Barzillai, the Gileadite

… I'd like to tell you a little bit more about what we had this afternoon. I'd like to continue the theme a little. It was actually turning to QTI, as our Father was saying, before our Father drew our attention to the afternoon. But I'm sure this is the design of our hearts, that we should be attracted to the Lord. By duty, surely, of God, holy, precious words, surpassing power, the dearest words of earth, attract our hearts, our joy, our constant love, thyself our object in those things of love. Well, we have in the Microprocess, as we were reminded, many examples of things we were wholly devoted to, wholly to follow in His rejection. And Israel is an outstanding example, a beautiful example, because there was no reason, no motive, as it were, for me to follow David, except, of course, that great motive of his love for David. And the Lord Jesus does value our love for Him. And we need to challenge our hearts in these days as to whether He is as precious to us as He should be, as He deserves to be, or has He not loved us and given Himself for us. I thought that our dear brother was speaking this afternoon. I thought of it today as being one of those not mentioned by name, perhaps, in the whole of our identity groups, but is included, I'm sure, amongst those who have all died in faith, not having received the promises, not having seen the reply of the persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, for they that say such things because they have learned me that they see the country, and truly, if they have been hungry of that country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But if I find that every punishment is on the way, I mean, David tried to persuade him, didn't he? He said, return thou to thy place, and abide with the king, for thou art a stranger and an exile. Whereas thou cameest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go with her, I may return thou, and take back thy brethren. Mercy and truth be with thee. Well, what was there to offer him but a place of repose and suffering? What had he to offer him but a pitiless heart centred on David, and who could make that nothing to pray, as the Lord liveth and as my lord the king liveth. Surely, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life. Then I say, will thou serve me? I desire no other place, he says, but to be with you. Wherever you go, I'll go. I shan't be satisfied unless I am with thee, the king. And it says, well, what could David say to him but, go? Can't turn me back, he says. I love your response and your desire. I appreciate your loyalty, your devotion, he says. Go on, he says. And so he was privileged to share David's rejection. You and I are privileged too, aren't we? To share reproach and rejection with our lord, our absent and rejected lord and saviour. That one day, if we suffer with him, we shall also learn. We can look across the difficulties of the wilderness and we can see the glory of the kingdom shining before us. And so it says here, you see, very beautifully, that all the country went with a gay voice and all the people passed over, yes, they were following David in his rejection. Now, I don't wish to state that here, but I thought there are others mentioned, as we were reminded. But one that rather appeals to me, one of the characters that I'm sure David appreciated was Presidia in the second chapter of Samuel. And verse, chapter 17, we read, When David was come to Malaim, of Rabah, of the children of Ammon, and Barzinii, the Thineadites. What did they do? Well, Barzinii and his friends, they brought things and vases and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and flour and parched corn and beans and lentils and parched pommes and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of kind. What for? For food. And for the people that were with him to eat. For they said, the people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness. They brought all in their hands. It may not have been a great deal by normal standards, but I'm sure it was all that they possessed and they voted to support Peter David because they wished to support him and they wished to share in his rejection and reproach. Now, the New Testament reminds us that we are not alone. We have been bought with a price and all that we have doesn't belong to us. It belongs to the one who has given it to us. We are but stewards to hold it for him and to use it for him. What a challenge to our hearts. Are we using what the Lord has given us for our own pleasure and engrossment or are we using it to assist? Well, the Lord's people, this is what is brought out here. David and his people were encouraged by the gifts that were laid at their feet. And in the 19th chapter of the same book, we have a further reference to the city of I think. And it says in verse 39, And all the people went over Jordan, and when the king was cut from among them, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place. Oh, David appreciated the loyalty of Barzillai. And the Lord pays no attention now of any little service we may do to do with him. If it springs out of devotion to him. He reads our hearts. He knows all about us. And there's a striking verse. If I can find the sign. It's rather struck me recently. I'll just read it to you. It says, The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born here. I know it refers to Israel, but what a wonderful thing. That the Lord is counting his people. He knows them individually. He doesn't miss one out. He takes account of each one. And he's writing up the people. What a wonderful thought that is. God is writing up you and me. What does he put into our accounts of life? How solemn, yet how exercised we should be, that what the Lord is counting and what he's writing up, as it were, in his book, is something to our credit, to his glory. The Lord is counting up his people and he is writing them up, as the psalmist says. Let us remember that the Lord is taking account of his people, even in the day of his rejection. Now, there's another reference to Vasilii in the first book of Kings. And I think it's the second chapter. That's the second of Kings. And verse 7, I think it is. David is instructing his captains and he says, Show kindness unto the sons of Vasilii the goodly right, and let none be of those at each of my table. For so they came to me when I fled because of Maximum thy brother. David never forgot how Vasilii was prepared to come to him, to identify himself with him. And to show kindness to him in that day. And now he says, you remember Vasilii and show kindness unto him. And let him eat my table. Reminds us of another one who was loyal to David, wasn't it? Mephibosheth. He was the object of David's kindness. David sought him out. The son of Jonathan that was laying on both knees. And he was brought into the king's palace and he sat down at his table. And he was given a place there as one of the king's sons. To think that you and I are worthy creatures as we are by nature. That God has taken us up out of the degradation and ruin in which we were by nature. And has associated us with Christ. Seated us at his table so that we can enjoy fellowship with one another as his children, as his sons. And to be linked up with the Lord Jesus. We sang one of our hymns. That Lord Jesus, are we one with thee. What a privilege it is to think that we are indeed one with you. Well now, just to refer briefly to Mephibosheth. Remember how he was slandered by Siber. But he remained true and faithful to David. And it says in verse 24, 2nd of Samuel and 19th chapter. Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes. From the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. He couldn't find a resting place. He couldn't find anywhere that he could find any enjoyment in nature. It must be to serve the king. And so he says here, well I've not got to read it all. But we know the story. How he was ready to follow David to the utmost of his ability. And have David appreciated it. Because he had experienced the grace, the kindness of David, his master, the lord, the king. And we, have we not experienced the wonderful grace of our lord Jesus Christ? Have we not proved his love? His love that saved our souls. His love that preserves us day by day and leads us on. And a love that will never be satisfied until he has us at home with himself in glory. May the lord Jesus become increasingly precious to us. May his love attract our hearts. May the glory of his person so be constantly before us. That our great object in life is to please him. And to be ready as it were to serve him until by and by he causes to be with himself. …