UBF Daily Bread

THE KING'S PRESENCE IS ENOUGH

Passage: 2Samuel 19:24~43

Key verse: 30

²⁴Mephibosheth,^(A) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. ²⁵When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me,^(B) Mephibosheth?”

²⁶He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame,^(C) I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba^(D) my servant betrayed me. ²⁷And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel^(E) of God; so do whatever you wish. ²⁸All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death^(F) from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table.^(G) So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

²⁹The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”

³⁰Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

³¹Barzillai^(H) the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. ³²Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy^(I) man. ³³The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”

³⁴But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? ³⁵I am now eighty^(J) years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers?^(K) Why should your servant be an added^(L) burden to my lord the king? ³⁶Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? ³⁷Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father^(M) and mother. But here is your servant Kimham.^(N) Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

³⁸The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”

³⁹So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell,^(O) and Barzillai returned to his home.

⁴⁰When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

⁴¹Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”^(P)

⁴²All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

⁴³Then the men of Israel^(Q) answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?”

But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.

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1. Mephibosheth meets David (24-30)

When Mephibosheth came down to meet the king, it was clear that he had been mourning David's absence the whole time. It was also clear that Ziba's allegations about his political aspirations were completely false. Mephibosheth came to defend his loyalty and gratitude to David. After explaining his situation to David, the king declared that Ziba and Mephibosheth should split the land. But that wasn't Mephibosheth's concern. Far from it. He declared, "Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely." In the same way, being in the presence of Jesus is the only thing his followers truly desire. As the old hymn proclaims, "You can have all this world. Just give me Jesus!"

2. Barzillai meets David (31-43)

Barzillai was another person who simply wanted to bless the king as he returned to Jerusalem. Although Barzillai had provided a large quantity of food and supplies for David's men when they were in the city of Mahaneim, he didn't seek anything in return. He was an old man who wanted to spend his remaining time in his homeland, so he walked with the king a short distance and returned home. His servant Kimham remained with David as his representative.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we long to be in your presence forever.

One Word: My lord the king has returned home