February 14th Reflection by Bill Lynch

2 Kings 7:3-10 (NRSV)
Four men with leprosy announce good news
Now there were four leprous men outside the city gate, who said to one another, "Why should we sit here until we die? If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; but if we sit here, we shall also die. Therefore, let us desert to the Aramean camp; if they spare our lives, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." So they arose at twilight to go to the Aramean camp; but when they came to the edge of the Aramean camp, there was no one there at all. For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, "The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to fight against us." So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys leaving the camp just as it was, and fled for their lives. When these leprous men had come to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent, ate and drank, carried off silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. Then they came back, entered another tent, carried off things from it, and went and hid them.

Then they said to one another, "What we are doing is wrong. This is a day of good news; if we are silent and wait until the morning light, we will be found guilty; therefore let us go and tell the king's household." So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, "We went to the Aramean camp, but there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied, the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were."

Reflection
When you are leprous and separated from all other people, it seems you don't care to take a risk or two. What can happen? All of the people run from you anyway. These lepers decided to venture to the enemy camp and see what may happen. When they arrived, everyone was gone. So they began to loot the camp and then began to feel guilty. So they returned to let the king know what they had found.

When I realize the hope and joy and freedom I have in the grace of love and salvation that God has given to me; I can act like the lepers. I can take risks that other people may not. I am willing to risk my life for other's to help in the good of all. That's a noble statement, but in one degree or another, it applies to all who serve God. Those who serve God take risks and open themselves up in multiple ways. And there is some truth to think that we are all leprous in some ways.

It's amazing to think of the ways God uses us unclean folks to work the plan of salvation throughout time. Just as amazing is that God fulfilled the plan of salvation through sending the perfect Son of the Father to save us and continue to use us flawed people until he returns for that glorious resurrection. Lepers that we are, following and giving our lives to the One and only Savior. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, clean me up, wash me off, and use me this day to do your will. --- Amen