Be a Barzillai

Barzillai first appears in 2 Samuel 17:27-29. He was a Gileadite who lived at Rogelim.

King David and his supporters fled to Mahanaim on the east side of the Jordan River when his son Absolom seized the throne in a civil war. 

Barzillai and two of David's other loyal supporters, Shobi and Machir, took relief supplies to David and his company. They "brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, honey, curds, sheep, and cheese, for they said,'The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness'." 

Barzillai seems to have been a wealthy man or perhaps a chief in Gilead. He was an old man but when he heard of David's humiliation he hurried to offer him sympathy along with substantial gifts for his exhausted followers. He may have been the one who spearheaded the relief effort as we hear no more of Shobi and Machir. At any rate, Barzillai seems to have been the most loyal as we find him again in 2 Samuel 19:31-37.

After Absolom was dead and his rebellion crushed, David returned to Jerusalem. Barzillai traveled about fifty miles (probably on foot) from Rogelim to escort David across the Jordan and welcome him home. He appears to have had a traveling companion, perhaps a relative, named Chimham.

David remembered Barzillai's kindness to him in exile. Before he crossed the river, he invited Barzillai to come with him and offered to care for him for the rest of his life. Barzillai turned down the offer for a life of ease and listed his reasons. He was eighty years old and wanted to die at home, not in a strange city. His failing health would prevent him from being an asset to the royal court. He would just be an added burden to the king, the royal slaves, and the tax payers. 

Barzillai suggested David bestow the honor on Chimham. David agreed and decreed that Chimham should cross over Jordan with him and receive all the benefits he would have given Barzillai. David again expressed his gratitude to Barzillai, promised to do  anything he would ask, kissed and blessed him before crossing the river with Chimham among his company.

David did not forget Barzillai. He appears again in 1 Kings 1:7.When David saw his end was nearing, he told his son Solomon to show kindness to the sons of Barzillai and let them eat from his table, or in our terms, give them a SNAP card. 

Three character traits make Barzillai an unforgettable person and an example to us:

1. Pity and compassion for the fallen 

Barzillai came to David with words and deeds of kindness during his time of bitter reverse and altered fortunes. We should never trample the fallen at the moment they most need help. In Matthew 25:41-46, Jesus told us what would happen to those who don't have a heart to minister to those in need.

2. Unselfish loyalty

Barzillai could have chosen to remain neutral and not gotten involved, staying quietly at home with his flocks and inheritance in the south. Or he could have gone with the popular side and joined Absolom. 

Befriending the outlawed king was a serious risk for an old man. Absolom and his army might cross the Jordan and conquer David's exhausted force. If that happened, Barzillai was a marked man for befriending David. Though the odds were against him, he determined to do what was right and leave the results to God. 

3. Humility 

Barzillai was offered the friendship of the greatest king of his time and a home in the palace. He would have riches and honor and be the envy of the other chieftains. Who would not covet that honor? But he was not interested in being rich and famous. He had not gone to David's aid to better his position or receive a reward. He had done it because it was the right thing to do.

There are needs all over the world today. Are you sitting quietly at home enjoying your good life and ignoring the needs of the exhausted and starving masses? Are you getting involved without thought of recognition or reward? 

Be a Barzillai.