Grace

2 Samuel 19
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Today, Pastor Colin discusses the return of King David after being in exile due to his son Absalom’s rebellion. Despite the failure of the rebellion, David returns to a nation anticipating restoration and reward.

However, Pastor Colin points out that the return of King David did not bring full reconciliation or restoration. Instead, he shares three stories that highlight people’s unfulfilled expectations and disappointments upon David’s return.

First, the story of Shimei who, despite pleading for forgiveness, receives only a stay of execution from King David and is put on probation. This illustrates the difference between human forgiveness and the complete forgiveness offered by Jesus Christ.

Second, the story of Mephibosheth, who loses his inheritance due to a lie. Although partially compensated, he does not receive full restoration. This serves as a reminder that true restoration will only come with the return of Jesus.

Third, the story of Barzilai, an elderly, loyal servant of the king. Despite David’s offer to reward him, Barzilai’s declining strength prevents him from enjoying life in the palace. This contrasts with the promise that Jesus will give us the strength to enjoy our eternal life with Him.

Pastor Colin uses these stories to show that while King David’s return fell short of people’s hopes, Jesus Christ’s return will bring complete forgiveness, restoration, and reward.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,460 We’re looking today at the return of the king. 2 00:00:04,460 –> 00:00:11,060 David has been in exile in a little-known place called Mahanim. 3 00:00:11,060 –> 00:00:16,920 He went there because the rebellion led by his son Absalom’s. 4 00:00:16,920 –> 00:00:20,160 But the rebellion failed. 5 00:00:20,160 –> 00:00:26,600 After it failed, the call went out across the country, north, south, east, and west 6 00:00:26,600 –> 00:00:28,660 to bring back the king. 7 00:00:28,840 –> 00:00:31,860 That’s the key phrase in the verses that were read to us. 8 00:00:31,860 –> 00:00:36,880 It’s alluded to in verse 10, verse 11, verse 12, and verse 14. 9 00:00:36,880 –> 00:00:41,880 Bring back the king. 10 00:00:41,880 –> 00:00:47,000 We’re going to take up the story in verse 15 where we’re told that the king, that is 11 00:00:47,000 –> 00:00:50,520 King David, came back to the Jordan. 12 00:00:50,520 –> 00:00:55,419 He’s been out east of Jordan, out in the sticks in this little town during the rebellion, 13 00:00:55,439 –> 00:00:59,500 now that the rebellion is ended, he’s coming back to the Jordan, he’s going to cross the 14 00:00:59,500 –> 00:01:06,940 Jordan and he’ll come back to Jerusalem where he will take his power and reign. 15 00:01:06,940 –> 00:01:12,940 So we come to these verses with a great sense of anticipation. 16 00:01:12,940 –> 00:01:16,559 The great rebellion is over. 17 00:01:16,559 –> 00:01:23,919 The king is coming back, at last, surely, what is wrong will be put right. 18 00:01:23,919 –> 00:01:32,500 What is lost will be restored and the King’s loyal subjects will receive their reward. 19 00:01:32,500 –> 00:01:37,680 But what we’re going to find from the story today is that when King David returned there 20 00:01:37,680 –> 00:01:49,959 was less than reconciliation, less than restoration, and less than reward. 21 00:01:49,959 –> 00:01:56,459 And we’re going to see from three stories that there was significant disappointment 22 00:01:56,459 –> 00:02:00,779 when this king returned. 23 00:02:00,779 –> 00:02:07,919 And I want you to use this as a lens through which to see the joy that will be ours when 24 00:02:07,919 –> 00:02:09,559 our king returns. 25 00:02:09,559 –> 00:02:12,059 That’s where the message is going today. 26 00:02:12,059 –> 00:02:19,080 My prayer is that there will be encouragement today, especially for every person who knows 27 00:02:19,080 –> 00:02:21,360 what it is to struggle with guilt. 28 00:02:21,360 –> 00:02:26,679 If you know that in your life, this story is for you today. 29 00:02:26,679 –> 00:02:33,199 And praying that there’ll be encouragement for every person who has experienced loss. 30 00:02:33,199 –> 00:02:37,039 That’s in this story big time today. 31 00:02:37,039 –> 00:02:45,119 And that there will be encouragement for everyone who today feels a sense of their own weakness, 32 00:02:45,139 –> 00:02:47,919 their own declining strength. 33 00:02:47,919 –> 00:02:51,100 Now I hope then you have your Bible open. 34 00:02:51,100 –> 00:02:55,960 There are three quite distinct stories revolving around three different individuals that address 35 00:02:55,960 –> 00:02:58,000 these issues that are before us. 36 00:02:58,000 –> 00:03:03,919 And we begin with this character Shimmy who experienced less than forgiveness. 37 00:03:03,919 –> 00:03:12,600 And here I want to focus particularly on the need of all of us when we struggle with guilt. 38 00:03:12,639 –> 00:03:19,940 I want us to see clearly today what a wonderful thing it is to be forgiven in and through 39 00:03:19,940 –> 00:03:21,539 our Lord Jesus Christ. 40 00:03:21,539 –> 00:03:25,619 Now here’s the story I hope you have the Bible open in front of you. 41 00:03:25,639 –> 00:03:30,759 When David arrived at the river Jordan, coming back to take his power and reign it was the 42 00:03:30,759 –> 00:03:33,139 return of the King. 43 00:03:33,139 –> 00:03:36,880 Who should be the very first person to meet him? 44 00:03:36,880 –> 00:03:40,080 But Shimmy, this wretched man. 45 00:03:40,479 –> 00:03:42,800 That’s the only way I can describe him. 46 00:03:42,820 –> 00:03:49,059 Who had been a thorn in David’s side and made his life absolutely miserable. 47 00:03:49,059 –> 00:03:54,679 You may remember the story we looked at it sometime ago when David was driven from Jerusalem, 48 00:03:54,679 –> 00:04:01,279 this man Shimmy stalked him, ridiculed him and even cursed him. 49 00:04:01,279 –> 00:04:06,479 When David was walking with his few loyal people escaping from Jerusalem he was walking 50 00:04:06,479 –> 00:04:12,300 along a valley beyond the mount of Olives, Shimmy got up on a high ridge and pelted him 51 00:04:12,300 –> 00:04:15,839 and those that followed him with stones. 52 00:04:15,839 –> 00:04:23,779 This is the man who flung dust from a hilltop down on to God’s anointed king. 53 00:04:23,779 –> 00:04:28,320 Flung dust on him so that the bible says that when David arrived at the Jordan going out 54 00:04:28,320 –> 00:04:33,040 then he was utterly exhausted. 55 00:04:33,040 –> 00:04:38,959 This man was an absolute thorn in David’s side and here when the King returns who’s 56 00:04:38,959 –> 00:04:43,920 the very first person to meet him, the one who has mocked him, ridiculed him, insulted 57 00:04:43,920 –> 00:04:47,480 him, belittled him, cursed God’s anointed king, and He said I want to be the first to 58 00:04:47,480 –> 00:04:51,320 welcome you back. 59 00:04:51,320 –> 00:04:54,359 You see what’s going on here. 60 00:04:54,359 –> 00:05:00,899 Shimmy finds to his absolute horror that the King he has cursed is coming back and that 61 00:05:00,920 –> 00:05:04,820 all authority and all power is his. 62 00:05:04,820 –> 00:05:11,940 And crowds of loyal supporters are rushing out to meet King David but Shimmy he rushes 63 00:05:11,940 –> 00:05:13,739 to the very front of the line. 64 00:05:13,739 –> 00:05:20,000 He falls down before the King and verse nineteen he says, Let not my Lord hold me guilty or 65 00:05:20,000 –> 00:05:26,380 remember how your servant did wrong on the day that my Lord the King left Jerusalem. 66 00:05:26,380 –> 00:05:30,459 Do not let the king take it to heart. 67 00:05:30,940 –> 00:05:33,140 For your servant knows that I have sinned. 68 00:05:33,160 –> 00:05:38,820 And therefore I have come this day, the first of all of the house of Joseph to come down 69 00:05:38,820 –> 00:05:42,679 and to meet my Lord, the King. 70 00:05:42,679 –> 00:05:45,820 It’s quite something isn’t it? 71 00:05:45,820 –> 00:05:51,859 I pelted you with stones, but please don’t hold that against me. 72 00:05:51,859 –> 00:05:57,440 I flung dust in your face, but please don’t take it to heart. 73 00:05:57,440 –> 00:06:00,559 I cursed you, but there was nothing personal about it. 74 00:06:00,559 –> 00:06:03,959 That’s what he’s saying. 75 00:06:03,959 –> 00:06:07,839 Simmi had been a thorn in David’s side. 76 00:06:07,839 –> 00:06:13,420 Now he shows up as the lead member of the welcoming committee posing as David’s best 77 00:06:13,420 –> 00:06:14,420 friend. 78 00:06:14,420 –> 00:06:18,040 Well, you’ll not be surprised to see what follows verse 21. 79 00:06:18,040 –> 00:06:22,899 David’s commander was in absolutely no doubt about what should be done. 80 00:06:22,899 –> 00:06:28,220 With Simmi, Abishai answered, shall not Simmi be put to death for this because he cursed 81 00:06:28,220 –> 00:06:31,739 the Lord’s anointed. 82 00:06:31,739 –> 00:06:39,059 But David says verse 22, shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? 83 00:06:39,059 –> 00:06:42,859 The king said to Schimmi, you shall not die. 84 00:06:42,859 –> 00:06:45,100 And the king gave him his oath. 85 00:06:45,100 –> 00:06:47,140 Great kindness. 86 00:06:47,260 –> 00:06:58,059 Now, at first this looks like a marvelous outpouring of grace and forgiveness, but if 87 00:06:58,059 –> 00:07:05,299 you follow the story you will find that things were not as bright for Schimmi as might first 88 00:07:05,299 –> 00:07:07,640 appear. 89 00:07:07,640 –> 00:07:11,540 Notice that the king says, you shall not die. 90 00:07:11,540 –> 00:07:15,140 He does not say, you are forgiven. 91 00:07:15,359 –> 00:07:18,160 Big difference. 92 00:07:18,160 –> 00:07:27,420 What happens here is that David gives Schimmi a stay of execution, a reprieve. 93 00:07:27,420 –> 00:07:30,619 You shall not die. 94 00:07:30,619 –> 00:07:38,700 Time will tell if Schimmi’s professed loyalty to the king proves to be genuine or not. 95 00:07:38,700 –> 00:07:42,980 And in the meantime, Schimmi is put on probation. 96 00:07:43,940 –> 00:07:49,339 He lives under a suspended sentence. 97 00:07:49,339 –> 00:07:56,000 And the significance of that becomes very clear at the end of David’s life. 98 00:07:56,000 –> 00:08:02,140 Because very shortly before David dies, he speaks to Solomon, his son. 99 00:08:02,140 –> 00:08:07,019 And in 1 Kings 2 in verse 8 and 9 we’re told that David said right at the end of his life 100 00:08:38,020 –> 00:08:46,739 Now Solomon was a wise man and Solomon showed grace to Shimei as David also 101 00:08:46,739 –> 00:08:53,219 had done. Here’s what Solomon did. He said to Shemei, now you build a house 102 00:08:53,219 –> 00:08:57,780 in Jerusalem and you stay there. That is you stay in the city of Jerusalem. 103 00:08:57,780 –> 00:09:02,739 In other words, Solomon very wisely kept this man who had been a thorn in his 104 00:09:02,840 –> 00:09:08,760 father’s side. Kept him under surveillance and the Bible tells us, and 105 00:09:08,760 –> 00:09:11,960 you can read this in second Kings and Chapter two, that that effectively worked 106 00:09:11,960 –> 00:09:18,419 for about three years, until Shimei broke his parole and he left the city of 107 00:09:18,419 –> 00:09:23,340 Jerusalem. He’d been confined to the city where Solomon could keep an eye on him. 108 00:09:23,340 –> 00:09:29,359 He broke that parole. He went to a Philistine city by the name of Gath and 109 00:09:29,359 –> 00:09:37,840 when he came back he was called to the palace and that was the end of Shime. Now 110 00:09:37,840 –> 00:09:41,919 here’s what I want us to learn from this story today. 111 00:09:41,919 –> 00:09:49,960 Forgiveness is more than probation. Forgiveness is more than probation. 112 00:09:49,960 –> 00:09:54,799 David gave Shimei a stay of execution and that was an expression of grace in 113 00:09:55,599 –> 00:10:02,599 he said, You shall not die. But his guilt remained. He was placed on probation and 114 00:10:02,599 –> 00:10:06,799 it was one of these situations of one violation of your parole and you’re 115 00:10:06,799 –> 00:10:16,080 out of here. Now suppose the Lord Jesus treated you like that? Suppose when you 116 00:10:16,080 –> 00:10:23,359 came to Jesus in repentance he said to you, You will not die, at least not today. 117 00:10:23,380 –> 00:10:31,380 You’ll have a stay of execution, but your guilt remains and in the meantime you 118 00:10:31,380 –> 00:10:39,159 are on probation and time will tell if your repentance is genuine. You would 119 00:10:39,159 –> 00:10:44,239 then spend the rest of your life trying to prove yourself to him, knowing that if 120 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:51,679 you failed God had it in for you and that would be an impossible burden. And 121 00:10:52,039 –> 00:10:56,039 here’s where I want to speak specifically to every person who 122 00:10:56,039 –> 00:11:02,359 struggles with guilt. I want you to grasp from this story today that Jesus Christ 123 00:11:02,359 –> 00:11:09,219 has something better for you than placing you on probation. When you come 124 00:11:09,219 –> 00:11:21,000 to him in repentance, he pronounces you not guilty. He forgives. He reconciles you 125 00:11:21,679 –> 00:11:28,919 Himself. And forgiveness is much more than being placed on probation. Forgiveness 126 00:11:28,919 –> 00:11:36,039 is not God giving you a second opportunity to prove yourself. God says 127 00:11:36,039 –> 00:11:40,960 to you in Jesus Christ, your sins and your iniquities I will remember no more. 128 00:11:40,960 –> 00:11:49,919 That’s wholly different from what David said to Shimei. No probation. No suspended 129 00:11:49,919 –> 00:11:56,140 sentence. No remaining guilt. No proving yourself in order to enter into the good 130 00:11:56,140 –> 00:12:08,960 that might conditionally be yours. I am He says the Lord who blots out your 131 00:12:08,960 –> 00:12:15,219 transgression and remembers your sin no more. You see how different that is from 132 00:12:15,299 –> 00:12:20,679 being placed on probation. As far as the East is from the West, 133 00:12:20,679 –> 00:12:30,859 so far have I removed your transgression from you it’s gone. It is no 134 00:12:30,859 –> 00:12:39,599 longer on the record of God against you. Or to use another analogy because the 135 00:12:39,599 –> 00:12:43,960 scripture God is always in the scripture trying to get this into our minds, what 136 00:12:44,059 –> 00:12:49,719 it really means to be forgiven. In Micah chapter 7 then verse 19. You will 137 00:12:49,719 –> 00:12:54,000 cast all our sins into the depth of the sea. 138 00:12:54,000 –> 00:13:00,080 Isn’t that beautiful? What will God do for your sins in Jesus Christ? All of 139 00:13:00,080 –> 00:13:03,700 them. Even the one that comes to your mind and plagues you with guilt. 140 00:13:03,700 –> 00:13:07,919 He says here’s what I’ll do. I’ll take it from you and I will cast it into the depth of 141 00:13:08,559 –> 00:13:18,559 never find it there. Never to be seen again. In Jesus Christ, you do not live 142 00:13:18,559 –> 00:13:22,640 under a suspended sentence in which you are condemned to a life of probation in 143 00:13:22,640 –> 00:13:29,679 which you are constantly trying to prove yourself to God. You cannot live under a 144 00:13:29,679 –> 00:13:33,599 suspended sentence in Jesus Christ because in Jesus Christ the sentence has 145 00:13:33,599 –> 00:13:37,820 already been served because it was passed on him. 146 00:13:37,919 –> 00:13:43,559 And that is why there is no condemnation, no condemnation for those 147 00:13:43,559 –> 00:13:50,340 who are in Christ Jesus. Because forgiveness is God dropping all charges 148 00:13:50,340 –> 00:13:56,859 against you forever, wiping the slate clean and embracing you with his mercy 149 00:13:56,859 –> 00:14:05,580 and with his love. Isn’t that so much more than probation? Forgiveness in and 150 00:14:05,580 –> 00:14:14,280 through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There may come a time in your 151 00:14:14,280 –> 00:14:25,219 life when you have to choose between being like David and being like Jesus. 152 00:14:26,200 –> 00:14:31,940 Suppose your trust has been broken. 153 00:14:32,659 –> 00:14:38,039 Suppose you have been sinned against, you have been wronged, and the person who 154 00:14:38,039 –> 00:14:46,760 wronged you comes to you in evident repentance – genuine repentance. Obvious 155 00:14:46,760 –> 00:14:53,900 repentance. Will you choose to put that person on probation or will you 156 00:14:54,140 –> 00:15:04,559 to forgive them? You could say, you see, well, I’m glad you’re sorry but it’s up 157 00:15:04,559 –> 00:15:13,460 to you to prove yourself, and if you mess up again you better watch out. And I am 158 00:15:13,460 –> 00:15:18,760 going to be watching you like a hawk, 159 00:15:19,380 –> 00:15:26,979 that’s what Solomon did to Shimeh. He placed him under surveillance. If you 160 00:15:26,979 –> 00:15:30,140 were to say that, it would be very understandable, and it would be very like 161 00:15:30,140 –> 00:15:40,419 David. But to forgive is very like Jesus. And to forgive means to reconcile, it 162 00:15:40,700 –> 00:15:49,239 means to embrace, it means to love, and it means to be at peace. Forgiveness is so 163 00:15:49,239 –> 00:15:59,020 much more than probation. Thank God for that gift in Jesus Christ. Second, there’s 164 00:15:59,020 –> 00:16:04,340 the story of this man Mephibosheth. And this is a story about getting less than 165 00:16:04,340 –> 00:16:09,799 restoration. Jemi got less than forgiveness. Mephibosheth 166 00:16:09,799 –> 00:16:16,059 got less than restoration. And here I want to speak especially in regards to 167 00:16:16,059 –> 00:16:22,599 all in the congregation today who really have experienced a genuine loss in life, 168 00:16:22,599 –> 00:16:28,479 a loss that has not been made up to you. 169 00:16:28,479 –> 00:16:34,960 Now notice that in verse 24 Mephibosheth described as the son of Saul. And Saul of 170 00:16:34,960 –> 00:16:39,520 course was the previous king who had hunted David trying to destroy him and 171 00:16:39,520 –> 00:16:44,460 made his life and absolute misery for years but when David went became king he 172 00:16:44,460 –> 00:16:50,799 actually went out of his way to show kindness to the family of Saul. All of 173 00:16:50,799 –> 00:16:55,900 Saul’s immediate sons had been killed in battle. And David said the second 174 00:16:55,940 –> 00:17:02,099 Samuel chapter 9 and verse 1. David said is there anyone left in the house of 175 00:17:02,099 –> 00:17:08,640 Saul that I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake. I think any other king 176 00:17:08,640 –> 00:17:11,500 at the time would have said is that anyone else left in the house of Saul 177 00:17:11,500 –> 00:17:15,380 that I may eliminate him? David says is there anyone else left in the house of 178 00:17:15,380 –> 00:17:19,339 Saul that I may show kindness to him? And in answer to that question they brought 179 00:17:19,339 –> 00:17:25,380 in a man by the name of Ziba. Now Ziba was a very high-ranking servant. We might 180 00:17:25,380 –> 00:17:29,520 call him the Chief of Staff because he had many who served under him. And he was 181 00:17:29,520 –> 00:17:35,119 the highest ranking servant of the house of Saul. So when Saul was gone he was 182 00:17:35,119 –> 00:17:41,119 with this grandson of Saul. This man by the name of Mephibosheth and when Ziba 183 00:17:41,119 –> 00:17:45,560 was called in he said yes there is actually a survivor of the house of Saul. 184 00:17:45,560 –> 00:17:53,760 It’s his grandson. It’s the son of Jonathan. He is a crippled man and unable 185 00:17:53,819 –> 00:18:03,000 to walk and his name is Mephibosheth. So David sent for this man Mephibosheth 186 00:18:03,000 –> 00:18:06,760 brought him to the castle and said three things to him. The first is don’t be 187 00:18:06,760 –> 00:18:12,479 afraid. Which must have been wonderful for Mephibosheth to hear. Don’t be afraid 188 00:18:12,479 –> 00:18:19,400 I will show kindness to you. Then the second thing he said was this I will 189 00:18:19,400 –> 00:18:26,660 restore to you he said all the lands of Saul your father. I’ll restore to you 190 00:18:26,660 –> 00:18:30,540 your father’s land. So I’m going to give you the inheritance that otherwise would 191 00:18:30,540 –> 00:18:35,979 have been lost. And then he said and this is I think perhaps the most 192 00:18:35,979 –> 00:18:44,640 beautiful thing of all he said and you will eat at the king’s table always. So 193 00:18:44,640 –> 00:18:51,599 he’s brought into the palace he’s brought this grandson of Saul man who’s 194 00:18:51,599 –> 00:18:57,339 crippled and he’s brought in to live a royal life because of the kindness of 195 00:18:57,339 –> 00:19:05,880 David towards him is a beautiful beautiful story. Well when David had to 196 00:19:05,880 –> 00:19:11,079 leave Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion this man Ziba the chief of 197 00:19:11,280 –> 00:19:17,180 staff, he was a very crafty man he caught up with David just after he’d gone up 198 00:19:17,180 –> 00:19:20,680 the Mount of Olives and just over the brow of the hill on the other side he 199 00:19:20,680 –> 00:19:25,380 caught up with him and brought two donkeys along with 200 loaves of bread 200 00:19:25,380 –> 00:19:28,859 along with raisins and summer fruit and wine and all the rest of it and said 201 00:19:28,859 –> 00:19:34,760 these are for you a lavish gift from Ziba to David as he is retreating from 202 00:19:34,760 –> 00:19:39,900 Jerusalem. David immediately asked the obvious question of Ziba, he said where’s 203 00:19:39,939 –> 00:19:46,439 Mephibosheth? You know what? Why is he not on one of the donkeys? Why is he not 204 00:19:46,439 –> 00:19:52,680 coming with me? I’ve made him part of my own family circle. Having shown such 205 00:19:52,680 –> 00:19:57,739 kindness to this man, it was entirely reasonable that David would anticipate 206 00:19:57,739 –> 00:20:01,819 that of the few loyal people who stuck with him, Mephibosheth would be among 207 00:20:01,880 –> 00:20:07,760 them. In chapter 16 and verse three, Ziba then said this, 208 00:20:07,760 –> 00:20:16,300 behold, Mephibosheth remains in Jerusalem because he says today the 209 00:20:16,300 –> 00:20:22,719 house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father. In other words, 210 00:20:22,719 –> 00:20:27,239 Ziba says to David, you know what Mephibosheth reckons that with all 211 00:20:27,239 –> 00:20:31,359 this rebellion of Absalom the line of David’s gonna come to an end the people 212 00:20:31,479 –> 00:20:33,760 are gonna call for the line of Saul to be restored 213 00:20:33,760 –> 00:20:37,459 Mephibosheth thinks that if he sticks in Jerusalem he’ll end up becoming the 214 00:20:37,459 –> 00:20:48,640 king himself. Now that was a downright lie. Nothing could have been further from 215 00:20:48,640 –> 00:20:59,140 the truth but David believed the lie and he made a snapped decision and he said 216 00:20:59,959 –> 00:21:07,140 Behold all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours. All the land I’m 217 00:21:07,140 –> 00:21:14,060 going to give it to you. He’s got nothing you’ve got everything. Snapped decision 218 00:21:14,060 –> 00:21:24,479 So Mephibosheth lost everything because of a lie and he was in absolutely no 219 00:21:25,479 –> 00:21:31,560 to defend himself. Now roll the story forward to where we are now in chapter 220 00:21:31,560 –> 00:21:37,880 nineteen. When the king returns, the lie is exposed. Verse twenty-four. 221 00:21:37,880 –> 00:21:45,199 Mephibosheth came down to meet the king and when he arrives at the Jordan, to 222 00:21:45,199 –> 00:21:49,839 meet the returning king, it’s clear that he’s in a dreadful state. That was 223 00:21:49,880 –> 00:21:55,359 immediately obvious. Verse twenty-four. He had neither taken care of his feet nor 224 00:21:55,359 –> 00:22:02,020 trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes from the day that the King had departed 225 00:22:02,020 –> 00:22:09,359 until the day that he came back in safety. Far from wanting to become the 226 00:22:09,359 –> 00:22:15,719 king himself, Mephibosheth had been in mourning from the day the king had left 227 00:22:16,219 –> 00:22:21,719 until the day he saw the king at the River Jordan again. 228 00:22:21,719 –> 00:22:26,939 So, David asked the obvious question, verse twenty-five, why did you not go 229 00:22:26,939 –> 00:22:32,180 with me Mephibosheth? And the answer’s in verse twenty-six. Here’s the truth of 230 00:22:32,180 –> 00:22:39,859 what happened. My servant, that is Ziba, deceived me. Mephibosheth answered. Here’s 231 00:22:39,859 –> 00:22:46,319 what happened. Mephibosheth told Ziba saddle up the donkey so that I can go 232 00:22:46,319 –> 00:22:51,959 with David. What Ziba did was, he took the donkey, gave it to David, and left 233 00:22:51,959 –> 00:23:00,060 crippled Mephibosheth stranded. Nothing he could do. 234 00:23:00,979 –> 00:23:09,219 All this time, David had thought that Mephibosheth was a traitor, but this man 235 00:23:09,380 –> 00:23:15,160 had only ever been the Kings loyal servant and had grieved for him since 236 00:23:15,160 –> 00:23:22,939 the day he went until the day he came back. Now that raises the obvious 237 00:23:22,939 –> 00:23:29,380 question. Now that the truth is known, what will be done about Mephibosheth’s 238 00:23:29,380 –> 00:23:35,239 land, that in a snap decision the King took away from him and gave in its 239 00:23:35,660 –> 00:23:42,800 entirety to Ziba. Ziba is now exposed as a cheat and as a liar. What then will 240 00:23:42,800 –> 00:23:49,520 happen to him? Look at verse 29 where David makes what I 241 00:23:49,520 –> 00:23:56,260 think is a very very strange pronouncement indeed, David says to 242 00:23:56,260 –> 00:24:04,079 Mephibosheth, you and Ziba shall divide the land. 243 00:24:04,380 –> 00:24:10,859 How many people think that seems right? I don’t think any of us. 244 00:24:11,719 –> 00:24:21,640 Mephibosheth, you’ve been cheated out of your inheritance by a liar, but don’t 245 00:24:21,640 –> 00:24:30,040 worry when the king comes back you’ll at least get half of it back. Really? 246 00:24:30,520 –> 00:24:42,400 Why, why in the world would David not have given the land in its entirety back 247 00:24:42,400 –> 00:24:51,500 to Mephibosheth to whom by his own decree it belonged? People speculate it 248 00:24:51,500 –> 00:24:57,219 may be that Ziba who surely was a force to be reckoned with and conniving in so 249 00:24:57,219 –> 00:25:00,920 many ways maybe it was that David was looking for a way to keep him on board 250 00:25:00,920 –> 00:25:05,680 as the New Kingdom was being established I don’t know whatever the explanation 251 00:25:05,680 –> 00:25:11,420 what’s very clear is that Mephibosheth compensation he did not get 252 00:25:11,420 –> 00:25:19,260 restoration. Now to his great credit in verse 30 Mephibosheth says ay let him 253 00:25:19,260 –> 00:25:25,339 take all of the land that’s not the big deal to me says Mephibosheth since my 254 00:25:25,339 –> 00:25:29,079 Lord the King has come safely home. All that matters to me says Mephibosheth is 255 00:25:29,079 –> 00:25:34,199 that the King is safe and that my King who loves me and who I love is here and 256 00:25:34,199 –> 00:25:38,140 that I will be with him that’s all that matters to me he says but there is 257 00:25:38,140 –> 00:25:46,180 something profoundly unsatisfactory about this ending. Zibbah’s lie is 258 00:25:46,180 –> 00:25:51,859 exposed but he is never brought to justice and he walks away with half of 259 00:25:51,900 –> 00:26:00,660 the land. A great evil is rewarded and what Mephibosheth lost is not restored 260 00:26:00,660 –> 00:26:08,920 and you know isn’t that exactly how it is so often in this world? There are 261 00:26:08,920 –> 00:26:14,599 losses in this life and many of us have stories in this regard losses in this 262 00:26:14,599 –> 00:26:25,739 life that cannot be restored. A loss of health changes everything. A loss of 263 00:26:25,739 –> 00:26:33,780 money. Loss of a unique opportunity that never quite was matched and never came 264 00:26:33,780 –> 00:26:45,099 again. Loss of a loved one. Perhaps you have suffered a loss that has changed 265 00:26:45,099 –> 00:26:52,699 your life and now your life can never be what it would have been. Of course there 266 00:26:52,699 –> 00:26:55,619 are many compensations and many good things that have come but it’s not what 267 00:26:55,619 –> 00:27:05,079 it would have been. There’s compensation, there’s one not restoration. 268 00:27:05,079 –> 00:27:13,560 When our King Jesus returns all that has been lost through the entrance of sin into 269 00:27:13,560 –> 00:27:20,619 the world will be fully restored. Lies will be exposed, truth will be known and 270 00:27:20,939 –> 00:27:27,000 those who have been slandered will be vindicated and restoration is way more 271 00:27:27,000 –> 00:27:33,500 than compensation. We live in a world don’t we of compensation that’s what the 272 00:27:33,500 –> 00:27:38,140 courts are all about. Every day people coming in and out of the courts looking 273 00:27:38,140 –> 00:27:42,520 to find some money to make up for what was lost, compensation. Jesus Christ 274 00:27:42,780 –> 00:27:51,540 offers you more than compensation. He promises a restoration. He says there’s 275 00:27:51,540 –> 00:27:55,140 going to be a new heaven and there’s going to be a new earth and every 276 00:27:55,140 –> 00:28:02,239 injustice will be dealt with fully and finally and completely and more will be 277 00:28:02,239 –> 00:28:07,959 given to you in heaven than you have ever lost on earth. 278 00:28:08,959 –> 00:28:13,839 what lies ahead of you brother sister who feels the sense of what you have 279 00:28:13,839 –> 00:28:17,900 lost in life what lies ahead of you is not compensation what lies ahead of you 280 00:28:17,900 –> 00:28:25,119 is restoration more than all the joy that can be known in this world as one 281 00:28:25,119 –> 00:28:31,800 hymn writer put it lovely line that captures this in Christ the tribes of 282 00:28:31,800 –> 00:28:40,439 Adam boasts more blessings than our father lost there’s gonna be more than 283 00:28:40,439 –> 00:28:45,060 all of the greatest joy that could be known in a human life put together not 284 00:28:45,060 –> 00:28:56,880 compensation and that leads to the third story here the story of this man 285 00:28:56,880 –> 00:29:02,800 Barzilai Shemi got less than forgiveness put on 286 00:29:02,800 –> 00:29:10,219 probation the famous Seth got less than restoration just a compensation he got 287 00:29:10,219 –> 00:29:19,239 half back Barzilai here’s a story in which a good man gets less than reward 288 00:29:19,239 –> 00:29:24,800 and here I want to speak especially to those who feel their own weakness in one 289 00:29:24,800 –> 00:29:32,060 way or another you are very aware of declining strength now Barzilai was a 290 00:29:32,060 –> 00:29:39,199 loyal and generous servant of the king verse 31 Barzilai went on with the king 291 00:29:39,199 –> 00:29:43,119 to the Jordan so this is another of the characters who are there at this great 292 00:29:43,119 –> 00:29:45,920 scene where the king is about to cross the Jordan 293 00:29:45,920 –> 00:29:51,880 Barzilai went on with the king to the Jordan to escort him over the river now 294 00:29:52,060 –> 00:30:02,560 what we’re told about this man Barzillai verse 32 Barzillai was a very aged man 295 00:30:02,560 –> 00:30:10,140 80 years old. Now I want to be sensitive 296 00:30:10,140 –> 00:30:17,979 to all of you who are in your 80s or beyond but I got to say this is what the 297 00:30:18,079 –> 00:30:29,040 Bible says I I guess that there are young 80s and there are old 80s this 298 00:30:29,040 –> 00:30:37,079 you feel him wriggling here can’t you yeah this man was an old man at 80 and 299 00:30:37,079 –> 00:30:44,680 he’s really feeling his declining strength. Now what a marvelous person he 300 00:30:45,160 –> 00:30:55,300 was. Verse 32. He provided the king with food while he played at for he 301 00:30:55,300 –> 00:31:01,760 was a very wealthy man. So, God had blessed Barzilai with considerable 302 00:31:01,760 –> 00:31:07,479 wealth, a very wealthy man. And what did he do with his wealth? Well, 303 00:31:07,479 –> 00:31:13,839 Barzilya used this wealth that God had given him in the service of the king. 304 00:31:14,719 –> 00:31:21,579 So now when the king returns, he wants to reward Barzilai. Remember, 305 00:31:21,579 –> 00:31:25,839 Jesus said, you give him a cup of cold water in my name, it will not go 306 00:31:25,839 –> 00:31:31,000 without its reward. Give of yourself in the service of your king. There 307 00:31:31,000 –> 00:31:36,260 will be a great reward. And David is grasping on to that principle here 308 00:31:36,260 –> 00:31:40,719 and wants to practice it. He is this man of great means who has been 309 00:31:40,719 –> 00:31:44,920 a lifesaver for David, provided food for him and for this little band, 310 00:31:44,920 –> 00:31:50,079 which became a growing band of people at Mahanim, and this generous and 311 00:31:50,079 –> 00:31:58,319 elderly man has been such a blessing to the king. So when the king returns, 312 00:31:58,319 –> 00:32:04,719 he says to Barzilai, come over with me. That is, come over the Jordan with me, 313 00:32:04,719 –> 00:32:11,900 and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem. Isn’t that a marvelous 314 00:32:11,900 –> 00:32:20,660 offer? The king says, you stood with me when I was despised and I was 315 00:32:20,660 –> 00:32:29,300 rejected. You gave generously out of your wealth in my service. 316 00:32:29,300 –> 00:32:35,420 Barzilai, now I am coming into my kingdom, and I want you to be with me. 317 00:32:35,420 –> 00:32:43,099 Echoes of the words of Jesus, I want them to be with me, and I will provide for 318 00:32:43,099 –> 00:32:48,160 you. David wants to do more for Barzillai than 319 00:32:48,160 –> 00:32:55,359 thank him. The king has a new home for Barzillai, a new life in the royal city 320 00:32:55,699 –> 00:33:02,140 Jerusalem itself. This loyal and generous man is going to share the life of a king. 321 00:33:02,140 –> 00:33:12,699 It’s a great moment. Reward is more than appreciation. And David wants to reward 322 00:33:12,699 –> 00:33:22,140 this wonderful elderly, loyal servant. But I want you to notice what Barzillai 323 00:33:22,719 –> 00:33:31,819 says. Verse thirty-four. Barzillai saids to the king, How many years have I still 324 00:33:31,819 –> 00:33:37,780 to live? That I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? You see what he’s 325 00:33:37,780 –> 00:33:45,540 saying. David it’s too late for me. I’m 80 years old. 326 00:33:45,920 –> 00:33:52,640 There was a time when I would have relished the life of a palace, with all 327 00:33:52,640 –> 00:33:56,660 of its music and all of its dancing and all of its festivities and all of its 328 00:33:56,660 –> 00:34:06,920 joy and all of its feasting. I’m 80 years old! That’s beyond me now. And you go 329 00:34:06,920 –> 00:34:11,060 through what he says here. You see how the years have taken their toll on this 330 00:34:11,280 –> 00:34:17,260 man. He doesn’t have the energy to enjoy the endless round of palace festivities. 331 00:34:17,260 –> 00:34:21,860 So verse 35 he says, can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Have the 332 00:34:21,860 –> 00:34:27,800 capacity to enjoy this. Not only that, the rich food of the palace will be too much 333 00:34:27,800 –> 00:34:32,179 for this old man’s stomach and beside his taste buds are dying. And he says, can 334 00:34:32,179 –> 00:34:37,879 your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Just for good measure it’s 335 00:34:37,879 –> 00:34:43,959 quite clear that his hearing isn’t so good either. He says, verse 35, can I 336 00:34:43,959 –> 00:34:49,419 still listen to the voice of singing men and women? Now what’s the point of me 337 00:34:49,419 –> 00:34:53,560 being in the palace? I cant… all these great concerts, I can’t even hear very 338 00:34:53,560 –> 00:35:02,360 well now. And as his strength diminishes he does not want to be a burden to other 339 00:35:02,600 –> 00:35:11,959 people. Why should, verse 37, your servant be an added burden to my lord the King? 340 00:35:11,959 –> 00:35:15,899 How many folks in later years of life have that right up front and center? I 341 00:35:15,899 –> 00:35:24,320 don’t want to be a burden! That’s exactly what he says. And besides all of that, 342 00:35:24,320 –> 00:35:28,239 traveling is no longer easy for him. I mean, we’re talking here about going from 343 00:35:28,260 –> 00:35:33,300 the Jordan to Jerusalem. That’s a considerable journey to be made, and for 344 00:35:33,300 –> 00:35:37,600 this man, he feels it’s beyond him. Traveling days are done. It’s too much 345 00:35:37,600 –> 00:35:41,439 for me. He feels they can’t do it. So he says, verse 37, 346 00:35:41,439 –> 00:35:49,239 let your servant return that I may die in my own city near the grave of my 347 00:35:49,239 –> 00:35:53,840 father and my mother. Isn’t this a sad 348 00:35:53,840 –> 00:36:04,239 scene? I mean, here’s this wealthy man, but age brings its toll to all of us, 349 00:36:04,239 –> 00:36:11,719 whatever our finances. He’s been a devoted servant of the king, and the king 350 00:36:11,719 –> 00:36:19,639 wants to reward him, but it’s too late. The bell curve of life is coming down 351 00:36:20,159 –> 00:36:26,899 for Barzilai and he knows it. Life in the palace may be full of feasting and 352 00:36:26,899 –> 00:36:35,840 music, but Barzilai simply doesn’t have the strength to enjoy it. And David could 353 00:36:36,439 –> 00:36:51,020 extend Barzilai’s years but guess what? Our King Jesus can. Our King Jesus can! 354 00:36:51,020 –> 00:36:57,239 Christ has not only prepared a place for us to enjoy He will give us the 355 00:36:57,280 –> 00:37:11,560 strength to enjoy it! A resurrection body and an everlasting life we await says 356 00:37:11,560 –> 00:37:17,820 the Apostle in Philippians chapter 3, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who 357 00:37:17,820 –> 00:37:23,439 will transform our lowly body, the body that aches, the body where hearing isn’t 358 00:37:24,159 –> 00:37:30,879 he’ll transform that body to be like his glorious body and he’ll do it by the 359 00:37:30,879 –> 00:37:38,100 power by which he subjects all things to himself. Think about this contrast this 360 00:37:38,100 –> 00:37:42,919 has grabbed my mind and my heart the more I’ve thought about it. When Barzillai 361 00:37:42,919 –> 00:37:49,260 got to the Jordan of course is often used as an image of death itself, when 362 00:37:49,699 –> 00:37:56,159 got to the Jordan King David bid him goodbye and Barzillai went off on his 363 00:37:56,159 –> 00:38:04,280 own to die. But when you get to the Jordan your King Jesus will bid you 364 00:38:04,280 –> 00:38:11,919 welcome and you will go back with him to live and to live an everlasting life 365 00:38:12,379 –> 00:38:22,520 and to have the capacity to enjoy it in a resurrection body in Christ you have 366 00:38:22,520 –> 00:38:26,520 more than probation there is forgiveness there is 367 00:38:26,520 –> 00:38:30,679 reconcilation there is peace with God there is no condemnation now for those 368 00:38:30,679 –> 00:38:36,679 who are in Christ Jesus in Christ Jesus you have more than compensation you have 369 00:38:36,679 –> 00:38:41,439 the promise of restoration and you have a new earth the home of righteousness 370 00:38:41,560 –> 00:38:46,919 where sin will be no more and more joy will be yours than all the joy you could 371 00:38:46,919 –> 00:38:53,739 ever have known in any life on this earth and in this world and then Christ 372 00:38:53,739 –> 00:38:58,800 you will have more than appreciation you will enter into your award you will see 373 00:38:58,800 –> 00:39:08,860 the King in his beauty you will be with Him you will share his life his home and 374 00:39:09,159 –> 00:39:22,840 his joy and he will give you the capacity to enjoy it forever father for 375 00:39:22,840 –> 00:39:30,060 the blessings that are ours in Christ we lift our hearts in worship and praise 376 00:39:30,060 –> 00:39:36,899 and ask that in your mercy until the day when these gifts are ours we may serve 377 00:39:36,899 –> 00:39:44,179 you well and that we may live for your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and 378 00:39:44,179 –> 00:39:48,780 our King in his name we pray and everyone said

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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