1 Kings 2:7

We listen eagerly for the last words of "the anointed of God". We hear him dealing out stern justice to Joab, the murderer of the two captains of the army of Israel... Then the voice seems to change to the softness of grace as he speaks of the sons of Barzillai. And on the other side of this apparent aside, we hear righteousness again. It pronounces the fate of the man who cursed God's king and disobeyed the king's command. Often the great deeds of life pass before the memory of those who are leaving it. But here is one who thinks of the injustice done to others, and of the kindness shown to himself by comparative strangers.

David, who represents grace, understood what was appropriate to a reign of righteousness. If there were no righteousness, grace itself would be nothing but guilty weakness. As a man, David had shown himself very little able to give each of these qualities its rightful place. Many times we find him too weak to carry out righteousness, as in the case of Joab, or we find him showing grace at the expense of righteousness. God alone has found, in Christ, the way to reconcile these two things: His perfect hatred for sin and His perfect love for the sinner.

At this point David's fortunes were at their lowest. Shobi, Machir and Barzillai declared themselves on his side. They met him and his company at Mahanaim, bringing with them what they felt he would need. David had not summoned them to entertain him; no superior force compelled them to hand over to the king what they owned. They brought, of their own accord, the things that suited the occasion... They saw in him the Lord's anointed, so the crowd's favourite had no attraction for them.

In time Barzillai died. Perhaps many in Israel soon forgot this scene and everything connected with it. But one heart never lost the memory of Barzillai's service. The king never forgot it, and Solomon his son was always to remember it. After his return David was busy with many important concerns. Even so, with his last breath he spoke of this service at Mahanaim, and committed Barzillai's sons to Solomon's special care. Before David and Solomon the sons of Barzillai had a place — not of distance but of marked nearness, for they ate bread at the king's table and feasted in the king's presence. Faithfulness to the Lord's anointed at a time when most people had deserted him was never to be forgotten. Such devotion was never to go unrewarded.

David's thoughts delight to linger, in contrast, on what Barzillai had done for him (2 Sam. 19:31-40). He rewards that devoted old man far beyond his desires in the person of his sons. At first this touched Chimham alone. Now all the sons of Barzillai have a right at the king's table in return for their father's faithfulness. They enjoyed the glory of the kingdom in a special position of honour and closeness. Let us be mindful of this in our families. The devotion of parents to Christ is repaid in their children.

Barzillai's age kept David from doing for him all that he wanted. His hasty action over Mephibosheth tells us we have only a man like ourselves before us. But nothing can hinder the Lord Jesus from rewarding, as He will, all who have followed Him in His rejection. No one will suffer injustice on that day.