Such Good News!

Today’s Through the Bible Reading: 2 Kings 7:3–20; 2 Kings 8:7–15; 2 Chronicles 26:1–21; Amos 1

"This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…” 2 Kings 7:9 NIV

Imagine stumbling upon a massive treasure, totally yours for the taking. Today’s reading contains a similar situation, but one that’s much more dramatic and drastic because it deals with life and death.

In 2 Kings chapter 7 we find four leprous men who are ready to die – but of hunger rather than leprosy. You see, Israel was in the midst of a terrible famine when, all of a sudden, these men stumble upon a “treasure” that could save the nation.

“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots…Wherefore they arose and fled for their life. And when these lepers came… they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it…” 2 Kings 7:6-8

As they were snatching up all the spoils which the Syrians had so hastily deserted, the four lepers realized they were not doing right by keeping their spoils to themselves (2 Kings 7:9). Indeed, they had good news to share with their countrymen who were also starving from the famine!

“Then they said to each other, "What we're doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves...Let's go at once and report this…” 2 Kings 7:9 NIV

Just like these men were sick with leprosy and ready to die, before Jesus Christ, we were sick with sin and condemned to spiritual death (Eph. 2:1). But God, in His goodness, gave us a treasure that saved us. Indeed, we too have Good News to share!

There is salvation and forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. He died and rose again to pay the debt we owed and to free us from the bondage of sin. In a world experiencing a spiritual famine - this is news worth sharing.

Keep Reading: 2 Kings 13:12–25; 2 Kings 14:15–23; 2 Chronicles 25:25–28; 2 Kings 15:1–5