The Lepers and "L'Chaim" (2 Kings 7)

As we slog our way through Israel's inevitable demise, we can't help but be a bit discouraged.

King Solomon, who should have known better, had foolishly turned his heart away from God, and toward the gods of his surrounding culture. As a result, when he died in 931 B.C. the kingdom was torn in two (Israel in the north, and Judah in the south).

The northern kingdom, led by Jeroboam and a host of other kings, fell into idolatry immediately. Its political alliances and spiritual apostasy caused it to decline quickly. By 720 B.C., it was vanquished by Assyria and the ten northern tribes of Israel were lost forever.

The southern kingdom, led by Solomon’s son Rehoboam, fared a bit better. By virtue of God’s promise to David, there was a natural succession through David’s line, leading to more stability. In addition, unlike the north, some of the southern kings remained faithful to God. But the end result was the same: By 606 B.C., the first of three deportations to Babylon ended the sovereignty of the southern kingdom.

These are not pleasant stories to read. But there are a few bright spots. 

For example, consider the plight of four lepers in 2 Kings 7. Israel is under siege by the Arameans, leading to a terrible famine in the city. Prices are high and people are starving. Things are so bad that some have even resorted to cannibalism (2 Kings 6:26ff).

Four lepers commiserated outside the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they asked each other. “We might as well try our luck with the Aramean army. They may feed us, or they may kill us, but its worth a try. For if we stay here, we'll surely die.” 

So they snuck into the Aramean camp. To their utter amazement, it was empty! God had caused the soldiers to believe they were under attack by the Egyptians and they fled on foot, abandoning their tents, horses, and provisions.

The lepers couldn’t believe their luck. Entering one tent after another, they discovered wine, food, silver, gold and clothing – all for the taking. What a find! That morning they were famished, expecting to die; tonight they were full, celebrating life: “L’chaim!”

I picture them like the robotic pirates in Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean, sitting on piles of gold, emptying wine glasses, stuffing their faces with food. It was an unbelievable find – utterly unexpected, absolutely overwhelming, theirs for the taking.

Somewhere in the midst of their reverie, the lepers said to one another, “What we are doing is not right. This is a day of good news…. Let us go and tell the king’s household.” 

So they did, and although the king was at first dubious, they found the camp exactly as the lepers had said. The city was saved because of the unexpected providence of God, and the unlikely testimony of the leprous men. 

I’ve long been impressed by this lovely story.  It is a magnificent picture of the lavish riches of God’s grace: our invitation to drink of it fully, and our responsibility to share of it freely.

After all, like the lepers, we are in an utterly desperate situation. We are hopeless without divine intervention. But God in his grace has provided abundantly for our rescue. If we cast ourselves fully upon God’s mercy, we are blessed beyond belief. Instead of finding condemnation and death, we are overjoyed to discover freedom and life: “L’chaim!” 

And yet … what about the rest of humanity? Do we hoard God’s blessing for ourselves? 

Of course not. Like those lepers, we must tell everyone the good news: “Come on in! There’s plenty for everyone here!” Or, as the final chapter of the Bible reminds us: 

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ 

And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ 

And let the one who is thirsty come; 

let the one who desires take the water of life without price"

(Revelation 22:17) 

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After I completed this meditation, I was struck by another application of this story: the unlikely tale of Church at the Chip. After all, who could have predicted that a thriving church family could be found in the middle of a cowboy saloon in Cave Creek? 

Sure, it all makes sense now. But I must tell you that when Donna and I first contemplated this venture, we felt as desperate as those forlorn lepers outside the city: “‘Why are we sitting here until we die?’ Let’s try something crazy; maybe it will work, maybe it won’t, but let’s at least give it a shot.”

A handful of people grasped the vision and got right to work. Like those lepers, we walked into this community and discovered, to our surprise and delight, an unlikely but perfect partner in Larry Wendt, the owner of the Buffalo Chip. 

“Sure, you can meet here,” he said. “I make sinners out of ’em all week; the least I can do is let you try to make saints out of ’em on Sundays!”

And so, with nothing more than a handshake, ecclesia: Church at the Chip was born — a perfect expression of our vision to be a community of faith, love and hope in our beloved Cave Creek.

Who could have planned such an unlikely partnership? Certainly not us! But God knew what God was doing, even when we did not. What felt to us like an act of utter desperation was merely the first step in God’s plan to start a thriving church in a saloon here "in the heart of Cave Creek, for the heart of Cave Creek."

God has been good to our church family in the years since we first began to meet under that mesquite tree. Every week, it seems, new people are discovering God’s blessing in the most unlikely of places: a cowboy saloon in the heart of Cave Creek. 

It is a blessing to be part of such a joyful, welcoming community — even in the heat of the summer! Let’s show our gratitude by doing what those lepers did. This is too good to keep to ourselves. There’s plenty enough for all. Let’s invite everyone around us to join the party! “L’Chaim!”