2 SAMUEL 19:31-39 [The Life of David]
THE KING REWARDS THE FAITHFUL
David has sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and by having her husband killed. God has indicted David for his sin through Nathan the prophet, and David has repented. Nevertheless, there are certain consequences he has had to face. There was the rape of his daughter Tamar by her half-brother, Amnon. Then there was the murder of Amnon by his half-brother, Absalom. Absalom fled to Geshur, where he was given sanctuary by his grandfather, King Talmai. Through the intervention and intrigue of Joab, David was pressured into allowing Absalom to return to Jerusalem. In time, Absalom succeeded in undermining the reign of his father, David. Absalom revolted against his father and sought to take over kingdom. Absalom's revolution forced David, his family, and his supporters to flee to the wilderness. God spared David, gave his army victory over the rebel forces. 2 Samuel 18:9 tell us Absalom died in an extremely unusual way, through an accident where his head providentially was caught in the branches of a tree while riding his mule. Joab, the general of David's armies, then ran him through with a javelin while Absalom was hanging in this tree, in spite of David's specific orders not to harm him.
Chapter 19 tells of David's return to Jerusalem after a forced exile caused by Absalom his son. David's son Absalom is dead now and his army has been defeated. So King David is returning to Jerusalem to retake his rightful place on the throne-Israel.
David's return finds the people of Israel in various states of mind and in various states of preparedness for his return. In this chapter, [and in the first verses of chapter 20,] we are presented with five different people who met the king. Each one meets him with a different attitude & from a different point of view. Needless to say, not everyone was happy to see the king.
[I. The King Greets Different persons]
The 1st & 2nd persons to met the king are found in verses16-23. Ziba, the one time chief servant of Saul, & then there was Shimei who threw stones at David. Both were worried about meeting the King. Shimei repents and is forgiven
The 3rd is in verses 24-30. Mephibosheth came out to meet the king. He was waiting for the king. He had been misrepresented by his servant Ziba. Mephibosheth hadn't washed or shaved since the day David left Jerusalem. He had apparently spent his time in mourning over the king's absence & in waiting for his return!
These verses turn from people whose motives were questionable to the 5th person who was the wicked man Sheba in 20:1-3. He was angry and rebellious over the return of the king.
[II. The King Greets Faithful Barzillai, 31-39]
Our lesson tonight though is about the 4th man to meet the returning King in verses 31-39. His name is Barzillai. I would guess that not many have heard about this wonderful man named ‘Barzillai.' Have you? He ventured and volunteered to help king David during the most darkest moment of David's life, while David was running away from his own son Absalom. David is broken-hearted and tired, running to save his life from his own son Absalom. Let's read 2 Samuel 17:16 to understand the background. "Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, 'Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up."
The enemy was ready to destroy the King and his people! After king David crossed Jordan and came to a place called Mahanaim, an elderly man called Barzillai and a few other men came with wagon loads of ‘goodies' to meet David who was weak, tired, depleted, miserable and in pain. 2 Samuel 17:28-29 list some of the supplies three land owners brought. "[they] brought beddings and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, [29] honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness."
Don't miss the ‘beds' among the various other stuff! God knew David and his men were tired and they need some rest very badly. Barzillai knew that things had turn against David, with Absalom after David's life; yet he helped David. He was elderly and had all kinds of reasons to give excuses; yet he volunteered to help David.
Here again we find Barzillai as another person who came to meet David when he returned to Jerusalem. He meets the return of the king with great joy & happiness. Verses 31-32, "Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
Barzillai is my favorite character in this story. He is glad that the king has returned & even though he is 80 years old, he still comes down to welcome the king home. He must have lived close to the highlands of Mahanaim, for it was there that this generous old man provided for the needs of David and those with him while in exile. Now that David is going back to Jerusalem, Barzillai goes to great efforts to extend his friendship and hospitality to him on his return. It is some 20 to 25 miles (approximately -- we don't know exactly where Mahanaim was located) back to the Jordan where David will cross, and another 20 to 25 miles to Jerusalem. This old man accompanies David to the Jordan and beyond to Gilgal (close to ancient Jericho), and now says good bye. [Deffinbaugh, Bob. Quicknotes. 1 Samuel-2 Kings. Vol. 3. 2009. Barbour Publ. Uhrichsville, OH: p. 95]
Unlike Shimei , he had no sins to confess, nor was there a misunderstanding to straighten out as with Mephibosheth. Barzillai wanted no favor from the king. All he wanted to do was have the joy of sending him off safely, knowing that the Lord had answered his prayers and ended the war. It was a difficult trip, but he wanted to give his best to his king. [Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Joshua-Esther. David Cook. 2003. Colorado Springs, CO. p. 366].
The biblical writer devotes more space to Barzillai that to the other people whom David encountered on his way back to Jerusalem. Still not a lot is known about this man, but the Bible calls him "very great" [me'od is g dõl]. It seems that when David was away in exile that Barzillai was faithful in his service to the king & was instrumental in seeing that the king's needs were met (2 Samuel 17:27-29).
When the king returns we find that same spirit active in the life of this faithful man. Yes, Barzillai was old, yet he kept on working for his king. He sided with David at what could have been great personal risk, if Absalom had prevailed. He was willing to risk all for what he believed to be right. His Godward orientation led him to believe that David was God's anointed. He knew that God had called David to the throne and the prophets had not declared that David had forfeited it as in the case of Saul. It did not matter whether Absalom succeeded or failed, he would do what was right before God. [Barber, Cyril. The Books of Samuel. Vol 2. 2000. Loizeaux: Neptune, NJ. p. 292]
As they walk together along the banks of the river David wishes to show his gratitude to this distinguished fellow. He invites Barzillai to accompany him to Jerusalem, where the king promises to abundantly provide for him in verse 33. The king said to Barzillai, "You cross over with me and I will sustain you in Jerusalem with me."
Out of his appreciation for what had been done for him David offered to bring Barzillai to Jerusalem so David could now provide for him. The offer is a reminder that David was capable of great generosity to those who had been his friends in times of trouble. He might spare Shimei or believe Mephibosheth for political reasons, but he wouldn't neglect this old man who had shared his worldly goods with him when he was in dire straights.
Barzillai's answer in verses 34-36 is a study in wisdom and grace. [34] But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 "I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 "Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward?
Even though he knew it was a great honor Barzillai graciously declines David's offer. Barzillai had no interest in any compensation for his gift of love. Neither did he have any interest in trading the comfort of his old age in his own house and land for the excitement of life at court. He is too old, he admits, to appreciate the difference between filet minion and mush, or between the concert soprano voice of one of David's musicians and his own singing in the shower. David's delicacies would be wasted on him, and besides, he doesn't have all that much time left. He prefers to stay in his own home, near the place where his parents are buried, and where he, before long, will be buried as well.
I have watched people who, after years of living in one community, move to a totally different part of the country in retirement. They did it without realizing the support system for life that they had built at work, at church, with relatives, and in the neighborhood. Barzillai's rationale for not accepting David's offer has wisdom in it for people today. New experiences can be exciting, but as we get older we need to preserve and use the support systems we have built during our lives.
Let Barzillai's example be an encouragement to you who are approaching your "golden years." Enjoy the compensations the you can find. Take a slow walk through nature, converse with old trusted friends, read some good books, listen to some good music. And don't forget to pass some hours in the unhurried meditation upon some portion of God's Word.
Barzillai does not wish to personally benefit from the generous offer David makes him, but he does propose an alternative in verse 37. "Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight."
Though Barzillai wisely wanted to end life where he had begun it and where he had lived it, he commends a young man, Chimham, to the king. He asks David if he will confer his blessings on this lad, as if upon him.
In verse 38 we have David's reply. "The king answered, "Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you require of me, I will do for you."
From what we are told in 1 Kings 2:7, we know David intends not only to keep his promise to Barzillai in his lifetime but to continue it after his own death. David instructs Solomon to continue to be kind to Barzillai's sons (plural). I take it then that Chimham is a son of Barzillai, and that either at this time or later he is joined by another son or more. David generously provides for these men because Barzillai had cared for him.
Notice the tender parting in verse 39. "All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place."
When they said good-bye, David affectionately kisses the wrinkled face of his friend and benefactor. Though David was not allowed to reward his friend Barzillai, he had the privilege of honoring his friend's son-s. Often the best way of expressing gratitude to those who have befriended you is to look for opportunities to be of assistance to their children. Every time David saw Chimham at court he must have been reminded of Barzillai's kindness to him at a critical time in life.
IN CLOSING
In terms of the story of David's life, we should now have a strong sense of relief because David is once again in Jerusalem, reigning as King of Israel. It had been a long, hard struggle for David as he waited for God to fulfill his promise that he would rule over Israel, in Saul's place. For years David had to hide from Saul, who sought to kill David as though he were an enemy. But once on the throne, there were a number of years of success, but this very success led to carelessness, and ultimately to David's fall. The outcome of that fall was a great deal of suffering and adversity, capped off by the rebellion of his son Absalom, and David's flight from Jerusalem. Now, Absalom is dead, the revolution has been crushed, and David has been brought back to Jerusalem. What a relief!
David's difficulties served to humble David, and to make him more dependent upon God. These painful episodes in David's life produced a humility and graciousness in him that were not as evident earlier in his life. He graciously forgave Shimei for his sins against him. Was this not prompted, in part at least, by the forgiveness David had experienced from God for his sin? Humility is also seen in David's response to Ziba and Mephibosheth. David has learned to receive, as well as to give, as we see in his faithful friend Barzillai.
Barzillai was faithful to David & he kept living, giving & working until the king returned. Can the same be said of your life? It should be said of every child of God. 1 Corinthians 4:2 – "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."
When the king returns, we find that same spirit active in the life of this faithful man! Yes, Barzillai was old, yet he kept on working for the king.
Will you be found working when King Jesus returns? In truth, there are a lot of Christians who are AWOL! They refuse to serve the Lord with faithfulness! When was the last time you walked the extra mile to serve God and help others in need?
Thank God there are some who are still working! They love the Lord. Some are still in the vineyard laboring for the Master! May I remind those of you who have decided to remain faithful to the Lord that He will bless your faithfulness to Him!
How will you meet the King? If Jesus were to return today, would he find you faithful, working for the king and His kingdom?
Will you do tonight that which you need to do, so that when Jesus does come, He will find you faithful?
19:39 "All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place."
