1. “Why Sit We Here Till We Die?” 2 Kings 6:24-7:20

2. The Siege The culprit 6:24 Ben-Hadad surrounds the city The cause 6:33 the Lord Leviticus 26:27-29 The calamity 6:25 famine (food shortage) The culmination 6:28-30 eating their own children Deuteronomy 28:52-57 The contempt 6:31 wanted to kill Elisha Rev. 16 The cure 6:32-7:1 no more food shortage promised The challenge 7:2 “…could this thing be?” The consequence 7:2 “you’ll see it but not eat it”

3. The Solution The Lord caused the noise of a great army 7:6-7 The Syrians assumed the king of Israel hired the Egyptian and Hittite armies to rescue Israel from the Syrian siege of Samaria The Syrians fled and left everything Four lepers discover the abandoned camp 7:3-5

4. The Lepers’ Options Do the same thing (sit here and die) 7:3 Do nothing (and die) 7:3 Go into the city (and die) 7:4 Go to the Syrians (maybe live…or die) 7:4 What was the best hope in this case? They acted on their decision 7:5 By doing what they never did, they received what they never had They started accumulating an abundance 7:8 Then they stopped!

5. The Lepers’ Conscience “We are not doing right” 7:9 “This is a day of good news and we remain silent” “If we wait till morning light, punishment will come upon us” Ezekiel 33, Matt. 28:18-20 “Let us go and tell the king’s household” They acted on their decision 7:10 The king’s doubts 7:12 (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6) Wise men suggested confirmation 7:13-15 Many people were blessed 7:16 The doubter died at the gate 7:17-20 (Heb. 11:6)

6. Doing What Is Right The lepers could not continue as they were By taking a risk, they found results much better than expected, thanks to God They realized they could not be silent with good news; they knew they had to tell others Others were blessed, lives were saved Doubters suffered consequences of their doubt Are you a spiritual leper? Why sit till you die? Have you experienced God’s goodness? Then tell others!