found a contentment with her position, with her opportunities. See the old children’s song:

Jesus bids us shine
With a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle
Burning in the night.
In this world of darkness
So let us shine-
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.
Jesus bids us shine,
First of all for Him;
Well He sees and knows it,
If our light grows dim.
He looks down from Heaven
To see us shine-
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.
Jesus bids us shine,
Then, for all around;
Many kinds of darkness
In the world are found-
Sin and want and sorrow;
So we must shine-
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.
Now, thanks to the wonders of the Internet I can know that it was written at the end of the American Civil War by Susan B Warner, and published in the children’s magazine ‘The Little Corporal’ in 1868.

“You in your small corner…” is not about relationships, or the lack of them. The aim of this song was far higher and far nobler.

I notice two things this song was trying to do:
(a) “Jesus bids us shine” is obvious. It was training children to think of their duty as they would grow up, their duty to make a difference in their world as far as they would be able. This is the teaching of Jesus to be a light.

Walking in the light is an Old Testament understanding.
Isaiah 2:5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD. The Day of the LORD.

And is a New Testament calling.
Matthew 5:14-16  You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

(b) The song also called them to contentment with the areas of ministry or service that was to be alloted to them. No matter what we aim for or how hard we try to achieve, we all have to accept the limitations God puts about us. “You in your small corner, and I in mine” See believer married to unbeliever, thief no longer stealing, promotion denied, opportunity lost because of duty of care to family member. “Give us this day our daily bread…” means that which is my portion reserved for me. It may be a different share to what another may be receiving.

2) She speaks
She had continued in faith despite trial and trouble. Despite isolation. Willing to be different.

She spoke. Had she prayed over this for a while? Did it come out spontaneously? We not have the information to come to a conclusion.

See Matthew 10:18,19
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,

Neither her past, nor her present could confine her, could confine her faith and her obedience to her God.