Barzillai – 27th April 2008 am
2 Samuel 19:32
Background – David running from Absalom
Bar-zil-lah-ee
The Holy Spirit says something of Barzillai that He says of very few people. He says that he was “a very great man.” The Bible does not hand out this kind of praise openhandedly. It marks Barzillai out for special notice.
His name means man of iron or strong, he was what we would call today a highland chief. Alexander Whyte says that he had highland characteristics of loyalty, courtesy, hospitality and a passionate love of the hills and valleys. His holdings were in the fertile territory of Gilead on the far side of Jordan.
John Phillips says that “Barzillai blazes out, for a brief, glorious moment, like a meteor in a dark night sky, then plunges back into the obscurity from whence he came.”
I. Barzillai’s Testimony – Excellence (2 Samuel 17:26-29)
a. The Way He was Living Was a Testimony
2 Samuel 17:26-27
You can just imagine Barzillai observing from a distance the comings and goings of the leaders in Israel. All through the days of Eli, Samuel, Saul and David, he watched and was not impressed with most of what he saw.
He had seen Eli fail not only as a priest but also as a parent. The behaviour of his sons was a scandal. He would regard Samuel with respect but was no doubt frustrated by the fact that even Samuel had failed to rule his own sons. Barzillai would view Samuel’s death as a national calamity.
He would have no time for Saul, a man big in statue but little in soul. I’m sure he would approve of Jonathan, but shake his head at Jonathan’s failure to fight Goliath.
But David! He was a different kind of person; he was a man after God’s own heart. You can just imagine old Barzillai watching all of the shenanigans of Israel’s leadership and then seeing David and thinking, “That’s more like it! That’s my kind of leader!”
He liked David, he liked what he heard about him. He liked David’s goodness, he liked his effective government, he liked his exceptional grace. He felt a pull towards David even though, as far as we know, Barzillai had never met David face to face.
It sounds a lot like us in regards to the Lord. We have never seen Him face to face, but we feel that pull towards Him. The words of Jesus to Thomas apply to us, Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29)
In David’s hour of need Barzillai nailed his colours to David’s mast. Public opinion had been cleverly shifted to Absalom as the result of some clever propaganda by Ahithophel. David had been rejected by the nation of Israel.
There was no hesitation from Barzillai’s point of view, he marched straight to Mahanaim and declared himself for the Lord’s anointed. It was a courageous thing to do, you see he was not a fair weather supporter of David. He wasn’t there to support him when it was the popular thing to do.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it? You see it is not the popular thing to support the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not the popular opinion that He is God, that He is the Way. Have we become fair weather supporters? Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
At this time David was rejected of men. He was the wrong man on the throne. But Barzillai must have seen God’s hand upon David, he knew that David was God’s anointed and figured that as Israel’s king he would be coming back.
Jesus Christ is God’s anointed and He has been rejected today but the thing is, He’s coming back…
Barzillai kept his eyes upon David, and had his heart commited to David’s cause and kingdom……….
b. The Way He was Giving Was a Testimony
2 Samuel 17:28-29
Nobody had to beg him to give, he gave freely out of love for his lord. If someone has to beg and plead with us to give, then the Lord does not want it. God never puts pressure on people to give. You see He does not need our money.
Pastor you’re crazy, you’re telling people not to give???? No, God does not need our money, but He graciously gives us opportunities to support His work, for our benefit, not His. Omnipotence has servants everywhere. He who commanded the ravens to feed Elijah does not need our help, but graciously accepts it and rewards us for it.
The way in which the Holy Spirit Records Barzillai’s giving is really interesting, look at the word and. We are shown each individual item and therefore our attention is drawn to each gift given, even the beans and the lentils are recorded. It is the Holy Spirit’s way of showing us that nothing we give to the Lord is overlooked in Heaven, the value or size of the item is not important but the motive and way that its is given to the Lord… 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
With the type of character the Barzillai was you can just see him thinking to himself, “This is an hour of crisis in Israel. David is in need of help. I can’t fight, I have no influence in the court, I am just a farmer. The one thing I can do is give.” That is exactly what he did.
He loaded up his wagon with as much as he could carry and headed straight for where David was, that is how David was able to say in Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Praise the Lord for those in the church who are willing to give to help the cause of Christ, regardless of the value – God looks at the heart not the gift.
II. Barzillai’s Testimony - Excuses (2 Samuel 19:31-40)
God’s Word is amazing in that everything is recorded, “warts and all.” Barzillai is typical of us as Christians. He was willing to give but not willing to go. He had no problem giving David his possessions but denied him his presence. The one lesson we can learn from the life of this dear old man is this – our money is no substitute for us.
The one thing that David wanted from Barzillai more than anything else was his fellowship, he wanted him to come to Jerusalem with him and be his friend.
The excuses that he made that day are a bit too close to the mark in our lives when it comes to going all the way for Jesus.
a. I’m Too Old (19:35a)
“I’m 80 years old David, I’m too old to do anything…” Moses was 80 when God called him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Caleb was 85 when he took the mountain inhabited by giants
How often do we make age our excuse for not doing something for the Lord? Some say they are too old, others say they are too young.
His age was no concern to David, he just wanted him.
It is the same with the Lord, all he wants is us. We are never too old to learn or to do something for Christ . We are never too young 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Our age is no excuse in God’s eyes.
b. It’s Too Much (19:35b)
“You’re asking too much David!” We have 3 excuses here in the one sentence all starting with the question “can I?”
“Can I discern between good and evil?” I don’t have the knack to do what you’re asking of me. If I come to Jerusalem with you then you’ll want me to do something like counselling and I just don’t have the skill for it.
Barzillai had already done what he said he couldn’t do. He had seen through the evil Absalom and the wicked counsels of Ahithophel. Ahithophel had been David’s friend and counsellor, the man was now dead, a suicide. Maybe David thought that Barzillai could replace him and fill an empty chair in the council chamber. But the excuses were at the ready.
“Can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink?” David was inviting his friend to be a guest at his table, to come and know his lord better, to spend a sweet time of fellowship together at the kings table. Barzillai says, “I’ve no appetite for it, that kind of thing has no appeal to me.”
The Lord offers us a place at His table, He invites us to dine with Him, but many are not interested. John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
“Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women?” Singing in Scripture is often linked with testimony. The very first song in the Bible (Exodus 15) embodies this statement Thus the Lord saved Israel… Then sang Moses and the children of Israel (Exodus 14:30; 15:1)
In the New Testament singing was a sign of a changed life and being filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
You could only begin to imagine what kind of praise and singing would be going on when David returned to Jerusalem. All who loved him would sing, Barzillai felt that he would have no appreciation for it – are you able to sing to the Lord? I’m not talking about having the best voice – are able to praise the Lord with your singing, it comes from the heart.
c. I’m Too Weak (19:35c)
David knew about his age and whatever limitations he may have, he had taken all of that into account. Barzillai would be no burden to David.
Do you find some of God’s people a burden to you? Are there some that you’d rather not spend time with? Are there some people that you find just too demanding? To dwell above….
The Lord’s people might be a burden to us, but they are certainly no burden to Him. You do not get on His nerves when you pray constantly – that’s what He asks us to do.
d. It’s Too Far (19:36)
He was willing to go a little way, but not all the way. He was willing to make a token gesture and cross the Jordan, but was not willing to go beyond that, he would rather return to his old ways.
What would have happened if Christ only went a little way? What if He stopped at Bethlehem? “I’ll enter the world and stoop down take on the form of a human but then I’m coming home!” Or what if He only went as far as Gethsemane?
There are many stopping places in the Christian walk where people dig in and refuse to go any further. Many will go to church but will not go to Calvary. Many accept Christ as Saviour but stop short of Baptism. Others get baptised but will not join the fellowship of a church. Some join the church but will not attend the services. Others attend the services but refuse to become active workers. Some become workers in the church but never know the filling of the Spirit.
There are many stopping places – “I’ll go a little way over Jordan – but don’t ask me to enter into all that Jordan means in terms of death to self, burial, and resurrection in newness of life.”
e. It’s Too Late (19:37a)
He liked the old life, even though it led to the grave. He had his plans laid out his mind was made up.
Many are afraid that the Lord will come in and upset their quiet comfortable life and ask them to do something for Him.
f. It’s Too Bad (19:37b-40)
“I’m not going David – but take my boy, he’s as keen as mustard.” Chimham received the blessings that would have been bestowed upon Barzillai.
Nothing could be worse for the child of God than for the Lord Jesus Christ to leave a person to himself. To face the Judgement Seat of Christ and to see someone else take the crown (reward) that was intended for them.
