(34) And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? (35) I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? (36) Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? (37) 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. (38) 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.
May we not hope that this generous man, who was thus looking forward to the grave, was looking also, with the same eye of faith, as the patriarch did, to Him, who by his promised salvation had sweetened the grave, and taken out all its venom! But how modestly this great man declines the king's favors; as not only unsuited to his advanced years, but also, as himself being unworthy of them. Doth not this suggest to us, what we are told, the faithful servants of JESUS will say at the last day, when the LORD is summing up to the review their various acts, and labours of love: LORD, (they will say) when saw we thee hungry and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink? Barzillai had truly done so to David, and yet now, when David talks of taking him with him to Jerusalem, he cries out, Why should the king recompense it with such a reward? So JESUS will not only recompense every tittle of the poor testimonies of his people's love, but will as much surprise them by the sense he expresses of those testimonies, as by the astonishing greatness of the reward. Inasmuch, (saith the LORD) as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me! Matthew 25:40.