Page Three: “Barzillai: Showing Respect to the Elderly” – 4/29/2012
Quite wealthy, Barzillai was a gracious giver. He had true respect for those in authority over him. And when his friends were in trouble, he was right there to help them.
Turn with me to his story. It’s just a few pages back.
Here’s II Samuel 17:2 “And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
(28) Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
(29) And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.”
On the very day David fled Jerusalem; on the day his son Absalom claimed the throne, this wealthy, elderly man came to David’s side and encouraged him. One wise man said this about Barzillai. “He spent his last days helping others.” [Found on www.bible.ca]
There are so many blessed qualities of the elderly. His is just one more of those many, many qualities. They bless and encourage you just by being who they are.
Barzillai illustrates what we find in Psalm 92. Here’s Psalm 92:14. Psalm 92:14 “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;…”
Among all the things we can learn from this elderly gentleman, you can find this. It’s an honorable thing to show pity on those who need it. Here’s what this means. Some of us give to others for the simple reason that we expect some day to get something back. That is a motive far lower than love, for sure.
Here we see Barzillai taking his own things, looking on the plight of King David, and finding a way to support and encourage him. He and two of his friends find food, clothing, even beds and cooking utensils and bring them to the humiliated king.
You see, it’s always easier to help those who have, than to help those who have not. In our modern world we’d say “There’s a reason why they are in that condition.” And, like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan, we’d passed by on the other side of the street.
Barzillai, at eighty, knows the value of defeat and discouragement. He’d lived a long life and may have faced such things. So, when David arrives in Gilead, he and his friends meet him with the necessities of life.
Here’s what you see in this man’s life that should be a lesson for us in the 21st century.
First, we see Barzillai looking on the things of others and finding a way to help. Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Second, we see Barzillai loyal to a friend. In contrast to someone else, his name being Shimei, Barzillai knew the power of long-term friendships. And remember this, David is a marked man; marked for death. Absalom might hear what Barzillai is doing and punish him for doing so. But, so what. He still would do what is good and right for David. [Idea found on www.gracegems.org in an article titled “Sunset on the Hills of Gilead.”]
Sometimes, actually all the time, we are far better off when we do what’s right and leave the consequences to God’s hand to intervene or leave us as He pleases.
Third, we see Barzillai willing to give other people the place of honor. Look back with me at II Samuel nineteen and verse thirty-three. II Samuel 19:33 “And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. (34) And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
(35) I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
(36) Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?”
Here’s the second time we see Barzillai in conversation with King David, only this time David is on his way back to the palace. And who does he meet – again. He meets his elderly friend Barzillai.
And simply because of his generosity to him on the day of his humiliation, David offers Barzillai the honor of staying with him in the palace and eating daily at his table. Now, did you notice Barzillai’s response?
Turn with me to his story. It’s just a few pages back.
Here’s II Samuel 17:2 “And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
(28) Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
(29) And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.”
On the very day David fled Jerusalem; on the day his son Absalom claimed the throne, this wealthy, elderly man came to David’s side and encouraged him. One wise man said this about Barzillai. “He spent his last days helping others.” [Found on www.bible.ca]
There are so many blessed qualities of the elderly. His is just one more of those many, many qualities. They bless and encourage you just by being who they are.
Barzillai illustrates what we find in Psalm 92. Here’s Psalm 92:14. Psalm 92:14 “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;…”
Among all the things we can learn from this elderly gentleman, you can find this. It’s an honorable thing to show pity on those who need it. Here’s what this means. Some of us give to others for the simple reason that we expect some day to get something back. That is a motive far lower than love, for sure.
Here we see Barzillai taking his own things, looking on the plight of King David, and finding a way to support and encourage him. He and two of his friends find food, clothing, even beds and cooking utensils and bring them to the humiliated king.
You see, it’s always easier to help those who have, than to help those who have not. In our modern world we’d say “There’s a reason why they are in that condition.” And, like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan, we’d passed by on the other side of the street.
Barzillai, at eighty, knows the value of defeat and discouragement. He’d lived a long life and may have faced such things. So, when David arrives in Gilead, he and his friends meet him with the necessities of life.
Here’s what you see in this man’s life that should be a lesson for us in the 21st century.
First, we see Barzillai looking on the things of others and finding a way to help. Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Second, we see Barzillai loyal to a friend. In contrast to someone else, his name being Shimei, Barzillai knew the power of long-term friendships. And remember this, David is a marked man; marked for death. Absalom might hear what Barzillai is doing and punish him for doing so. But, so what. He still would do what is good and right for David. [Idea found on www.gracegems.org in an article titled “Sunset on the Hills of Gilead.”]
Sometimes, actually all the time, we are far better off when we do what’s right and leave the consequences to God’s hand to intervene or leave us as He pleases.
Third, we see Barzillai willing to give other people the place of honor. Look back with me at II Samuel nineteen and verse thirty-three. II Samuel 19:33 “And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. (34) And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
(35) I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
(36) Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?”
Here’s the second time we see Barzillai in conversation with King David, only this time David is on his way back to the palace. And who does he meet – again. He meets his elderly friend Barzillai.
And simply because of his generosity to him on the day of his humiliation, David offers Barzillai the honor of staying with him in the palace and eating daily at his table. Now, did you notice Barzillai’s response?