How Barzillai Blessed Chimham

     Today, we look at an 80 year old man in the bible named Barzillai who blessed King David and a lowly servant named Chimham. The first time Barzillai is mentioned in the bible is at 2 Samuel 17:27 when he blessed King David who needed help when he lived in the wilderness at Mahanaim because he was fleeing from his son Absalom. 2 Samuel 17:28 says Barzillai and his friends blessed King David with beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse. And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

     Then, David became the king again after he defeated his son Absalom in battle. Barzillai is again mentioned in the bible at 2 Samuel 19:32 that says Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old (80): and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. Now notice that King David offered Barzillai to live the rest of his life with him in a palace at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 19:33 says And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

     Now notice Barzillai's response to David's generous offer. 2 Samuel 19:34 says And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? And wow Barzillai was kind and allowed his poor lowly servant named Chimham to take his place and live with King David in the palace. 2 Samuel 19:37 says Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee: And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

     Barzillai is a good example of how older people should act as christians. Most people would not refuse an offer to live in royalty with a king for the rest of their lives. But Barzillai did not want to be a burden to King David. Barzillai told King David instead of worrying about caring for me, you should be concerned about governing the people. Barzillai said King David bless poor lowly Chimham who is young and can enjoy a lifetime of blessings in a palace. I'm 80 years old and can only enjoy the palace for only a couple of years; but Chimham can enjoy the palace for decades.

     How Barzillai blessed Chimham reminds me of how King Jesus blessed multitudes of poor sinners like you and me. 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells us For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. Like Barzillai, wealthy Jesus was willing to sacrifice his life and die on a cross for our sins so His blood could cleanse away all our sins and allow us to live forever in the kingdom of God like kings and priests in royalty.

     Like Chimham, we were all slaves and servants to sin; But because of Jesus' sacrifice by dying on the cross, now we are kings and priests blessed forevermore with peace in the kingdom of God. We will rule and reign with Jesus forevermore like Chimham ruled and reigned with King David.

     Right now, Brother Bob prays that anyone reading this would decide to accept Jesus' free offer of salvation and blessings like Chimham accepted Barzillai's free offer to be saved from poverty and live in royalty with the king. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died for you on the cross, was buried, and rose again. And you will be like Chimham and live in royalty forevermore with a King named Jesus.

     Another thing we see about Barzillai is that he considered the poor and blessed poor Chimham. Let's be like Barzillai and consider the poor all around us. Visit the widows and fatherless, feed hungry little kids, and always call people with encouraging words. Psalm 41 promises many blessings if you just consider and listen to the poor. Psalm 41:1 says Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

     And also notice that Barzillai expected nothing in return for his kindness to King David. Barzillai was a good example of how we should give blessings to people, expecting nothing in return (no strings attached). Whenever anyone tells you after all I've done for you, this is not how christians should give blessings. Like Barzillai, lets obey Luke 6:35: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Barzillai is a good example of how senior citizens should act

DO YOUR GIVING WHILE YOU'RE LIVING

SO YOU'LL BE A KNOWING WHERE ITS A GOING

     Like 80 year old Barzillai, do your giving while you're living so you'll be a knowing where its a going. Don't be a tightwad and hoard all your money, thinking you'll live forever. Senior citizens that are stingy and never bless anyone with a penny die and allow the state to collect all their money. Instead, bless widows, orphans, missionaries, and churches with your money while you are living; This will give you joy to see hungry kids fed with your money, widows happy and able to pay their bills, and multitudes saved for Jesus by missionaries because of a kind gift. I hope I leave out of here penniless and give away everything to poor needy people.

     Now notice that Barzillai's farewell to King David was sweet. 2 Samuel 19:39 says And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai; and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. Like Barzillai, when you leave this earth let it be sweet where people will call you a blessing. 

     Unfortunately, 2/3 of the elderly people in nursing homes never get a single visitor because they are crabs, sour, mean, and grumpy. These elderly people are crabs and say my kids never visit me and people only visit me for my money. Instead start calling your kids and tell them I love you and thank God for you. If your kids visit you in the nursing home, tell your kids thanks for visiting and taking time to visit me. This will make your kids come back and visit if you are kind and pleasant.

     The bible says you must show yourself friendly to get friends. We reap what we sow. If you want someone to be kind and friendly to you, you must be kind and friendly to everyone. And don't curse anyone to avoid curses. I pray in Jesus name that anyone reading this will have all negative thoughts and curses rebuked and eliminated past, present, and future where no one is harmed. Remember our flesh is one of our worst enemies that we must deny daily. Get in the habit of daily telling your flesh to stop grumbling and complaining with negative words; Constantly replace these negative words and say I bless everyone and speak kind words of peace always.

     If you're elderly, be like Barzillai and do kind things for everyone. Take time to read the bible with little kids like the elderly man pictured above. Senior citizens should be good christian examples to our youth. While you are alive make decisions to bless multitudes of people all over this earth many years after your death.

     Make your senior years, years of reconciliation instead of building dividing walls between your kids about who will receive your inheritance. Be like Saul and Jonathan pictured above who in their death were not divided. When Saul was young, he was mean and tried to kill his son Jonathan for protecting David by throwing a javelin at him. But Saul reconciled and made peace with his son Jonathan before his death and was not divided before his death. 2 Samuel 1:23 says Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

     Like Saul, senior citizens let there be no division between you and your kids before you leave this earth. Humble yourself like Saul and apologize to your kids and leave this earth sweet like Barzillai. Finish sweet and strong like Barzillai where people will always have nice things to say about you years after you leave this earth.   

     Oh by the way, King David kept his promise and blessed Chimham to live in in a beautiful home by the palace in Bethlehem. All these blessings were given to Chimham because of a blessed generous senior citizen named Barzillai who considered his poor servant Chimham. This is proven by Jeremiah 41:17 that says And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem (where David lived), to go to enter into Egypt. 

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.