THE BEAUTY OF SELFLESSNESS

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In Christ, Mark

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Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem and I will provide for you."

But Barzillai answered the king, "How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."

The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you."

So all the people crossed the Jordan and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing and Barzillai returned to his home.

When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

2 Samuel 19:31-40

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As David began his return to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel, chapter 19, we have seen him run into some people from his past.

First, he encountered Shimei who had cursed him and his men, throwing rocks and dirt at them as they fled Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:9-14). When they reunited near the Jordan River, you’ll remember how Shimei threw himself down at David’s feet and asked for mercy which was granted.

Then, David encountered Mephibosheth who had not gone with David when he fled because he was crippled. You’ll recall that Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son and so Saul would have been his grandfather.

David sought to show God’s kindness to Mephibosheth and did so by granting him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowing him to dine at the royal table. Additionally, David appointed a special steward for Mephibosheth named Ziba who showed himself later as deceiving, lying about the reason that Mephibosheth had not joined him as he fled Jerusalem. Not waiting until he could hear the other side of things, David gave Ziba everything he had given Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 16:1-4).

Later, David met with Mephibosheth upon his return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 19:24-30). It was then that he learned the truth and realized Ziba had duped him. He restored half of the original allotment back to Mephibosheth.

Finally, we see in our passage today that David meets “Barzillai the Gileadite” who had come down from “Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king” so to “send him on his way from there”.

As with the first two men David met, Barzillai was not a stranger. For as David and his people fled, becoming hungry, thirsty, and tired, they came to the town of Mahanaim where they were provided “bedding and bowls and articles of pottery” as well as “wheat and barley, flour, and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk” by three men, one of which being Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:24-29).

The scriptures told us that Barzillai was a “very old man, eighty years of age” and was “very wealthy”. Remembering the wonderful hospitality that Barzillai had shown in Mahanaim, David extended the following invitation:

“Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."

This was quite an offer because not many people were granted an audience with the king let alone have him provide for their needs. Surely, the request had to be pretty enticing for a man who was up in years and could benefit greatly for special accommodations as he continued to grow older.

But in Barzillai, we see something special beyond his hospitable nature for we see him display an attitude of selflessness as he responds to David’s proposal with the following:

“How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."

We read where David honors Barzillai’s request, allowing the servant Kimham to cross over the Jordan with him while promising to do whatever pleases him. Bit note that David wouldn’t allow Barzillai to completely escape his gratitude because he further promised that he would do anything that Barzillai desired from him.

And with that, “all the people crossed the Jordan” followed by David…and as he crossed over, he “kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing”. Then, “Barzillai returned to his home” while Kimham crossed with David to Gilgal, richly blessed beyond his dreams because of the selfless act of Barzillai…an act that placed Kimham in the care of his king.

You know, as I meditated on this message today, I couldn’t help but think about Jesus. For He had secured an audience with the King of all kings, one with God the Father because He was His Son (John 10:30). With that, He had everything He could ever ask for and could have just looked after Himself.

After all, who did He have to fear? Who was greater or more powerful than Him?

And yet, Jesus, like Barzillai, showed us the beauty of selflessness when He willingly decided to put Himself aside so that one day anyone who believed in Him as Savior could have an audience with the King as well. Consider this from Luke’s Gospel:

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals — one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar and said, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." Luke 23:33-37

Jesus clearly heard the challenges from below as He hung bleeding, suffering, and dying a slow death.

“Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

“If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

Little did those who mocked Him realize that He absolutely could have saved Himself and struck them all dead in a moment’s notice. He could have adopted a vindictive mindset that felt like He didn’t have to die for these people who were so sinful and ungracious…but He did, amazingly with a spirit of forgiveness as He asked this from His Father:

"…forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

And with that, He willfully submitted Himself to die a criminal’s death on that cross at Calvary, showing all mankind that He was an almighty, loving, powerful Savior who knew that providing a salvation opportunity for all sinners was a far greater and noble act than saving Himself.

Friends, in Christ Jesus, we see the beauty of selflessness fully revealed…a beauty that He expects us to model in our own lives. For through His actions, we see that what’s most important isn’t what we do for ourselves but rather what we do for others. It was this unselfish attitude that led the Apostle Paul to write the following Christ-inspired words in his letter to the Romans:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

Friends, let us commit ourselves to live out this verse in our lives every day, thinking about ourselves with sober judgment while not considering that we’re superior to others. Let us be willing to place our own interests aside and seek to make a difference in the lives of those who are in need.

For when we do this, we will show ourselves as Christ-like, as we’re to do as Christians, and reflect the very spirit of Jesus Himself…who taught us the full beauty of selflessness by example.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.