2Sa 19:32-38 | KingComments | STEP | The third man we read about meeting David is Barzillai. The discussion David has with him is different from the discussion he had with Shimei and also different from the one he had with Mephibosheth. Here David takes the initiative. Barzillai is a wealthy man and has used his possessions to support the king. David did not forget those statements of support. Barzillai helped him at a time when he was on the run from Absalom ( ). With this, Barzillai has taken a great risk. He didn’t know how the battle would go. However, he has chosen in faith for the man of God’s choice. For that, now comes appreciation from the mouth of David. Out of gratitude for everything Barzillai has done for him, David offers Barzillai to go with him. Then he may live with David in Jerusalem and David will make sure that in his last years of life he will lack nothing. However, Barzillai does not want to be “an added burden” ( ) to David. He gives various reasons for this in . The reasons he gives – his age and the associated defects – could be interpreted negatively. Then it would be a refusal, packed in plausible excuses. Yet this approach does not seem to do justice to what Barzillai did for David. David’s reaction does not give rise to a negative approach either. It is more obvious to see the reasons given as proof that he is not seeking his own interest, but David’s. He has always done this, and he does it now. When he gives Chimham to David in his stead to cross over the Jordan with him, we see the same mindset in speaking to David. David’s appreciation for Barzillai is great. He will treat Chimham as if it were Barzillai himself. In Barzillai we can also see what the elderly believers can do for the Lord Jesus and His own. When we think of what he did for David, we can see in him a picture of a father in Christ ( ). Fathers in Christ have gathered much spiritual wealth. They are able to share with believers who have no knowledge of spiritual blessings the riches and help them on their way to ‘Jerusalem’, that is, the place where the Lord Jesus dwells in the midst of His own. That Barzillai instead of going along himself let the young Chimham – maybe his son, maybe his servant – go, is also a lesson. We see a good example of how an old believer allows a young believer to take his place in the way with the Lord Jesus. David goes back into the promised land through the Jordan. In this way, the remnant of Israel will return to the land in the end time. Then the whole people will be united. Here the separation is still a fact. Also Gilgal is mentioned on the way back. It is the way the people went at the time to conquer the land. In Gilgal, the circumcision took place, which speaks of the judgment on the flesh. That way should be followed again if there has been a deviation. The wrong must be confessed and removed. If that happens, it is a new beginning, the beginning of a new path with the Lord on which new spiritual experiences are being gained.

‏ 2 Samuel 19:32-38

Farewell to Barzillai

The third man we read about meeting David is Barzillai. The discussion David has with him is different from the discussion he had with Shimei and also different from the one he had with Mephibosheth. Here David takes the initiative. Barzillai is a wealthy man and has used his possessions to support the king.

David did not forget those statements of support. Barzillai helped him at a time when he was on the run from Absalom (2Sam 17:27-29). With this, Barzillai has taken a great risk. He didn’t know how the battle would go. However, he has chosen in faith for the man of God’s choice. For that, now comes appreciation from the mouth of David. Out of gratitude for everything Barzillai has done for him, David offers Barzillai to go with him. Then he may live with David in Jerusalem and David will make sure that in his last years of life he will lack nothing.

However, Barzillai does not want to be “an added burden” (2Sam 19:35) to David. He gives various reasons for this in 2Sam 19:34-35. The reasons he gives – his age and the associated defects – could be interpreted negatively. Then it would be a refusal, packed in plausible excuses. Yet this approach does not seem to do justice to what Barzillai did for David. David’s reaction does not give rise to a negative approach either.

It is more obvious to see the reasons given as proof that he is not seeking his own interest, but David’s. He has always done this, and he does it now. When he gives Chimham to David in his stead to cross over the Jordan with him, we see the same mindset in speaking to David. David’s appreciation for Barzillai is great. He will treat Chimham as if it were Barzillai himself.

In Barzillai we can also see what the elderly believers can do for the Lord Jesus and His own. When we think of what he did for David, we can see in him a picture of a father in Christ (1Jn 2:13-14). Fathers in Christ have gathered much spiritual wealth. They are able to share with believers who have no knowledge of spiritual blessings the riches and help them on their way to ‘Jerusalem’, that is, the place where the Lord Jesus dwells in the midst of His own.

That Barzillai instead of going along himself let the young Chimham – maybe his son, maybe his servant – go, is also a lesson. We see a good example of how an old believer allows a young believer to take his place in the way with the Lord Jesus.

David goes back into the promised land through the Jordan. In this way, the remnant of Israel will return to the land in the end time. Then the whole people will be united. Here the separation is still a fact. Also Gilgal is mentioned on the way back. It is the way the people went at the time to conquer the land. In Gilgal, the circumcision took place, which speaks of the judgment on the flesh. That way should be followed again if there has been a deviation. The wrong must be confessed and removed. If that happens, it is a new beginning, the beginning of a new path with the Lord on which new spiritual experiences are being gained.