Sunday, September 1, 2013

2 Kings 5

2 Kings 5:18
In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant:  when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter."
I guess that as the leader of the army, he was required to accompany the king into the temple to this false god.  From the description, I wonder if the king is old, and he has to help the king get around in the temple.  Either this, or he is merely prompted by the king when to bow.

However, Naaman now knows that the only real God is God, and all others are false.  Therefore, he asks God's pardon for this action he is required to take.  To not go with the king would apparently be a betrayal of his oath, which he cannot do.  But he knows that this is not right worship, so he is doing everything he can to minimize his actions, in good conscience.  While today Christians tend to at least say that we should simply refuse, this alternative appears to be an acceptable compromise to God, at least in this circumstance.

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