34 But Barzillai answered the king, "How many moreyears will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem withthe king? 35 I am now eighty years old. Can I tell thedifference between what is enjoyable and what is not?
Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can Istill hear the voices of male and female singers? Whyshouldyour servant be an added burden to my lord theking? - P106
39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then theking crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid himfarewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.
40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimhamcrossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half thetroops of Israel had taken the king over.
h himAll the troops of - P107
39 So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then theking crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid himfarewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.
40 When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimhamcrossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half thetroops of Israel had taken the king over.
- P107
43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah,
"We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greaterclaim on David than you have. Why then do you treatus with contempt? Weren‘t we the first to speak of bring-ing back our king?" But the men of Judah pressed theirclaims even more forcefully than the men of Israel. - P107
Barzillai, who is old and had provided for the king while he was fleeing, comesto greet David as well. When David invites him to stay with him in Jerusalem,
he respectfully declines but asks that his son Kimham go with the king. - P107
Davidfinally crosses over to Gilgal. Soon, Israel and Judah argue about who has thegreater claim on the king. - P107
On his way back to Jerusalem, David meets Barzillai who had previous-ly shown him kindness as he fled from Absalom. - P108
David requests Bar-zillai to come with him to Jerusalem and live there, offering to providefor him as a way of rewarding his generosity. - P108
Barzillai, however, gentlydeclines the king‘s offer because he feels that he is too old to move toJerusalem. - P108
One of the ways we practice the discipline of generosity is byacknowledging people‘s contributions to our lives. - P108
Whenever God usespeople to bless us, let us be humble enough to tell them how much ofa blessing they have been to us and strive to be a blessing in their livesas well. - P108
David returns to Jerusalem escorted by the people of Judah and half thetroops of Israel. - P108
The men of Israel begin to accuse the people of Judahof sidelining them and not involving them in the return of the king.
- P108
The people of Judah retort that they are related to the king by bloodand therefore have a greater claim on him. These arguments reveal riftswhich could further divide a fragile kingdom. - P108
Whenever differencesbetween believers arise, we should be quick to resolve them. One of theways to do this is to remember and celebrate our common identity inChrist. - P108
Despite our differences in backgrounds and opinions, we are all under the rule of one King and belong to one household. - P108
Lord Jesus, You prayed that those who believe in You would be one so that theworld would know that the Father sent You. I pray that I will be a catalyst of unityin my local church. In Your name, amen. - P108
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