2 Samuel 19:31-43 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 19:31-43. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Samuel 19:31-40 (NIV)
31 Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there.
32 Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.
33 The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”
34 But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
35 I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
36 Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way?
37 Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you.”
38 The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”
39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai returned to his home.
40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.
On verses 31-40: King David was so appreciative of the way Barzallai took care of him when he was in Mahanaim (v32). So King David invites Barzillai to cross over to Jerusalem and let David take care of Barzillai in his old age (v33). But rather than crossing over and stay with David in Jerusalem (v34-36), Barzillai requests that David extend that favour to his servant Kimham instead (v37). David promises to do so, saying, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.” (v38)
What can we learn from this? Notice that David allowed Kimham to cross over with him not because Kimham deserved it but because Barzillai requested it. David probably had no idea who Kimham was, but because he loved Barzillai, at Barzillai’s request, David let Kimham cross over with him in place of Barzillai.
Likewise, God allows us to cross over with Him not because we deserved it but only because Jesus requested it (Luke 23:34). Because God loved His Son Jesus, at Jesus’ request God let us cross over in place of Jesus, while Jesus died in our place. What David said to Barzillai about Kimham is the same thing the Father says to Jesus about us: “[They] shall cross over with me, and I will do for [them] whatever you wish”.
2 Samuel 19:41-43 (NIV)
41 Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”
42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah responded even more harshly than the men of Israel.
On verses 41-43: Here we see tension between the tribe of Judah and the rest of Israel. The people of Judah were the ones who brought David back to Jerusalem. The rest of the Israel was not happy about that. Judah claimed that it was natural for them to bring David back since David was from their tribe (v42). The rest of Israel claimed that because they constituted the great majority of the population and were the first to talk about bringing David back, they should have been involved in bringing him back (v43).
What can we learn from this? Notice that just a chapter ago, Judah and Israel had been fighting against David, and now Judah and Israel are fighting over David. It’s a reminder that some of the people you serve can be very fickle. Their opinions about you can change all the time. If you are serving because you want to be loved by people, you won’t last in ministry because you won’t always get the love you want or deserve (or think you deserve). But if you serve because you love Jesus and want to please Him, people’s opinions about you can change and it’s okay. That’s because you’re living not to please people but to please God.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being like Barzillai in my life: You’re the One who pleased the King and yet instead of You crossing over with Him, You let me cross over to be with the King in Your place. Thank You also for setting the greatest example of a servant. You served people even when they hated You, mistreated You and misunderstood You. It’s because You were not living to please them, but to please the Father. May we all learn to serve the way You do too. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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