II Samuel 19:31-43
“And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.” (II Samuel 19:31)
Barzillai was one of the men who had provided food and camping gear for David and his men. He was well known throughout the area east of the Jordan, and controlled a huge area. Though he was in his eighties, he walked about fifty miles southeast to escort David back across the Jordan.
“And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
“And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 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 any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
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.” (II Samuel 19:33-37)
Appreciative of Barzillai’s financial, emotional and military support, David asked him to accompany him to Jerusalem to celebrate with him. Barzillai said that he was eighty, and had lost most of his capacity for enjoying such events, He could no longer taste most of what he ate, nor could he enjoy the musicians, or most of the other entertainment. He would just settle for going just a little past the Jordan and not put them to the trouble of trying to entertain him. He had no desire to live out his days in Jerusalem, preferring to return to his own home. He asked that a younger friend, Chimham, be allowed to go in his place.
“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.
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. Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.” (II Samuel 19:38-40)
David agreed to let Chimham take his place, promising do what Barzillai wanted for him. He also promised to do anything he could to help Barzillai, should he ever need help in the future. When they were across Jordan, Bqarzillai returned home and David went on to Gilgal accompanied by Chimham along with all the tribe of Judah and half of Israel.
“And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.” (II Samuel 19:41-43)
Judah had been the first group to anoint David king, thirty years before. They had been the first to support Absalom. Now they had been the first to reinstate David as king, because he was their man, their own family. The rest of Israel began to see their actions as rather high handed and inconsiderate of the others. After all, there were ten other tribes besides Judah and Benjamin that had a say in who the king should be. Both sides wanted David as king, the conflict resulted from the other tribes not being consulted. It left the other tribes feeling like their opinion was not considered important.
Last year, I felt a little disenfranchised by the Republican party when I was repeatedly asked to make donations to support the party candidates, but there was no way to express my concerns or opinions. Many Americans are getting the same feeling watching our federal government, and seeing the president or Congress vote in laws totally along party lines. People are left with the feeling that
only the party’s opinion matters.
I am watching a large religious group go through the same thing for exactly the same reasons. They are losing much of their membership, not because of doctrinal differences, or people disagree with the decision that are made, but because people feel that they have no input. They are asked to pay for the decisions that are made, but they have no real input as to what the decisions are. When a vote is taken to approve or reject various decisions, it is pretty much like the propositions for a funding project in a state election. You are presented with the leadership’s decision and can accept it or reject it, but cannot make any recommendations or suggestions. There is no forum where alternative suggestions can be presented.
The organization has already suffered a large split an umber of years ago, for the same reason, but present leadership has not learned from past experience, and are repeating the same actions. A lot of potential conflict can be avoided by making people feel their opinion matters, even if it means that progress is slowed somewhat.
“And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.” (II Samuel 19:31)
Barzillai was one of the men who had provided food and camping gear for David and his men. He was well known throughout the area east of the Jordan, and controlled a huge area. Though he was in his eighties, he walked about fifty miles southeast to escort David back across the Jordan.
“And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
“And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 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 any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
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.” (II Samuel 19:33-37)
Appreciative of Barzillai’s financial, emotional and military support, David asked him to accompany him to Jerusalem to celebrate with him. Barzillai said that he was eighty, and had lost most of his capacity for enjoying such events, He could no longer taste most of what he ate, nor could he enjoy the musicians, or most of the other entertainment. He would just settle for going just a little past the Jordan and not put them to the trouble of trying to entertain him. He had no desire to live out his days in Jerusalem, preferring to return to his own home. He asked that a younger friend, Chimham, be allowed to go in his place.
“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.
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. Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.” (II Samuel 19:38-40)
David agreed to let Chimham take his place, promising do what Barzillai wanted for him. He also promised to do anything he could to help Barzillai, should he ever need help in the future. When they were across Jordan, Bqarzillai returned home and David went on to Gilgal accompanied by Chimham along with all the tribe of Judah and half of Israel.
“And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.” (II Samuel 19:41-43)
Judah had been the first group to anoint David king, thirty years before. They had been the first to support Absalom. Now they had been the first to reinstate David as king, because he was their man, their own family. The rest of Israel began to see their actions as rather high handed and inconsiderate of the others. After all, there were ten other tribes besides Judah and Benjamin that had a say in who the king should be. Both sides wanted David as king, the conflict resulted from the other tribes not being consulted. It left the other tribes feeling like their opinion was not considered important.
Last year, I felt a little disenfranchised by the Republican party when I was repeatedly asked to make donations to support the party candidates, but there was no way to express my concerns or opinions. Many Americans are getting the same feeling watching our federal government, and seeing the president or Congress vote in laws totally along party lines. People are left with the feeling that
only the party’s opinion matters.
I am watching a large religious group go through the same thing for exactly the same reasons. They are losing much of their membership, not because of doctrinal differences, or people disagree with the decision that are made, but because people feel that they have no input. They are asked to pay for the decisions that are made, but they have no real input as to what the decisions are. When a vote is taken to approve or reject various decisions, it is pretty much like the propositions for a funding project in a state election. You are presented with the leadership’s decision and can accept it or reject it, but cannot make any recommendations or suggestions. There is no forum where alternative suggestions can be presented.
The organization has already suffered a large split an umber of years ago, for the same reason, but present leadership has not learned from past experience, and are repeating the same actions. A lot of potential conflict can be avoided by making people feel their opinion matters, even if it means that progress is slowed somewhat.
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