This is a Day of Good News

Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” (2 Kings 7:9 NKJV)

The Lepers Had Good News

The Syrians had besieged Samaria and there was a great famine in the city.  However, God caused the Syrians to hear what they thought was a great army coming against them and as a result they had gotten frightened and had fled leaving their supplies behind.

Now, there were four leprous men who were lingering outside the city gates of Samaria.  They were supposed to avoid contact with others, but they decided to go to the camp of the Syrians in order to see if the Syrians would feed them or if they would kill them.  When they got to the Syrian camp and realized that they had all fled, they started out hoarding the supplies of the Syrians for themselves.  Ultimately, they realized they were doing wrong.  This was a day of good tidings.  The people in Samaria could eat because of a miracle God had wrought, but the lepers had to tell the people in Samaria that food was available.  And who was going to believe lepers who could not even approach those they wanted to help?  However, somehow they got their message across to the gatekeepers who told the king.  He sent scouts and found that the message of the lepers was true.  The famine was over.  The siege was over and the lepers had been faithful in telling the King of Samaria that food was available.  The lepers (who are pictures of sinners) had good news and they didn’t keep it to themselves.

We Have Good News

As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15 NKJV).  Today many people are going to die.  Many are dying needlessly in Ukraine and in other wars.  Many are dying of the pandemic.  Many are dying just because their lives have run their course.  Some are dying in unexpected accidents.  But we who believe the Bible have the good news.  Are we hoarding it?  Or are we preaching the Gospel to those who need it?  And if we aren’t able to preach it because of circumstances or ability, are we supporting those who are preaching it faithfully?  We can pray for them, and we can support them financially.  We should encourage them because this is a day of good tidings and we should not remain silent.

If we had the cure for cancer, we would not remain silent.  If we had the formula for world peace, we would not remain silent.  Obviously, we don’t have the cure for cancer or the formula for world peace, but we do have good news.  Christ has come.  He has died on the cross to bear the punishment we deserve as sinners.  As a result sinners can be saved and go to heaven.  But they have to trust in the truth that Christ died for them.  Since eternity is long and time is short, we should be preaching the good news to everyone who will listen and by every means possible.

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week of May 15, 2022