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Index
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Index
New converts are required to sign up to the Covenant Contract:
6 “As for the foreigners
Who attach themselves to the LORD,
To minister to Him,
And to love the name of the LORD,
To be His servants—
All who keep the sabbath and do not profane it,
And who hold fast to My covenant—
7 I will bring them to My sacred mount
And let them rejoice in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
Shall be welcome on My altar;
For My House shall be called
A house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:6-7 (Tanakh))
Because the convert is required to 'hold fast to the Lord's Covenant' (Is. 56:6 Tanakh), the Mosaic Contract requires the integration of the convert into the community. Those converts will come not only from the [Gentile] nations, but also from the House of Desolation:
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty---yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9 NIV)
9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars---I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. (Revelation 3:9 NIV)
There is but one shepherd and one flock:
[15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:15-16 NIV)
Naaman (2 Ki. chapter 5), the Aramean, is healed of a skin complaint and transfers his allegiance to God and to Israel:
13 But his servants came forward and spoke to him. “Sir," they said, “if the prophet told you to do something difficult, would you not do it? How much more when he has only said to you, 'Bathe and be clean.'"
14 So he went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had bidden; and his flesh became like a little boy's, and he was clean. 15 Returning with his entire retinue to the man of God, he stood before him and exclaimed,
“Now I know that there is no God in the whole world except in Israel! So please accept a gift from your servant.”
16 But he replied, “As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept anything.”
He pressed him to accept, but he refused.
17 And Naaman said, “Then at least let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will never again offer up burnt offering or sacrifice to any god, except the LORD. 18 But may the LORD pardon your servant for this: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow low in worship there, and he is leaning on my arm so that I must bow low in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow low in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this.”
19 And he said to him, “Go in peace.” (2 Kings 5:13-19 (Tanakh))
Jesus was later to say of Naaman:
"And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed---only Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4:27 NIV)
Identification (Dictionary of English): a person's sense of identity with someone or something.
17 And Naaman said, “Then at least let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will never again offer up burnt offering or sacrifice to any god, except the LORD. 18 But may the LORD pardon your servant for this: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow low in worship there, and he is leaning on my arm so that I must bow low in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow low in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this.”
19 And he said to him, “Go in peace.” (2 Kings 5:17-19 (Tanakh))
Naaman9C literally attaches himself to Israel. He does so in the most explicit way by asking for two mule loads of [Israeli] earth. He commits to the Lord God and to Israel. With those two mule loads of earth, Naaman identifies with the Lord God and Israel. Naaman has, in effect, acquired dual nationality: Syrian by birth; but Israeli by adoption through circumcision of the heart (cf, Deut. 10: 16†; Deut. 30: 6‡ ).
[† Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (Deuteronomy 10:16 NIV)]
[‡ The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV)]
[Homework assignment: Discuss: Paul - by enforcing the division of Jew and Gentile - has defiantly prevented Gentile adoption through circumcision of the heart.]
Naaman is concerned about his situation at work, and wishes to make it clear that when he enters the temple of Rimmon he is not identifying himself in any way with its beliefs, practices, or customs: his identification is - and remains - with the Lord God and Israel. "Go in peace," says Elisha. Elisha won't accept any gift from Naaman (2 Ki. 5: 16); but Naaman's commitment to God and identification with Israel are acceptable.
Elisha9C understands Naaman's predicament; and, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day -
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? (Mat. 9: 10-11 KJV)
- he does not condemn Naaman for his associations. And so Elisha gives Naaman a blessing of peace, in the knowledge that Naaman will be able to go back home and witness to his new-found faith. Naaman will be able to witness to family and friends; but that witness will extend outwards from his own circle. Naaman's first opportunity [to witness to his faith] is actually in front of his entire retinue:
Returning with his entire retinue to the man of God, he stood before him and exclaimed, “Now I know that there is no God in the whole world except in Israel!” (2 Ki. 5: 15 T)
The King of Aram will want to know, in detail, everything that happened; and so Naaman will be given the opportunity to testify in front of the King of Aram's court. Naaman will confirm and add to the testimony of the Israeli servant girl who set the wheel in motion:
Once, when the Arameans were out raiding, they carried off a young girl from the land of Israel, and she became an attendant to Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "I wish Master could come before the prophet in Samaria; he would cure him of his leprosy." 4 [Naaman] went and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Aram said, "Go to the king of Israel, and I will send along a letter." (2 Ki. 5: 2-5a T)
17 And Naaman said, “Then at least let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will never again offer up burnt offering or sacrifice to any god, except the LORD. 18 But may the LORD pardon your servant for this: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow low in worship there, and he is leaning on my arm so that I must bow low in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow low in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this.” 19 And he said to him, “Go in peace.” (2 Kings 5:17-19a (Tanakh))
Naaman realised that he must return home to a way of life that had nothing to do with the Covenant Model. So he took two mule-loads of earth to replicate it as far as he possibly could.
Naaman's request for some Israeli soil was very astute. For, in the difficult days that lie ahead of him, this direct link to Israel will be a rock-solid support. Wherever Naaman travels, he will take the God of Israel - and a little piece of Israel itself - with him. The Israeli servant girl will be able to provide a certain amount of guidance in the faith; and there is the added possibility that Naaman may have contact with other Israeli exiles who will be able to explain still further...
Ruth, the Moabitess (Ruth 1: 16), abandons her country of birth, family, and former gods; and she chooses and commits to Naomi's God. Naomi instructs her; Ruth is obedient: Naomi helps Ruth to become integrated into the faith. Ruth marries Boaz and God blesses her with a son, 'Obed'. Obed is brought up in the Jewish faith. Ruth was, in fact, David's great grandmother:
13 So Boaz married Ruth; she became his wife, and he cohabited with her. The LORD let her conceive, and she bore a son [Obed].
...
21 ... Boaz begot Obed, 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. (Ruth 4:13, 21b, 22 (Tanakh))
Version: 2024-09-24