D-Day
And they said to one another, “We are not doing right this day. It is a day of good news and we are keeping silent.” 2 Kings 7:9
Day of Good News – The story of the lepers who discover the Syrian army has fled is both amusing and tragic. During the siege, circumstances were so bad in the city that parents ate their children. Four lepers, outcasts from the protected city, decide to go to the enemy camp for food. They assume that they will die one way or the other, so they might as well beg from the enemy. What they discover is amazing. The enemy is gone. They take what they want, feasting on the provisions. Then they realize that this discovery cannot be withheld from the city. When they carry the message to the king, the news brings rejoicing. It is yom besora, a day of good news.
The actual Hebrew phrase, yom besora, simply means tiding or message. Whether the message is good or bad is determined by the context. In this case, it is very good news. But the context tells us more than the message. Let’s examine the links here.
First, the lepers are outcasts. The good news is discovered by those who have been pushed out of the society. Their affliction becomes the motivation for their discovery. The good news comes to those who are already rejected and facing death no matter what camp they occupy.
Secondly, once they make the startling discovery, they help themselves. They take advantage of their good favor and provide for themselves. But in the midst of their personal satisfaction, they realize that this good news demands publication. In fact, they say, “If we wait until morning light, then punishment will find us.” There is more than moral imperative to share the good news. There is also the threat that keeping silent will bring dire consequences.
Thirdly, we do not find any pleas to God in this story. God acts independently of human petition. In fact, even though the king shows incredible despair at the plight of the beleaguered city, there are no prayers for rescue. God takes action on His own. And He doesn’t announce His action. The lepers have to discover what God has already done. God finished the work, but it remains unknown until the lepers take the initiative and that initiative comes out of sheer desperation.
Finally, the good news is the news of unwarranted rescue. Everyone in the city is starving. They all share the same plight as the lepers but they do not respond to their hopelessness in the same way. People in the city fear leaving in spite of the fact that they will die where they are. The lepers recognize that death is inevitable unless they do something. The citizens behind the walls hope for a change but do nothing to change their situation. This little story can tell us a lot about good news. Somewhere in the mix of motivations and actions, we will find ourselves. Which role are you playing?
Topical Index: good news, yom besora, 2 Kings 7:9
I just recently found myself in this situation, saying ‘do I share this good news?’ I saw something that indicates that ‘Daniels seventy weeks’ (which can also be shavuots) began at Israel’s being declaired a nation (fall of 1947), and would end in 2017. That would indeed be good news that we would probably be alive to see Yahshua coming to the Mt. of Olives 🙂 It also coincides with man’s 120 years (jubilees) with God, and scripture with the expected eclipses in those years. I know Skip doesn’t like to use scripture to “predict”, but when you have found such a good treasure, how do you not share? Like the lepers, what do I do with this new found treasure? Well, I suppose I just answered that didn’t I? What you do with that is I suppose up to you. You can stay in the city, or go to the camp (scripture) and check it out, though these days I certainly understand today has enough concern for itself!
Yolanda
Please share the source of this information. We have all been exposed to many theories of the fulfilling of the prophesies of the Bible, and some day I feel we will have a better understanding of these prophesies because of Paul’s statement in I Thessalonians 5:1-5. I am also aware that if you predict enough things about the future something is bound to come true, and you can claim to be a prophet. Many good people who have gone to join the Lord have thought that the prophesies of the end times would be fulfilled in their lifetime, so I can appreciate Skip’s point of view. We should be spending our time in prayer to find the right path for our life that would allow us to lead others to find the contentment of knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and not spending all of our time puffing ourselves up with much learning, this blog with Skip being excepted of course. I can truly say that this blog from Skip and the comments I read daily are a wonderful blessing to my life. May they never cease.
John Offutt
Source? Scripture, specifically the prophets, the feasts of the Lord, and NASA. I understand your view on wanting to just take care of today and many people feel that way. On the other hand, He came the first time and was not recognized. Just a thought. I believe I should share . What you do with it is up to you.
Hi Yolanda…I just saw your post on Dec. 2nd re: the seventy weeks mentioned in Daniel. Ironically, I just heard a sermon about that in our church on Nov. 8th by a guest speaker (Messianic Jewish believer.) You can go on line to Northsub.com and click on Sermon Audio. Then go the Dr. Michael Rydelnik’s sermon on Nov. 8th titled “When Will Messiah Come.” You’ll probably be surprised by what you hear. One week is the equivalent of 7 years. So 70 years is actually 490 years. Too much to explain, but I encourage you to listen. The prophesy takes you (to the day) of Yeshua’s Triumphal Entry in 33 A.D. It’s fascinating, amazing and additional confirmation that the prophets in the Old Testament were prophesying of Yeshua.
Thank you. I have not heard it. I just got the message today because I have been in the hospital with my daughter who just had an emergency appendectomy but I will listen to it first chance I get. Possibly it is a second witness for John.
oh. Maybe not. I see after rereading your message you imply that it was referring to Yeshua coming at birth or the cross. I will listen when I get a chance. Thanks for sharing.
I did listen. I almost didn’t when I opened the site and saw a Christmas tree. I was glad to hear him say that the prophecy has many time layers of fulfillment including a future one at least. He did not go into any detail at all so I am thinking he is only slightly familiar with Hebrew culture and time, but “an issue to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” could have began again in November of 1947 when Israel was decreed by the United Nations to become a nation. And he did say there is still another week to fulfill (seven years) which very well could be coming upon us. He said “So what” for knowing; and that makes me cringe! How many said that about the prophecies of His first coming? And they totally missed it! Well, that won’t happen again because every knee will bow and every tounge confess, however, if you do not know it (the tribulation) is coming upon this world, perhaps you would be one of those who say ‘God’ is not taking care of us like Ezekiel says will happen and then turn away from your faith because you thought you were going to escape by the rapture or something. God didn’t take out the children of Israel when Egypt was being punished. They were saved through it by only suffering the first plagues. They were spared the others. He is right on another point too. If you pinch yourself when the temple service is retored and then the sacraficing is mandated to stop, know you are in the middle of the seven years. Israel has all the temple dishes etc. and they are now building an alter to be able to put up when the third temple is built. It is funny. Even John asked, “Are you the one or should we look for another?”
Hi Yolanda…I’m glad you were able to find the sermon by Dr. Rydelnik and that the Christmas Tree didn’t deter you. Actually, he’s quite familiar with Hebrew culture and time. He’s a Professor of Jewish Studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, the son of a holocaust survivor, and takes small groups over to Israel each year for teaching purposes. If you google him you can find out more about him. His point in the sermon you listened to (from Daniel 9:24-27) is that the prophets DIDN’T miss it. They got it exactly right (the mathematical formula is fascinating) because the Bible is a supernatural book inspired by the G-d of Israel who never gets it wrong. And that last week…many theologians believe it’s referring to the 7 year tribulation period which is yet to come. When he said “So what!!” he was asking a question…what does this mean to us…that G-d is really good with numbers?? No, much more than that, He was announcing the arrival of His Son, the Savior, to those who were listening. As for His second coming, I don’t think that’s for us to know God Bless…Judi
I suppose it was that he calculated all months as having 30 days that caught my attention. Perhaps he was overly simplifying the math for the sake of the listeners. Thank you for sharing. That is what this forum is for. We all work out our own salvation in the end don’t we? May YHVH Bless you and keep you in this day, in the days to come and always.
I would suggest a closer examination of today than tomorrow (Matt 6). What trouble threatens Yeshua’s people and holds us paralyzed, and what provision has he made? Complacentcy is a disease (sin) of the afluent and impoverished. Will we get up and move? Where to (direction) I would suggest is initially less important than actually engaging. It is in our “going” we discover all he has provided. You cannot published what you have not found.
– Roderick
Hey Skip,
Wow, I loved this. Thanks.
Steve
“People in the city fear leaving in spite of the fact that they will die where they are. The lepers recognize that death is inevitable unless they do something.”
If I were to apply this story to my situation, I would say that I was the “People in the city {who} fear leaving in spite of the fact that they will die where they are.
And that my wife was “The lepers [who} recognize that death is inevitable unless they do something.
As I am moving into my new home, I feel a renewed connection to the Spirit; my wife is very engaged in the process and encouraging the kids to participate.
I’m glad to read that you are no longer living in fear (the city), but have take a step of faith (moving to your own place) and pray that you allow the LORD to work in your heart and the heart of your wife. Living in the present is the best place to be!
Thank you CYndee, I appreciate your support!
Dr. Moen, could you take few minutes to talk about why leper is the one and only sickness analyzed in the Torah??
Thank you
I find often that The Word fits whatever situation you are in. And the responses are proving this once more. I, too, felt an ‘ah ha’ moment when I read this post. Suz