“Barzillai the Gil‘adi had come down from Roglim and passed on to the Yarden with the king to bring him across the Yarden. Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; he had provided for the king’s needs when he was staying at Machanayim; for he was a wealthy man.”-2 Samuel 19:32-33
Moving on, our saga of King David takes a brighter turn with the appearance of a man named Barzillai the Gileadite.
He had traveled all the way across the Jordan to help escort the king back home.
Unlike the selfish and scheming Tziva, he didn’t want anything for himself.
He just wanted to see David back on the throne.
Besides that, Barzillai was 80 years old.
He was wealthy and content with the life he had lived.
David, with his pure heart, wanted to reward him for his incredible loyalty.
But Barzillai declined.
He basically told David, “I’m too old. I can’t enjoy luxurious food, I can barely hear, and honestly, I’d just be a burden on you.”
It didn’t make any sense to give Barzillai access to palace life when he wouldn’t be able to enjoy it anyway.
Instead, he suggested that David take in a young man named Khimham.
We’re not told who this person was, but I’m guessing he was a relative.
The oriental customs of the time were such that Barzillai simply couldn’t flat-out decline the king’s generous offer.
He had to find a way to accept it, and Khimham served that purpose.
So an inspiring takeaway popped into my mind right now as I write this.
Here, we’re presented with a picture of peace in the form of an old man named Barzillai.
Per his own testimony, he could no longer “taste what he eats or drinks,” or “hear the voice of men and women singing anymore.”
Yet, despite this, he had peace in his heart.
We’re not given the details of his life.
Yet we know, he had remained faithful to God’s anointed King, even helping him out when all hell broke loose.
Barzillai was a man whose faith was reinforced by vigorous action.
And now, at 80 years old, he is wealthy, content, and on the receiving end of blessings from the King.
When I read this story, the following two verses came to mind.
The first one is from the prophet Isaiah:
“Even to your old age I am He;
And even when your hair turns gray:
I have made,
And I will bear;
Even I will carry,
And will deliver you.”
-Isaiah 46:4
And the second one is from the Psalmist King David:
“I have been young,
And now am old;
Yet have I not seen the
righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.”
-Psalm 37:25
So what’s the lesson I’m trying to articulate here?
In Barzillai, we have a man in the final stage of his life.
He can barely taste the food he eats or enjoy music anymore because he is practically deaf.
Yet, despite these handicaps, he is peaceful and content.
Why?
His faith.
His faith in God has kept his heart steady…
And now, at this final stage of his life, the Lord has granted him the privilege of seeing his anointed son restored to the throne.
This is what a blessed life is all about, folks.
Am I saying we’re all gonna end up wealthy like this man in our final years?
No.
But again, that’s not the point.
This man was content and had peace in his heart despite his physical handicaps.
On top of that, he even declined the king’s invitation to finish out his years in royal luxury.
He already knew the Kingdom treasure in his heart was infinitely more valuable.
I would pray that we would all adopt this man’s stance.
Let those who have ears to hear, SHEMA.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day.”
-2 Corinthians 4:16
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