The Real Iron Man

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.