Hospitality and Gratitude

Reflections on 2 Samuel 19:31-40

The scene at the Jordan River crossing near Gilgal was chaotic. An entire royal family was trying to cross the river, two groups were seeking bragging rights for being the first to welcome them, others were trying to atone for previously insulting the king, and one was trying to save himself from slander. In the midst of this confusion is a tender story of loyalty and love.

HOSPITALITY. Barzillai had provided for David and his family while they were in Mahanaim. Providing room and board for a large, royal family would have required great resources, but Barzillai was both willing and capable for he was a wealthy man. Then despite his 80 years, he accompanied his guests from Mahanaim to the Jordan crossing near Gilgal. The distance Barzillai accompanied his departing guests, at least 20 miles, was a measure of his great respect for them.

TACT. At the Jordan River crossing, David said to Barzillai, "Cross over and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you." Barzillai tactfully rejected the king's offer saying that his age prevented him from enjoying the pleasures of the court and would make him a burden to David. In addition, residence in Jerusalem would remove him from his home where he wished to die and be buried. Still, Barzillai suggested two ways he was willing to acknowledge David's gratitude. First, he would accompany David across the Jordan a short way. Then he would send Kimham, probably a son, to accept David's gratitude saying that David could do for him whatever he wished.

GRATITUDE. David was pleased to show his gratitude to Kimham, and promised to do for him whatever Barzillai wished while still insisting he would do for Barzillai himself whatever he desired. Then when Barzillai had crossed the river, David kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Barzillai returned to his home, and Kimham continued with the king to Jerusalem.

God's Grace

Reflections on 2 Samuel 7:18-29
Use the frame on the left to read these Scriptures.

David dreamed of building a house for God, but God promised to make a lasting house for David. He promised to make his seed king and establish his throne forever. The promise had certain similarities with the promise God made to Abraham about his seed, and David responded by addressing God as Sovereign Lord, the same name used by Abraham to address God when he reaffirmed the covenant in Genesis 15. Not once in his prayer did David express any disappointment with not being allowed to fulfill his dream.

UNWORTHY. David expressed no disappointment because he was overwhelmed with the magnitude of God's undeserved gifts (vv. 18-19). His family was insignificant, yet God had made him king of Israel. David's sins were great, yet God made promises concerning the future of his family. Such unmerited favor was beyond comprehension. In wonder he asked, "Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?" All Scripture demonstrates God's answer, "Grace is my usual way of dealing with men who seek me."

REDEEMED. David expressed no disappointment because he, like Israel, had been redeemed (vv. 22-24). David had not been bigger or stronger than his brothers, and he not been more righteous than others. At the very moment God was giving him victory over his enemies, David had broken the 6th and 7th commands. Still, God had chosen him. Similarly, Israel had not been stronger than other nations, but slaves in Egypt, when God chose them. Neither had Israel been more righteous than other nations. Israel had broken the 1st and 2nd commands just weeks after God had led them out of Egypt. Nevertheless, God had redeemed Israel and David. For both, God had performed great and awesome wonders in driving out the nations before them. David marveled that the Great and Sovereign Lord had become their God forever.

LONGING. David confessed that what God promised him, and Israel with him, fulfilled the deepest longings of his heart (vv. 26-25). He urged God to do as he promised, not because he was afraid God would fail to keep his word, but because he so earnestly desired for all to know that "The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!"

COURAGE. Because God had revealed his compassion and mercy through this covenant, David found courage to pray to God, not only to thank him, but to ask him for greater and more precious promises than he could have imagined on his own (vv. 27-29). Without such promises, he might have been satisfied with asking for much less!

My chronology of David's reign appears on an extra page. You can find a link to that page in the "Pages" section below and left.

The Lord's Victories

Reflections on 2 Samuel 8:3-12

The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
-- 2 Samuel 8:6, 14

When a person is successful, he often takes credit for it assuming that there is something about himself that makes him superior to anyone else. Consequently, this successful person thinks that the spoils are rightfully his. He thinks that no one else deserves them. In contrast to this, David never forgot that his success was really the work of God. Consequently, he did not keep the spoils of war for himself, but dedicated them to the Lord.

GOD'S PROMISE. After Hadadezer king of Zobah lost two battles while trying to give support to the Ammonites, some of the kingdoms who had been his vassals or allies gave their support to David. Other kingdoms subject to him decided to throw off his fetters and be independent. Hadadezer was compelled to try to reestablish his control over these kingdoms along the Euphrates River. David did not want Hadadezer to reestablish his power and decided to attack Zobah, about 60 miles north of Damascus. God gave David victory over the Arameans of Zobah and over the Arameans of Damascus when they tried to come to Hadadezer's rescue. Consequently, David put garrisons in Damascus, and all the Arameans became subject to David and sent him tribute. In this way, David extended Israel's control to the Euphrates River in accordance with God's promise (Genesis 15:18; Exodus 23:31; etc.).

GOD'S PLUNDER. Moses had forbidden Israel's kings to accumulate gold and silver (Deuteronomy 17:17), so David dedicated the plunder, tribute, and gifts to God rather than amassing greater and greater wealth for himself. David recognized God's superiority over idols and expressed his gratitude to God for giving Israel victory. He wanted this immense wealth (more than 3,000 tons of gold and 30,000 tons of silver according to 1 Chronicles 22:14) to be used to build a temple for God. He proved superior to his son Solomon, who used the tribute brought to him to increase his personal wealth (1 Kings 10:14-23). Unlike Solomon, David never wavered in his faith and gratitude to God. Nevertheless, it is sobering to observe that even while he was dedicating these resources for a temple for God in Jerusalem, David committed adultery and plotted the death of Uriah. As David later recognized, God was not nearly as pleased with the gifts and sacrifices that David brought as He would have been with a humble heart and obedient life (Psalm 51:16-17).