The Real Iron Man
I. Introduction:
When I was a child, my dad took me to a barbershop run by two great women, Linda and Sammy Jo. Grandpa went to them too. It smelled of cigarette smoke, barbicide, shaving cream, and brill cream. On the walls were placks with practical wisdom like: "Never slap a man chewing tobacco" and "Never ask a man if he is from Texas. If he is, he'll tell you. If he ain't, don't embarrass him." At the end of a haircut, I was shaved with a straight razor, slapped with stinging aftershave, blown off with an air hose, and given a piece of bubblegum.
I loved going with my dad. There was also a shelf that contained all manner of magazines, but my favorites were the Marvel comics. There was the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man. I loved reading them as I waited for my dad and brother. We all love superhero stories, and really, we don't have any new stories. We retell the best ones over and over again. In recent years the stories of the Marvel Universe have been retold through film. Iron Man is one of the main stories retold. Tony Stark is a wounded wealthy genius who invents the Iron Man suit to fight evil. He is imperfect and makes mistakes, but seeks the best for those he loves and ultimately gives his life for the benefit of the rest of the world.
The Bible contains the record of a man whose name can be translated as "Iron Man" in the story of the life of David. We first read about him in 2 Samuel 17:27-29:
2 Samuel 17:27-29 (ESV)
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. His name means "Iron Man." He was among those who cared for King David when David was running from his rebellious son, Absolom. Absolom had been involved in a coup to overthrow David's government. David ran away rather than fight his son and destroy the kingdom. Some fights just aren't worth it. And if we allow the Lord to fight for us, He will make it all right in the end. God has people who will take care of you in your moments of distress if you will just look.
I am reminded of Mr. Rogers telling about how his mother taught him as a child that in times of great distress and difficulty to look for the helpers. Barzillai, the Bible's "Iron Man", sustained David through his time of difficulty. When all was said and done and Absolom was removed and David was on his way back home to the kingdom we read:
2 Samuel 19:31-40 (ESV)
31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.” 38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home. 40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.
Barzillai wasn't into helping David for what he might get out of it. When David wanted to requite him, he said, I've got everything I need, but would you take care of my boy? At this, the king kissed him. The kiss showed the king's favor. I want to talk to you dads this morning about what it means to be a real Iron Man. It takes the favor or the King with a capital K.
II. Speaking Point
A. We Need God's Favor, Including Dads
Noah found favor in the sight of God. He was a dad. That favor protected him and his family.
Joseph found favor in the sight of the Egyptian jailor and Pharoah. It protected him and his family. And when he was a dad, it blessed his children
Dads, we need the favor of God. We need the King's Kiss. The King's Kiss will protect us.
Psalm 5:11-12 (ESV)
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy,and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Dad's, this is what we need in the present world.
When our peoples' hearts are failing them for fear...
When tsunamis of sorrow flood our world...
When mudslides of anguish overwhelm...
We need men of iron who have the favor of God!
We need the Kiss of the King!
There is an old fable. The story is told of several girls who lived in a refuge where the kind of the land visited occasionally. The king would stoop and shake hands formally with each girl. But, one girl who was lame asked the king to kiss her. The sovereign kissed the girl on the cheek. To the amazement of the other girls, the lame girl became whole again and was transformed into the most beautiful girl in the world. One of the girls standing by said, "So, that's what happens when you are kissed by the king!"
Dad's, we need the favor of God. For our weakness, there is a kiss. For our infirmity, there is favor. For our transgression, there is hope. We need the favor of God, and we need to be givers of that favor to our children, both our biological and adopted children, and those who we fill that role that someone else is not able to or refuses to.
Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Dad's, our children need our favor, our affection.
B. God Desires to Show His Favor, Iron Dads Do Too
Our King, our Heavenly Father, delights in you.
You can experience His Favor.
You are God's delight, He seeks you out. You are precious in His sight. He longs to provide for you.
Think of all the times He has bestowed His Kiss of Favor on you.
Psalm 103 tells us that he redeems your life from the pit. He heals all your diseases. He feeds you with good things. Your youth is renewed like the eagle. He makes known His Way to you. He is gracious to you. Like a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD is gracious to those who are His. He is slow to anger. He doesn't deal with you according to your failures, but according to His mercy! His love is as high as the heavens!
He is like the Father in the story of the Prodigal sons!
He has chosen you (1 Thessalonians 1:4). You are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). He lavishes the riches of His Grace upon you (Ephesians 1:8). He makes known to you the mysteries of His will (Ephesians 1:9). He made you his heir (Galatians 4:7).
The eye has not seen. The ear hasn't heard. Your mind cannot conceive what favor God would like to bestow upon you (1 Corinthians 2:9).
You're His child! And dads, He wants you to model what He is to your own children! My dad wasn't stingy. He worked hard for us to have what we had. God has given everything for us. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:14-21, "I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?"
Iron Men, Dads with the favor of God pass that favor on.
C. God's Favor Is Everlasting, And Dads' Should Be Too
David kissed Barzillai, the Iron Man. Iron rusts. Iron corrodes. Dads, as great as the things we can do for our children, some of them are temporary.
Barzillai, Iron Man, however, does something for his son that will last forever. He entrusted his youngest son to the king. "Don't bless me, King. Bless the generation to come." Momentary provision is not enough, God; Everlasting supply is what we need."
The king took the future under his arm. Today's needs had been met; tomorrow's hope was now secure.
The days would peel off the calendars. Barzillai would die. On David's deathbed, he commanded Solomon to care for Barzillai's children.
1 Kings 2:7 (ESV)
7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
Generations came and went, but still, the favor lasted. Israel went into captivity for seventy years. They came home and Barzillai's family came home too and are listed in the genealogies that returned (Ezra 2:16).
The favor of the King is everlasting.
Psalm 121:5-8 (ESV)
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Some blessings can be passed down.
Blessings like faith... train up a child in the way that they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
Blessings like love for the Word... from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures!
Blessings like a good name... a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches!
Blessings like hope beyond this world!
Barzillai, the Iron Dad, kissed by the king passed the favor he had received on from one generation to the next.
Much can be said about this gracious dad, Barzillai. He faced old age gracefully. He remained generous throughout his life. He promoted the next generation. He was kissed by the king.
And don't forget his son, Chinham. David treated him like his own son. He apparently gave Chinham a place in the "City of David," Bethlehem.
Jeremiah 41:17 (ESV)And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt
One writer has pointed out that the "habitation" mentioned was probably an "inn" or a "stable." Jeremiah said Chinham's inn was the place of departure, a way-station on the road to Egypt.
Bethlehem... inn... stable... Egypt...
No... Yes!
On that fateful night when the Son of David was born, Mary and Joseph came to the City of David. Some have thought that they knocked on the door of a descendant of Barzillai. Although there was no room for him in the inn, a place was provided. And from that place, a quick escape was made to Egypt.
The favor of God goes on and on and on...
Daddy, the best thing you can do for your child is to place them into the Hands of the King.
III. Conclusion and Exhortation
David showed favor to Shimei, the one who cursed him. Yet, there was a special favor given to Barzillai, the one who blessed him. The old Iron Man, blessed the king and the king blessed him.
Would you join me around the front and pray along with me?
