2 Kings 7:3-16 | Sermon Resources | 12 March 2023
Summary
The background of the passage is that there was a siege of the Syrians against Samaria, the capital of the ten northern tribes of Israel. So great was the economic disaster that the curses of Mt. Sinai had come to pass – people were actually eating their own children to survive (Deut. 28:53, 57). When one woman complains to King Jehoram about her neighbor hiding her son after they ate hers, instead of repenting, he shifts the blame to the prophet Elisha and tries to have his head taken off. Elisha then reveals that God is not to blame – that God’s heart towards Israel is good. He desires that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). In the wake of the LORD’s miraculous deliverance of Samaria, the response of the lepers is instructive to us as a congregation as we think about going deeper in outreach this spring.
Discussion Questions
- What were your main takeaways from the sermon this week?
- What happens when your comforts are taken away?
- How does God use sieges or economic disasters for our good?
- Is repentance meant to be personal or corporate? [yes, this is a trick question]. What does repentance look like?
- What did the city of Samaria do to end the siege? [yes, this is another trick question]. What does this teach us about God’s heart towards sinful creatures?
- How do you respond to those who say the gospel is too good to be true, or that religion is the opiate of the masses?
- Who will you share the good news with this week?
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