The Strand Study Bible

II KINGS II KINGS uncovered, can enrich our lives spiritually as believers and teach us tremendous principles concerning the Christian life. The story of the little maid from Israel, taken captive against her will, is one such jewel ( Mt 15:22 and Lk 21:2 ). Few within the Bible ever rise to the occasion of greatness in God’s eyes higher than this seemingly insignificant little Israeli maid did. She had every reason to hate her captors. The Syrians, the sworn enemies of Israel, had stolen her by force and taken her away from her home and country, and had kept her as a captive slave (and only God knows what her captors did to her upon her initial capture). You would think that after all that she had been through, including all the differences between her and her subjugator, that she would rather see Naaman die of his leprosy than see him healed. However, this tender young lady was different than most. Why? Because she knew what it meant to “serve” God. Notice the last statement of verse 2, “… and she waited on Naaman’s wife.” THE ADAGE IS TRUE: The real test of a servant is how he/she reacts when treated like one (I Pet 2:18-21) The reason this isolated narrative is so important for the believer is because it teaches us biblical principles concerning servant hood and what it means to truly serve. A true servant : * Is never bound by geographical location True servants serve whomever, wherever they are (Jn 13:1-5) If they’re at home, they’ll serve their spouse and their children with sincerity. If they’re at work, they’ll serve their boss with humility. If they’re at the store, they’ll serve the checkout person with a smile. Wherever a true servant goes, so goes his service. * Is never bitter about his circumstances Bitterness is the result of un-forgiveness due to an unfulfilled expectation ( Heb 12:15 b , Mt 26:39 and Isa 50:5) * Is always grateful As Christians, we are called to serve both good and the bad masters (I Pet 2:18), and to be thankful for everything (I Thess 5:18 and Heb 12:2) * Is always content As Christians, we are called to accept our life “as is” (Phil 4:11-13, I Tim 6:6-10 and Phil 2:5-7). Born and raised in poverty, with no form, no comeliness, and no beauty that we should desire Him (Isa 53:2), our LORD , who served humanity with his life, was content with His life “as is” (Heb 5:8). * Never serves his own interests True servants are here to serve, not be served. A true servant is never selfish; he cares only for the truth. The opposite of servant hood is selfishness. No one can call himself a servant who is selfish (Jn 13:1-5). CHRIST was the Son of God by name, a servant by reputation. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: What depicts a person is not their name, but their reputation 5:11 It didn’t make sense to Naaman ( Behold, I thought ) to dip himself seven times in a dirty river. However: THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Just because something doesn’t make sense to you... doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense 634