GOD’S PEOPLE IN GOD’S PLACES

Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he passed over the Jordan with the king in order to send him off over the Jordan. Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.  2 Samuel 19:31-32

An old man and a 20-year-old are paired together at a golf tournament. They’re playing a long par 5 that dog legs around some tall trees. As the 20-year-old sets up his tee shot to hit onto the fairway the old man notes “when I was your age we used to hit over the trees - not around to the side.” So, the 20-year-old readjusts and tries to hit over the trees - but can’t clear them and loses his ball. He tries again and loses that one too. Then the old man says “of course, when I was your age, the trees were only 6 feet tall.”

I love old people; especially since I’m one of them now! And that’s one reason that I love Barzillai the Gileadite. He sustained King David during Absalom’s rebellion even at 80 years of age. It doesn’t matter how old you are. God has work for you until He takes you home. Aging doesn’t erase your spiritual gift given to edify the church. When King David asks Barzillai to go with him back to Jerusalem, Barzillai sends Chimham instead. He used his resources wisely to promote and advance the kingdom of God.

All during Absalom’s rebellion, God had His people where He wanted them to accomplish His will. There is Hushai in 2 Samuel 17:14; a maidservant in 17:17; a man in Bahurim in 17:18; a woman in 17:19-20; and Shobi and Machir in 17:27-29. God always has His people where He wants them, and it is His will for them to bloom where He has planted them. He had Daniel in Babylon, Jeremiah in Judah, Ezekiel with the people by the Chebar river, Esther in Persia and Luke with Paul. Where does He have you? Are you blooming where He has planted you? Are you employing your spiritual gift to serve others (1 Peter 4:10)?

Ike Graham