ESOCS Devotional 30 March 2022
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 19: 31-43
MEMORY VERSE: “And the king said unto Bar-zillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.” 2 Samuel 19:33 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Kindness begets kindness – that is the summary of the story in our text. Here was an eighty years old, very wealthy Bar-zillai, a Gileadite, who took care of King David and his men. He brought food supplies and other needs to David and his men when they were at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:27-29), and saved their lives by providing them with adequate security. When David and his men left Mahanaim back to Jerusalem, old Bar-zillai came from Rogelim and escorted David across Jordan (for safety and farewell) and went back despite David’s insistence that he should return with him to Jerusalem and he would take care of him (as a payback for his kindness). Old Bar-zillai rather wished such payback package should be given to his son, Chim-ham. David assured him of full compliance [verse 37, 38].
There are lessons to be learnt from old Bar-zillai’s attitude. First, Bar-zillai had a servant heart – he bent low to serve despite his age. Second, he was a blessing to David and his men – he fed them while they were at Mahanaim. Third, he provided them with security as he escorted them to cross over Jordan. Fourth, his kindness to David brought extra-ordinary kindness to his son, Chim-ham. Lastly, age is not a barrier to showing kindness. As we grow older, we should be good to others.
The message for us today is that we should use the substance God blessed us with to care for the need of others. David was far away from home, yet he found comfort from Bar-zillai. Kindness begets kindness. Whatever a man sows, that he reaps (Galatians 6:7).
- What barriers do you have showing kindness?
- Ask God to bless you, so you become a blessing to others
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:36; Hebrew 13:1-3
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ESOCS Devotional 30 March 2022
