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Gospel According to the Old Testament
A Journey to Wholeness: The Gospel According to Naaman's Slave Girl
This book focuses on biblical reconciliation, both in its primary sense (as Paul uses it) and in a secondary sense, insofar as it touches on reconciliation between races, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, the powerful and the weak, and between other alienated groups. The focus of the book is Naaman, a Syrian general, and his Jewish slave girl, whose simple testimony helped to bring about a great work of the salvation of her Syrian master. As the story unfolds, God’s saving power is displayed, particularly in bringing light to the Gentiles and in demonstrating the free offer of the gospel. Many Christians identify Naaman’s story with his miraculous healing in the Jordan River but fail to see the greater truth of God’s love for the Gentiles and the breadth of the gospel’s reach. Mark Belz brings understanding and encouragement to us as we see God’s great mercy at work. The book's thirteen chapters and questions for reflection and discussion make it ideal for Sunday school classes or small group study.
- GenresBiblical StudiesFaith
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 1, 2022
Unlike the other books in The Gospel According to the Old Testament series, this book does not focus on an entire book of the Old Testament, or the life of a particular Old Testament figure. It focuses almost entirely on one chapter, II Kings 5, the story of Naaman, his slave girl, Elisha, and Gehazi, Elisha's servant. But as with all the other books in this series, it shows how this chapter points to Christ. As Belz notes in his first chapter, "This story is about God's overarching grace in the gospel, bridging the chasms between slave and owner, Jew and Gentile, prophet and pagan, God and man."
Belz goes quickly through the text itself, and then focuses in turn on each of the principals in the story: Naaman, his slave girl, Elisha, and Gehazi. He examines in detail the interactions between Naaman and Elisha (the first time, of course, through Elisha's messenger) before and after Naaman's healing, between Naaman and Gehazi, and between Elisha and Gehazi. He also briefly covers II Kings 6, the interaction between Elisha, Gehazi, and the Syrian army. He also spends a chapter examining Jesus' interaction with the Jews in Luke 4, where Jesus mentioned the healing of Naaman, to the great consternation of his hearers. He closes the book with a look at what Biblical reconciliation looks like, showing the ways in which this simple servant girl can show us how to act and work toward reconciliation.
This is the last of the eighteen books in the series that I have read. My only wish is that P&R Publishing would be able to find more authors to write more books in this series. It is a wonderful series, designed not for the academy but for the church. The books are accessible, accurate, and affordable. I pray that more people would read and benefit from them.
Belz goes quickly through the text itself, and then focuses in turn on each of the principals in the story: Naaman, his slave girl, Elisha, and Gehazi. He examines in detail the interactions between Naaman and Elisha (the first time, of course, through Elisha's messenger) before and after Naaman's healing, between Naaman and Gehazi, and between Elisha and Gehazi. He also briefly covers II Kings 6, the interaction between Elisha, Gehazi, and the Syrian army. He also spends a chapter examining Jesus' interaction with the Jews in Luke 4, where Jesus mentioned the healing of Naaman, to the great consternation of his hearers. He closes the book with a look at what Biblical reconciliation looks like, showing the ways in which this simple servant girl can show us how to act and work toward reconciliation.
This is the last of the eighteen books in the series that I have read. My only wish is that P&R Publishing would be able to find more authors to write more books in this series. It is a wonderful series, designed not for the academy but for the church. The books are accessible, accurate, and affordable. I pray that more people would read and benefit from them.
January 14, 2019
An in-depth study into a single chapter of the Bible (2 Kings 5). The primary emphasis of the study is to show how Naaman's conversion ("Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel" - 2 Kings 5:15) is an illustration of God's mercy to Gentiles. The themes of reconciliation (of Namaan) and restoration (of Gehazi) are clearly presented. Another helpful application looks at the simple faith of his slave girl in witnessing to Naaman's wife. Insights and reflections from other passages in scripture help to illuminate the meaning of the story.
Considerable space in the book is allotted to contemporary application of this Old Testament salvation story. To be effective partakers in the ministry of reconciliation we need a character that displays humility, respect to others made in the image of God (not to be confused with social compatibility), intentional solidarity (in light of humanity's sin plight) and appropriate intrusiveness.
The purpose of this book was to explore the meaning of the event and therefore the author did not argue for all theological decisions made. These were distracting at times (the author assumes that the Holy Spirit indwelt Old Covenant believers in the same way as in the New Covenant and at times speaks of the characters in story in replacement theological language), but this did not ultimately detract from the value of the study.
Considerable space in the book is allotted to contemporary application of this Old Testament salvation story. To be effective partakers in the ministry of reconciliation we need a character that displays humility, respect to others made in the image of God (not to be confused with social compatibility), intentional solidarity (in light of humanity's sin plight) and appropriate intrusiveness.
The purpose of this book was to explore the meaning of the event and therefore the author did not argue for all theological decisions made. These were distracting at times (the author assumes that the Holy Spirit indwelt Old Covenant believers in the same way as in the New Covenant and at times speaks of the characters in story in replacement theological language), but this did not ultimately detract from the value of the study.
December 31, 2022
this is really good
December 18, 2021
An expanded meditation and application of 2 Kings 5 with concluding reflections on the ministry of reconciliation.
September 27, 2017
This book is a little obscure, not the kind of thing you'll find in your local drugstore shelves or on the Choice Books rack at the grocery store. I daresay if you want to read it you'll have to track it down. But it's worth the work.
Belz takes a story we might remember from childhood sunday school classes and expounds on it at great length. The story of the little Israelite slave girl and Naaman is iconic. An outsider, an enemy if you will, not an abstract enemy, but the girl's own abductor, is led to Elisha where he receives healing from leprosy and comes to faith in God. The dynamics of this story are profound on many levels and Belz leaves none of them unexplored. He helps us see every character in the story from a spiritual and psychological perspective as we navigate each person's role in the narrative and God's use of that person.
The reader may be put off from time to time by Belz's obvious Presbyterian approach, and his lack of historical / cultural detail in the unfolding of the book. This part could have been richer, but the book is not damaged by either problem. Belz is not trying to push a theology on the reader, unless its a theology of reconciliation, and that transcends denomination. He is not trying to give a history lesson but to plumb the depths of spiritual insight.
Takeaways: Even the smallest, most insignificant person can have an affect on the lives of the powerful; Don't try to pull something over on God, it never works; God indeed works in mysterious ways; Pride is a dangerous parasite when it comes to trying to follow God's plan.
Read the book if you get the chance. It's not a simple read, but it's not laboriously academic either. I recommend taking it a chapter at a time, but not waiting too long between chapters. It's easy to lose Belz's flow, even if it's not terribly hard to continue on and pick up much good material along the way.
Belz takes a story we might remember from childhood sunday school classes and expounds on it at great length. The story of the little Israelite slave girl and Naaman is iconic. An outsider, an enemy if you will, not an abstract enemy, but the girl's own abductor, is led to Elisha where he receives healing from leprosy and comes to faith in God. The dynamics of this story are profound on many levels and Belz leaves none of them unexplored. He helps us see every character in the story from a spiritual and psychological perspective as we navigate each person's role in the narrative and God's use of that person.
The reader may be put off from time to time by Belz's obvious Presbyterian approach, and his lack of historical / cultural detail in the unfolding of the book. This part could have been richer, but the book is not damaged by either problem. Belz is not trying to push a theology on the reader, unless its a theology of reconciliation, and that transcends denomination. He is not trying to give a history lesson but to plumb the depths of spiritual insight.
Takeaways: Even the smallest, most insignificant person can have an affect on the lives of the powerful; Don't try to pull something over on God, it never works; God indeed works in mysterious ways; Pride is a dangerous parasite when it comes to trying to follow God's plan.
Read the book if you get the chance. It's not a simple read, but it's not laboriously academic either. I recommend taking it a chapter at a time, but not waiting too long between chapters. It's easy to lose Belz's flow, even if it's not terribly hard to continue on and pick up much good material along the way.
June 16, 2015
The ministry of reconciliation is be pursued with and characterized by hope-a hope not generated by our diligent work, but by the promises of God.
The true account of the healing and reconciliation of Naaman, a warrior of the enemy of Israel. Naaman was the chief officer of Aram’s military. A man that was fearless in battles. However, God used the healing of Naaman of his leprosy to show the unfaithfulness of Israel and the grace of God to the Gentiles. It was the faithfulness of Naaman’s young Jewish slave girl that encouraged Naaman to seek the prophet of God for his healing. The account of this is in 2 Kings 5.
If you struggle with Old Testament teaching, this study of Naaman and his slave girl will bring you new insight to the character of God and how we miss the blessing of God’s faithfulness in his desire for reconciliation. The Old Testament reveals the Gospel as it reveals the heart of the slave girl, Naaman and Gehazi.
Naaman’s slave does not have a name but she represents the Gospel in her faithfulness. As I was reading this study, there were many things I did not account for as Mark Belz digs deep in the word of this slave’s girl faithfulness that Christ himself rebukes the Pharisee’s with. She did not see Naaman as a threat but as a man that needed healing and faith in a God that could heal.
Naaman in faith saw his need and the one that could meet that need. When Naaman was healed and his skin was the skin of a young boy, (which this floored me and I never understood the significance of this) he wanted to pay Elisha for the healing. Elisha refused payment to honor what the Lord was doing for Naaman. Naaman was experiencing the grace of God.
Gehazi (was a Elisha the prophets assistant. Much like Elisha was Isaiah) represents how we can attack the soul of the gospel by greed and pride. Gehazi saw an opportunity and the gospel became about him.
I don’t know how many times I have read thru this story without regard to the gospel. It screams the gospel. The Gospel According to the Old Testament are a series of books that walk you thru the Old Testament that reveal Gospel truths that give those that desire to know God more deeply and to appreciate His attributes more fully.
A Special Thank You to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
The true account of the healing and reconciliation of Naaman, a warrior of the enemy of Israel. Naaman was the chief officer of Aram’s military. A man that was fearless in battles. However, God used the healing of Naaman of his leprosy to show the unfaithfulness of Israel and the grace of God to the Gentiles. It was the faithfulness of Naaman’s young Jewish slave girl that encouraged Naaman to seek the prophet of God for his healing. The account of this is in 2 Kings 5.
If you struggle with Old Testament teaching, this study of Naaman and his slave girl will bring you new insight to the character of God and how we miss the blessing of God’s faithfulness in his desire for reconciliation. The Old Testament reveals the Gospel as it reveals the heart of the slave girl, Naaman and Gehazi.
Naaman’s slave does not have a name but she represents the Gospel in her faithfulness. As I was reading this study, there were many things I did not account for as Mark Belz digs deep in the word of this slave’s girl faithfulness that Christ himself rebukes the Pharisee’s with. She did not see Naaman as a threat but as a man that needed healing and faith in a God that could heal.
Naaman in faith saw his need and the one that could meet that need. When Naaman was healed and his skin was the skin of a young boy, (which this floored me and I never understood the significance of this) he wanted to pay Elisha for the healing. Elisha refused payment to honor what the Lord was doing for Naaman. Naaman was experiencing the grace of God.
Gehazi (was a Elisha the prophets assistant. Much like Elisha was Isaiah) represents how we can attack the soul of the gospel by greed and pride. Gehazi saw an opportunity and the gospel became about him.
I don’t know how many times I have read thru this story without regard to the gospel. It screams the gospel. The Gospel According to the Old Testament are a series of books that walk you thru the Old Testament that reveal Gospel truths that give those that desire to know God more deeply and to appreciate His attributes more fully.
A Special Thank You to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews