2 Samuel 19 - James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

Bible Comments
  • 2 Samuel 19:10 open_in_new

    BACK TO THE THRONE

    ‘Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?’

    2 Samuel 19:10

    The rebells had not hesitated to bring what they thought would be the good tidings to the king. Yet a plaintive cry went up from him when he realised the fullness of the news. Little could the people realise the joy of victory or what it meant, and they sent messengers to him one after another, and they held consultations between themselves; and then we come to these words: ‘Why therefore speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?’ There is a spiritual truth in these words which appeals very continuously to some of us.

    I. Rebellion against the King.—Realising that Jesus Christ Himself is our lawful King, our Sovereign, and Saviour, may we ask ourselves what our position is in respect to Him? Many of these men had been rebels against the king; they had ranged themselves on the side of Absalom, and were willing to cast in their lot with his. But, rebels as they were, there now came the opportunity of owning their allegiance to the true king. Is it not possible for us to be rebels against our Lord Jesus Christ Himself? We may set something or somebody else up in our hearts to the exclusion of Himself; we may not own Him to be our Lord. If that be the case—if any of us are conscience-stricken and feel that we have been rebels against our Lord and against His kingdom—shall we speak the word to bring Him back to us? The word must be (a) a word of penitence, (b) a word of prayer, (c) a word of faith.

    II. Separation from the King.—Or there may be many of us who have not, at any rate consciously, been rebels against our Lord Jesus Christ, but who nevertheless feel that there has been something which has separated us from Him. We know that no longer are we enjoying communion with Him. It seems as though He were a long way from us. We realise not His presence with all the joy, and hope, and light which that presence brought us in the days gone by. It seems that everything is miserable that once was joy.

    III. To bring the King back.—‘Why therefore speak ye not a word of bringing the King back?’ Do you think He will come back? Yes; speak the word to bring the King back, for He is wanted now. If we have forgotten Him, He has not forgotten us. If we have been weak in our own love, if we have been an easy prey to our spiritual foes, speak the word to bring Him back. Send a message through prayer to the King to ask Him to come back to the heart from which He has been expelled. Ask Him to return with all the light and joy and sunshine which ever come from His presence with us.

    —Prebendary Pennefather.

    Illustration

    ‘We remember, for instance, the time when we could kneel down and pray; or we remember the time when we used to delight to read God’s Word; or we remember when we could realise His presence in our daily life; or we remember when our communions were seasons of joy and spiritual refreshment; or we look back and recollect how we believed that He was not only in the world somewhere, but we believed that He was with us, we felt more joy in doing some work for Him, no matter how feeble it might be. Those were the bright, happy days of our spiritual life. But somehow or other there has been a change. We have lost the happiness which once we had, and things are not so clear and easy as they once seemed to be. We find ourselves walking in the darkness, groping our way and stumbling. We find all sorts of difficulties staring us in the face. We do not believe in prayer now, or, if we do, we do not pray; and we do not read God’s Holy Word, and we have given up our communions, or, if we still attend, it is merely a matter of form. How is it? Many of us, I think, find it very difficult to hold on. We find it so easy to go back. It is so difficult always to realise the presence of the King with us, and there are so many distractions in this world, there are so many influences brought to bear upon us.’

  • 2 Samuel 19:18 open_in_new

    THE KING’S FERRY BOAT

    ‘There went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household.’

    2 Samuel 19:18

    I. According to old heathen mythology, there was a fabled river called Acheron, which the souls of the dead must cross.—Its waters were muddy and bitter, and old Charon, who ferried them over, obliged each one to pay a sum of money for the passage. In this fable there is a remnant of sound belief in the existence of the soul, after it has left the body, in another state of being. The very river which the dead are represented as crossing has its counterpart in the language which Christians often use. Our notions of a ferry embrace convenient landing-places, boats for the conveyance of passengers, the payment of tolls, etc. It would not require much imagination to conjure up some of these in connection with the text.

    II. There will come a moment in the life of each one of us when work, pleasure, folly, and wickedness will all be done with, and when we shall find ourselves on the shores of the river of death, with its dark, cold waters separating us from the better land.—The golden city is on the other side, but the river must first be crossed. How are we to cross? The text will help us to understand. ‘There went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household.’ The ark of Christ’s Church is only a safe ‘ferry boat’ because it is preserved and guided by our Divine Lord. As long as we remain in His holy keeping no shipwreck is possible. We shall reach the ‘desired haven.’

    Illustration

    ‘Thou Framer of the light and dark,

    Steer through the tempest Thine own ark:

    Amidst the howling, wintry sea,

    We are in port if we have Thee!’

  • 2 Samuel 19:31-40 open_in_new

    A MODEL FOR OLD MEN

    ‘Barzillai the Gileadite.’

    2 Samuel 17:27 (cf. 2 Samuel 19:31-40)

    See in Barzillai a model for the aged. The whole scene is one of the most touching in sacred writ, and the venerable man stands out before us with vivid lifelike distinctness, as one of the most interesting characters in this thrilling history.… We feel as if we knew him thoroughly and loved him dearly. His old age was beautiful exceedingly. As the basis of a discourse specially addressed to those advanced in life, Barzillai’s case may be profitably made use of. The following points could be pressed:—

    I. His sense of the nearness of death.—‘How long have I to live?… I am this day fourscore years old.’ To him the thought of death seemed to be neither unfamiliar nor unpleasant. Remembering his fourscore years he knew it could not be far distant, and he seems quite reconciled to the fact of its approach. His calmness in the prospect does not appear to have arisen from apathy or distaste for life. His sensibilities, even at his advanced age, were keen and tender. The whole tenor of the narrative goes to show that his composure in the thought and near prospect of death was the fruit of piety. This superiority to the terrors of death was quite possible even in Old Testament times, and was enjoyed by many during that period.

    Christian men and women who are advanced in years should seek to copy Barzillai’s example, accustoming themselves to the thought and approach of death. How many aged ones, alas! dread to think of their end; delight to be told how hale and fresh-looking they are, how likely they are to be long-lived, as if these things could prolong their days or postpone the appointed hour! Better far, when whitening hair, dimming sight, faltering step, and trembling hand, remind such of Barzillai’s apostrophe, ‘How long have I to live?’ and turn their thoughts towards the other world.

    II. His contentment under the infirmities of age.—‘Can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women?’ He had no wish for court life, for he was no longer fit to enjoy it. His powers were waning; he was no longer able to find enjoyment in that which ministered pleasure to others. There is no discontent in his admissions of infirmity. He cheerfully acquiesces in the common lot of the ‘outward man perishing.’ Resignation marks his words. Some aged people are fretful over their infirmities. Peevishness is a common characteristic of advanced life. Others endeavour to conceal the ravages of time, and eagerly mingle in the pleasures of youth. With one foot in the grave, they wish to appear and be considered as young as possible. Both courses are alike unbecoming in those who are in ‘the sere and yellow leaf.’ Better far when old age, with all its drawbacks and infirmities, is meekly accepted and patiently borne.

    III. His unworldliness.—‘Why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?’ David’s proposal would have been greedily grasped at by many. Notwithstanding its attractiveness Barzillai courteously declined it. How beautiful to see at a time of life, when men, as a rule, cling more closely to worldly things, such an unregretful renunciation of worldly honour and prosperity! Avarice, the besetting sin of old age, seems to have had no place in Barzillai’s heart. His lavish hospitality to the king and his company (2 Samuel 17:29), and his prompt declinature of all that the king’s invitation implied, show how liberal and unselfish was this aged man. He was satisfied with what he already possessed of worldly good. How many are so? Is it not too true that in all this he is a great contrast to many old people, even professed Christians? How distressing to notice the worldliness of many aged men! On the very borders of eternity, eager to ‘lay up treasures on earth’; hoarding, pinching, saving, as if a life-time were again before them wherein to spend their gains. It is painful to see the tottering step of the grey-haired competing in the race for riches. Old age is the time for being utterly weaned from all such worldliness.

    IV. His unselfishness.—‘Behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to thee.’ He manifested a kindly solicitude in the welfare of his son Chimham. The things in which the parent was no longer able to take delight, were not unsuited to a younger man. He had no selfish wish to prevent another from obtaining and finding pleasure in honours, privileges, and pursuits for which he himself was unfitted by reason of his age. How refreshing to see in one so aged this generous, kindly interest in behalf of one so far behind himself in the journey of life! Too often aged people, no longer able to ‘enjoy life,’ frown upon those younger than themselves who do enjoy it. Forgetful that they themselves were once young, they seek to crush the harmless desires and damp the seasonable enjoyments of youth. How vain and unbecoming! Can those who live mostly in the past, expect those who live the present and the future to feel as they feel, to think as they think, to act as they act? Barzillai had not only no objection that his son should enjoy that in which he himself could take no pleasure, but unselfishly made petition to the king on his behalf. Here we have a ‘looking not only on one’s own things, but also on the things of others’ in a spirit worthy of the New Testament. The most beautiful old age is that which is young-hearted, smiling and not frowning on the innocent pleasures of youth.

    Illustrations

    (1) ‘The “Young Men of the Bible” form a considerable and interesting group, and there has been no lack of sermons, preached and printed, concerning them. But the “Old Men of the Bible” are a no less interesting study; not merely those whose life-history is traced from youth through manhood to old age, but those who come upon the stage of Scripture history for the first time as old men, and of whose earlier life we know little or nothing. To this latter class belong such as Eliezer, Jethro, Eli, the nameless “old prophet in Bethel” (1 Kings 13), Zacharias, Simeon, Mnason. Not the least remarkable of his class is the “very aged man” Barzillai, the wealthy sheep-master of Rogelim in Gilead. Scripture notices concerning him take us back to the “troublous time” in the reign of King David.’

    (2) ‘Barzillai never dreamed of being paid for what he did to David, “The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness,” was the only consideration which prompted the deed. True sympathy needs only the sight of misery and distress, activity instantaneously will follow. Thank Heaven, there is a large and noble army of self-sacrificing men and women battling bravely every day with the enemy in the courts and alleys of our cities and large towns, who have not the remotest idea of having their names trumpeted before men, neither have they ever dreamed of being invited to a king’s table! They do it from love to the great King.’

  • 2 Samuel 19:31-41 open_in_new

    A GRAND OLD MAN

    ‘And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim.’

    2 Samuel 19:31-40

    I. We have here a man who knows that he is old, but who is not distressed by the thought of it.—There are old men who do not know that they are old, or who seek to suppress their knowledge of it. Few things in the world are so pleasant as the sight of such a conscious, cheerful, hopeful old age as that of Barzillai, certain that it has not long to stay, but interested to the last in the best things of life, in the cause of God and man and country and Church. We must prepare for such an old age as this: (1) by taking God with us early in the journey of life; (2) by providing beforehand the compensations which God is willing to give for everything that may be taken away by the changes of life.

    II. We have here a man who is rich, but who is satisfied with his natural position.—It is at the stage of prosperity that the dissatisfaction of many men begins. If Barzillai had been of the mind of many, he would have made his wealth buy wings for his vanity, and, old as he was, would have tried to flutter in the sunshine of the court. But he was a wiser man, and a happier, and stands in higher honour this day than if he had wronged his nature and finished his life with an act of folly.

    III. We have a man of long experience, who has kept up his love of simple pleasures.—We can infer this from the tone in which he speaks. He had reached an age when the love of sensational things fails in all but the most frivolous, yet the way in which he speaks of them puts them quietly aside, as not to his taste and never likely to have been so.

    It is not a dream that man can keep the love of natural things in his heart and can call them up in fancy as he reads. If a man will but read his Bible with a fresh heart, he may walk with patriarchs in the world when it was young and green, may rest with Abraham under the shade of the oak of Mamre, and see the upspringing of the well to which the princes of Israel sang. He may sit on the mountain-top with Christ, among the lilies and the birds, to understand what they say and sing, and he may listen till he hears far off the final hymn which shall be a concert of nature round regenerated man.

    IV. We have a man who is attached to the past, but who does not distrust the future.—For himself he has grown up in the old way, and cannot change, but he thinks, ‘The new has its rights, and the world will be on. My son is here; the future is beaming in his face and beating in his heart; I give him into hands I can trust for leading him in the way of truth, of righteousness.’ If the old can thus pass over into the new, there is security in all changes.

    Illustrations

    (1) ‘It is related of the ancient Sibylline books, that the prince to whom they were offered for sale thought the price asked too high; some of them were then burned, but the same price was demanded; yet again the same act was repeated, with the same result; finally, the volumes still remaining were purchased for the price demanded for the whole at first. So is it with our days; the article rises in value as it becomes more scarce. What high significance then attaches to the question of Barzillai in the ceaseless flight of years, and how much reason have the old, especially, to think and choose like him! He who expects nothing for himself in eternity, closes his ear to the ceaseless rustle of the wings of time; and he who in old age desires his heaven on earth, dreams not, like Barzillai, of the still grave, his mother. But to the believing Christian, the older he is the nearer is he to blessed rest, and to the glorious contemplation of “the King in His beauty” in the new Jerusalem, where they reckon not by years.’

    (2) ‘In this narrative we see the priceless value of a kind, thoughtful, generous deed, to a sad and weary soul.

    We thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made

    Joy to abound;

    So many gentle thoughts and deeds

    Circling us round;

    That in the darkest spot on earth

    Some love is found.’