The Duty of Good Tidings: A Call to Action
"Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household." - 2 Kings 7:9
In 2 Kings 7:9, we find a powerful moment of reflection and decision among four lepers who have just discovered an incredible deliverance. "Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household." This verse captures a critical turning point not only for the lepers but also for the city of Samaria, and indeed, for each one of us today.
To fully understand the weight of this verse, we need to reflect on the circumstances surrounding the lepers. They were marginalized, cast out from society because of their disease, and yet, in their desperation, they stumbled upon a profound miracle: the Syrian army had fled, leaving behind an abundance of food and resources. Their initial instinct was to hoard this good fortune—to save themselves from starvation. However, as they deliberated together, they realized something far more significant: by keeping the good news to themselves, they would be complicit in wronging their fellow Israelites who were still trapped inside the city, suffering from famine.
The striking phrase, "We do not well," serves as a dramatic turning point. They recognized a divine responsibility and moral duty that transcended their personal plight. In our lives today, how often do we find ourselves hoarding blessings, talents, or good news? It is easy to bask in the light of our own good fortunes while turning a blind eye to the suffering and needs of those around us.
Moreover, they understood the urgency of their situation: "if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us." The alarming realization that waiting any longer could lead to dire consequences was a catalyst for their action. This reminds us that the time to share our good news and blessings is not tomorrow or next week but today. How many souls are in need of encouragement, hope, and salvation? Can we afford to wait until it is more convenient for us?
The lepers’ decision to go and tell the king’s household illustrates a paradigm shift from scarcity to abundance. They chose to act on their newfound knowledge, understanding that sharing the good news would not diminish their blessings but would multiply them. In sharing, they became instruments of God’s mercy, restoring hope to a city on the brink of despair. Likewise, when we share the gospel—the ultimate good news of salvation through Christ—we participate in God’s grand plan of redemption and the transformation of lives.
This narrative challenges us to reflect on our role as messengers of good tidings. Are we sharing the love of Christ with our friends, families, and communities? We are called to go beyond our comfort zones and share the gospel that has changed our lives.
As we ponder the lepers' decisive action, may we also be inspired to recognize the urgency of our mission. Let us not be passive recipients of good tidings; instead, let us embrace our responsibility to share God’s blessings with those who need them. Allow the Holy Spirit to ignite a passion within us that compels us to speak out, to act, and to reach out to a world yearning for the hope that only Jesus can provide.
In conclusion, 2 Kings 7:9 acts as a clarion call: it's a day of good tidings that demands a response. Let our lives reflect a commitment to not only acknowledging the goodness of God but also to actively pursuing the sharing of that goodness with others. Let us go forth with courage and conviction, declaring the wonderful works of our Lord and the hope that we have in Him.
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2 Kings 7:9 - "Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household."
"Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household." - 2 Kings 7:9
2 Kings 9:7 - "And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel."
2 Kings 7:2
2 kings 9:34-36
2 Kings 7:11 - "And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within."
2 Kings 7:7 - "Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life."
2 Chronicles 9:22 - "And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."
2 Kings 9:9 - "And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:"
2 Kings 2:7 - "And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan."
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2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
1 Kings 7:9 - "All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court."
2 Kings 9:4 - "¶ So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead."
2 Kings 9:23 - "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah."
2 Kings 9:29 - "And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah."
Ezra 9:7 - "Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day."
2 Kings 22:7 - "Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."
2 Kings 20:7 - "And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered."
2 Kings 5:9 - "So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha."
1 Kings 9:2 - "That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon."
2 Kings 9:31 - "And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?"
2 Kings 9:35 - "And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands."
2 Kings 24:9 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done."
2 Kings 7:14 - "They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see."
2 Kings 6:7 - "Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it."
2 Kings 13:9 - "And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead."
2 Chronicles 9:26 - "¶ And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt."
2 Kings 9:37 - "And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel."
2 Kings 6:9 - "And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down."