Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh
that it may go into battle among us
and save us from the grasp of our enemies.
Let us learn this lesson which the Israelites had to learn the hard way, but let us learn it the easy way, by seeing consequences for others rather than experiencing them ourselves. Let us learn not to run ahead of the LORD into our own battles. We have such a tendency to assume our own righteousness that we think we are free to just bring the LORD along with us and attach his name to our own initiatives. It is actually worse to take the ark somewhere we haven't been directed by the LORD than to simply go there ourselves.
Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace,
and you go not forth with our armies.
This probably makes us afraid to do anything, to enter any battle, to seek any favor from the LORD. But this is not the point. The LORD's will is the point. We are not judged based on acting on an objective understanding of his will. He is God. We'll never have that. We are judged based on seeking his will as best we can and acting on what he reveals to us.
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
"I do will it. Be made clean."
The leper wasn't sure of the will of Jesus for him. He suspected, he hoped, but he wasn't sure. So he simply came to Jesus and brought his problem to see what Jesus would do. After the healing the former leper now understands the will of God better. He should be more willing to go to Jesus again and again with his needs. He can see that it is possible to seek God's will for himself without running off ahead of God to his own will. He comes to trust in the compassion and love of Jesus. This becomes central, rather than his own understanding. This new trust in God's desire to be involved, to heal, and to give victory causes him to spread and report the matter abroad.
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
Let us not enter into our own battles, marked by pride and self-will. But let us not be afraid to enter the battles to which we are called, marked by humility and compassion for all people. The former leper isn't supposed to spread his healing abroad but we are. Let us publicize the whole matter to bring fame to our God and king.
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