The title of the message this
evening from 2 Samuel 19 is The Final Reward of Repentance. The Final Reward of Repentance.
And so when anybody preaches a message and they have the term
reward in it, you know, people usually perk up their ears a
little bit because I think mainly because of a great, great misunderstanding
of the issue of reward. Notice I'm saying reward singular,
not rewards plural. The Bible doesn't talk about
a believer's rewards plural, but it does speak of a believer's
Now, as I told you before I read this passage, this portion of
scripture in 2 Samuel 19 is the recorded history that the Holy
Spirit guided and inspired the writer of 2 Samuel to record
of David's return to his throne. He's returning in triumph from
the victory that he won over his rebellious son. And on that
return to his throne in Jerusalem, he met these three men. And these
three men illustrate, I believe, in some facet, a believer's whole
life of repentance. We looked at Shimei first in
verses 16 down through verse 23. In Shimei, he illustrates
the beginning of repentance. That's when a sinner is brought
by the Holy Spirit under the preaching of the gospel, and
when that sinner's eyes are first opened to a saving view, not
only of his own sinfulness and depravity and deservedness of
death based upon his best efforts to please God, but a saving view
of Christ and Him crucified and risen again. Great example of
that in the Apostle Paul, Saul of Tarsus, as he records it in
Philippians chapter 3, read that sometime. And whatever we think
about Shimei, this man personally himself, because what he does
here in this passage, he seems to go back on later on because
David tells Solomon to put him to death. He's still an illustration. There's a spiritual illustration
there. of a sinner who's brought from dead works in the realm
of unbelief, unregenerate unbelief, the sinner who's brought from
dead works and idolatry to that first saving view of Jesus Christ
and his blood and righteousness as that which alone saves us,
keeps us, and entitles us and brings us to eternal glory. And
that's the new birth. That's what Shimei illustrates.
And then we come to Mephibosheth. You all remember Mephibosheth?
Preached on him last week on this subject of the living the
life of repentance. Mephibosheth was a sinner who'd
already been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. But you
see, once we come to that first initial view of Christ and we
come to him in faith and we repent of our own works and our own
dead works and self-righteousness, repentance doesn't stop there.
It keeps going. It's a life of repentance. That's
what a believer is. He's a penitent sinner who comes
before God continually with a broken and a contrite heart, mourning
over sin, but finding peace and relief and comfort and assurance
in Christ. We spend our lives struggling,
the spirit and the flesh. And we mourn over our sins, and
that grows. Some of you who have come to
the age of this Mambarzelei, you can probably really identify
with this, that in your old age, you see your sins even clearer
than you ever did. But, thank God, you see Christ
in His glory even clearer than you did. And that's what Mephibosheth
represents. Listen, we're to foster under
the Word of God, in prayer and by the power of the Spirit, a
continual life of godly sorrow over sin. Not legal sorrow now.
Legal sorrow leads you to look elsewhere but to Christ. Legal
sorrow will lead you to look to yourself, to your friends,
your family, your church, your experiences, your baptism. But
see, godly sorrow will lead you to look one place, to Christ
and Him alone, for salvation. Somebody asked me one time years
ago, said, how do you know the difference between Holy Spirit
conviction and legal, natural conscience conviction? And I
said, it's very simple. It's not as complicated as some
of the theologians would have you imagine. It's not really
a ten-point step program or anything like it. It's just simply answer
this question. Where do you find relief? Where
do you find peace? Where do you find assurance?
Where do you find comfort? Where do you find forgiveness?
Where do you find righteousness? If it's in anyone or any place
other than Christ and Him crucified and risen again, it is not Holy
Spirit conviction. Mark it down. Well, here we come
to the last man that David dealt with here on his way back to
Jerusalem, Barzillai. And what I believe he illustrates
is the final reward of repentance. Let's look at that. It says in
verse 31, Barzillai, the Gileadite, came down from Rogallum and went
over Jordan with the king to conduct him over Jordan. Now,
Barzillai, it says, was a very aged man. Here's a man in his
old age, even four score years old, 80 years old. And he provided
the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim. for he was
a very great man. Barzillai was a man who had a
great love and a great respect and a great loyalty to David,
the anointed king of Israel. And he saw David not only as
Israel's king, but he saw David as his king. And that's important. When God brings a sinner to see
the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, you'll understand that
He's more than just a sovereign King of the universe. He is certainly
that, in control of all things, who works all things after the
counsel of His own will. who does as he pleases among
the stars and among the armies of heaven and earth. He is a
sovereign king, and he's certainly king of his people, king of spiritual
Israel. You'll see that too. He's the
redeemer king of his people. Not only does he rule over his
people, his church, because we belong to him. He bought us lock,
stock, and barrel by the precious price of his own blood. He purchased
us. And we wear a royal robe, the
righteousness of Christ freely given to us, accounted to us.
And so we identify with the King. But you'll not only see Him as
the King of the Church, you'll see Him as your King. You'll
see Him as the King of your own heart, the King of your own life. And there, by the grace of God,
as a gift of God by His Spirit, You will have within your heart,
your mind, your affections, and your will, a love, and a loyalty,
and a respect, and a devotion to Jesus Christ, the King of
Kings. And that's a lifetime, isn't
it? Now, it's an eternal thing, whereby we'll spend our time
in glory, singing, worthy is the Lamb that was slain. He is
the King. And this Barzillai, you remember
back in chapter 17, he's mentioned as one of the men. Back in chapter
17, verse 27. When David was fleeing Jerusalem,
he was running away because Absalom, his rebellious son, had stirred
up the people against David. And David and his honor guard,
his loyal men, they were running away from Jerusalem. They were
fleeing the throne. And on his way out, When he was
in Mahanaim, it says in verse 27 of chapter 17, it came to
pass when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobai, the son of Nahash,
and Rabba of the children of Ammon, and Makar, the son of
Amil of Lodibar, remember that's where Mephibosheth dwelt, and
then Barzalei, the Gileadite of Rogalam, they brought beds,
they brought basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley,
and flour. parched corn and beans and lentils
and parched pulse and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of
kind for David. They did it for David. Now, David's
men also received benefit from this because, you see, they're
identified with him. And he says, and for the people
that were with him, you see. to eat, for they said, the people
is hungry and we're in thirsty in the wilderness." So here was
a man, in spite of all of Israel, the vast majority of Israel going
after Absalom, here's some men, including Barzillai, who remained
loyal to the King. And I tell you what, when we
see this world and its opposition to our Savior and our King, not
only in their behavior and in their attitudes, But in their
doctrine, in their religion, in opposition to our Savior,
this world of works religion, that's what it is. That's in
opposition to our Savior. Listen to me, it's only by the
grace of God that we're not caught up with them. It's only by the
grace of God that we're called out from them. And it's only
by the grace of God in Christ that we stay true to Him. You
see, as we've learned from Scripture for years and years ago, and
still learn it today, that salvation and the security of it is not
based on or conditioned on our faithfulness to Christ. It's
based on and conditioned on His faithfulness to us. He is faithful. He's able. That's right. He said, He said, no man shall
pluck them out of my father's hand. I am the father of one.
So here's this man who loved David. And it says over here
in 2 Samuel 19, he was 80 years old. And it says he was a very
aged man, four score years. And it says he was a very great
man. Now, what does that mean? That means he was great in wealth.
He's a very wealthy man. God had blessed him with physical
wealth. He had some wisdom. We're going to see that in the
words to come, but also in dealing with the king. And he was great
in faith. He was rich in faith. You see,
that's the only riches that really matter, isn't it? To be rich
in faith. That is, in knowing Christ and
loving him and following him. And he didn't use his riches
for his own glory, but for the glory of God. You see, he wasn't
involved in laying up in store earthly treasures for himself,
but laying up treasures in heaven, redounding to the glory of God
in Christ. He was a man who lived for eternity. He was a man who knew himself.
We're going to see that. And his life was marked by repentance. You know, John the Baptist, when
he came on the scene and began preaching, many of the Pharisees
and the Sadducees went out to hear him. And one of the things
he told them was this, in Matthew chapter 3 and verse 8, this is
recorded, he said, bring forth fruits, meat, for repentance. Bring forth those fruits that
are appropriate and that apply to repentance. And this is what
Barzillai is doing here. When he helped King David, when
he was in Mahanaim, when he brought all that stuff, he wasn't trying
to earn the favor of the king. He wasn't trying to make David
king of his life. David was already king. He was
simply bringing forth the fruits of God's grace. The fruits that
are meat for repentance. And here he is, 80 years old.
Old age. Some of you are experiencing
that. Some of us are headed toward it. We don't know how far we'll
go. Scripture says that the usual average life is three score and
ten. Seventy years. And anything above
that? Well, that's just a gift from
God. All life's a gift from God, isn't it? The very next breath
you take is a gift from God. Did you realize that? Take it
away just like that, couldn't you? You can take it in. He can stop it from going out.
But that's all the gift from God. But I thought about this
thing of a believer living a life of faith and repentance and coming
to old age. The Bible has much to say about
that. The book of Job has a lot to say about it. Job, in Job
chapter 5, he speaks of those who come to their grave in a
full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. And that's a good verse to understand
what's going on here, because what you have here is, he gives
it as an illustration of a shock of corn, an ear of corn, or a
stalk of corn growing out of the ground. In other words, he's
not a self-made man. He's not a self-created man.
He's not a self-willed man. He's a man or a woman. who has
been blessed by the gifts of God's grace who have given him
life through Christ. And there's growth and there's
fruit. You see, that's what a believer
is. Christ spoke of that in John chapter 12 when he talked about
except a corn of wheat or a seed of wheat fall into the ground
and die, he said it'll be alone. But if it dies, it'll bring forth
much fruit. And what fruit is he talking
about? He's talking about his children. He's talking about the elect
of God. He's talking about his sheep. He's talking about all
that the Father gave him. He said, all that the Father
giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out. You see, his death means life. And that was brought forth in
its glory in his own resurrection. And the Bible calls him the firstfruits
of them that slept. He's the firstfruits. You see,
what we are as far as sinners saved by grace and what we do
as far as obedience or good works or what we do as far as growth
in grace and knowledge, it is only the result, it is only the
effect, it is only the fruit of the power and the goodness
and the grace of God in Christ. You see, he said it this way
in Ephesians 2.10, for we are his workmanship. You didn't work
your own self, you didn't make your own self. Barzillai did. We are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, not because of good works, but
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them. Job, in Job chapter 12, turn
to Psalm 92. I want you to see this, Psalm
92. But let me read you a portion
from Job 12, as you're turning to Psalm 92. Verse 12 of Job 12, he said,
With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days, understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength. He hath counsel and understanding.
Now, is that true of everybody? No, it's not. Somebody said,
when they looked at an individual one time, who was very aged. They said, what do you have to
say about that man? He said, he's an old fool. He's an old
fool. Somebody asked him, he said,
well, what's the difference between an old fool and a young fool?
He said, well, an old fool listens to his critics. A young fool
don't listen to anybody. But either way, it's a fool. When Job describes the ancient
who have wisdom and length of days being understanding, wisdom,
strength, and counsel and understanding, you know who he's talking about?
He's talking about, number one, he's talking about our Savior.
He's the ancient. But he's also talking about all
those who are blessed with the wisdom and knowledge and understanding
of the grace of God in Christ, filled with His Word. Look at
Psalm 92 and verse 12. It speaks this way, now listen
to the analogy here, it's the fruit now, it's the tree that's
growing. In other words, it's not a sinner saving himself by
his works. He doesn't plant himself, he
doesn't grow himself, the life's not in himself, it all comes
from Christ. You see, righteousness demands
life, the scripture teaches. Christ is our righteousness.
If I had righteousness in myself, I would have life in myself.
I have neither in myself. I have Christ, and He's all I
need. And so he says, the righteous shall flourish like the palm
tree. Who are the righteous? That's a sinner saved by the
grace of God in Christ. Those whom Christ was made sin
for, and those who are made the righteousness of God in Him.
And how do they flourish? Like a palm tree. They grow like
a palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in
Lebanon. Those cedars in Lebanon were
known for their beauty and their strength. And our beauty and
our strength is Christ. And he says, those that be planted
in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our
God. Who planted me in the house of the Lord? God did. Who planted
Barzillai? God did. Who planted you? God
did. They shall still bring forth
fruit in old age. Now, that can't be said physically,
can it? Can't be said physically. Oh, I know some last a lot longer
than others, and some are more healthier than others, but eventually,
where's it all going to go? Huh? Dust. Remember me, I talk about Methuselah
a lot. 969 years. Here's his biography
in the Scripture. Here's Methuselah's biography
in the Scripture. And he died. That's it. We don't know if he was healthy,
wealthy, wise, or whatever. We pretty much know that he wasn't
wise. But it's 969 years, and he died. He died. It doesn't
say he died in the Lord, but he died. But you see here, in
this case, they'll bring forth fruit in old age, just like Barzillai,
in old age. Now you know, you who are in
your 80s, you know That's by the grace of God. So do we who
are in our 50s, 60s, 70s. It's all by the grace of God.
It always has been, always will be. And so he says, they shall
be fat and flourishing. Now that fat there doesn't mean
the bad kind of fat that we think of today that sends you on a
diet or to the gym. That means full, full of blessings. All right? And he says in verse
15, and here's what it's all for. Now, here's what it's all
for. Here's what the life of faith in Christ, the life of
repentance, the final reward of it, here's this man, 80 years
old, coming to it, and it says, "...to show that the Lord is
upright." Wouldn't you love it to be said when they lay you
in the grave, when the preacher preaches that funeral, that his
life or her life was a testimony that Jehovah, our Savior, the
Lord, is upright. He does right. And it goes on. It says, He is my rock. The Lord
was his rock, his foundation. And there is no unrighteousness
in Him. No unrighteousness in the Lord.
And let me tell you something. In Christ, there's no unrighteousness
in us. In Christ. And when we go to
be with Him, when we lay down in that grave, and that's our
bodies, you know that. You know what I'm saying. We'll
be made just like Him. Perfectly conformed to His image.
Proverbs 16.31 says, the hoary head, that's the gray hair, is
a crown of glory. if it be found in the way of
righteousness." What is the way of righteousness? It's the way
of Christ. It's the way of God's grace. I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. This Barzillai is a testimony
to that. Here's a man who knew the king,
but he knew his spiritual king, too. And he'd come to repentance,
and he lived that life of repentance. Look back at 2 Samuel 19. He says here in verse 33, he
says, And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with
me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. David, the king,
remembers Barzillai's help. He remembers his loyalty. And
he offers to bring him with him to Jerusalem. The Bible says
that God is not unrighteous to forget our labors and our works
of love. And He doesn't. And you know
why I believe the main reason? That He doesn't forget them?
Because they're of Him. John chapter 3 and verse 21 says
they are wrought in God. What that literally means is
they are the work of God. Christ living in us and through
us to do His will and His pleasure. We're not the source of any good
work. We're not the source of any act of obedience that's acceptable
to God. And in fact, even when the Holy
Spirit inspires us in obedience, when it comes through this old
vessel, it becomes contaminated with sin. And it has to be washed
in the blood of Christ, just like my person, to be presented
before God as acceptable. But David remembered. You see,
the Lord remembers his people. The Lord remembers me, James.
He's saying that all the time. That's a beautiful hymn there.
And He remembers us, not for our sin, for the Bible says in
Hebrews chapter 10, I believe it's verse 18, that He remembers
them no more. That means He doesn't hold them
against us. But what does He remember? He remembers His glorious
and gracious and powerful work that He's done for us. He remembers
all those things. that He accomplished through
Christ for us. He remembers us. What a great
testimony of grace. What a great security that is.
And you know, it may be that the Lord will let some of us
live to a point in this physical body that through the infirmities
of the flesh that we might forget Him. We might not even know our
own name. We might forget each other, even
our children. You've seen it happen, haven't
you? I have. But you know what? He'll never
forget us. Not his people. He'll never forget
us. Aren't you glad that your security
of salvation is not conditioned on your own memory? Where would
we be? We'd have to take notes and have
them strapped to our forehead or something right in front of
us every day. But no, that's not it, you see. David remembered. And then there, verse 34, look
here, it says, And Barzillai, I 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. Can I discern between good and evil? Can thy servant taste
what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more of the voice
of singing men and singing women? Wherefore then should thy servant
be yet a burden unto my Lord the King?" Now listen, Barzillai
refuses to go with David because of his age. And he tells him
here, he says, now, why I be a burden to you? He said, I can't
discern good and evil. What he's talking about there
It's not that he didn't know the difference between good and
evil. If you're a child of God, you know the difference between
that which honors God and that which denies Him. What he's saying
here is, I wouldn't do you any good to help you as an advisor
in judgments. When you have to judge the people
because of matters that they bring before you as a civil judge,
I wouldn't be any good to you. I can't even hear, he says. When
they sing and when they dance, I can't join in on that. I can't
even taste the food anymore. It's old age, isn't it? The infirmities
of the flesh. You see, Barzillai is realizing
something that we all know by God's testimony, but he's realizing
it by experience, and that's this. This body is dead because
of sin. Isn't that right? It's dead because
of sin. The other day, Ron, wasn't it
you who showed me that No, no, wait a minute. No is when I was
in Albany. That's right. See I forgot I Forgot when I was
in Albany they showed me an old DVD or tape of a program that
I did down down there back in like 80 Maybe 88 or 89 and I'll
tell you it didn't look like the same person Guy had black
hair He seemed like he had a little
gleam in his eye I This body is dead because of sin. But you
know that verse in Romans doesn't stop there. It says the Spirit,
I believe it's talking about the Holy Spirit there, who applies
the spiritual life to God's people, Christ's sheep. He said the Spirit
is life because of righteousness. Because Christ did His great
work on the cross. Finished the transgression, made
an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness so
that we don't have to despair. over our old age. You see, Barzillai,
he recognizes what he is. I'm an old man. I wouldn't do
you any good. I'd be a burden to you. So I won't go, he says. So look what he does. Look at
verse 36. He says, Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan
with the king. And why should the king recompense
it me with such a reward? Now, Barzillai, he knew his limitations. But he also knew himself to be
an unprofitable servant. He knew he didn't deserve any
reward. He was just doing that which was his duty to do. You
remember in Luke chapter 17, we studied that, the unprofitable
servant. Here's a servant. He owes his master all the loyalty
and all the service that he can give. And so when he performs
those duties and those acts of loyalty and service and obedience,
does he deserve a reward? Does he deserve applause? Does
he deserve recognition? No. Our Lord said in Luke 17,
he's just doing that which is his duty to do. And so he told
his disciples, he said, now, if you could do everything that
you were required of God to do, What would you be? Well, somebody
says, well, I would deserve a greater reward in heaven than, oh, so-and-so
back there who didn't do as much. And the Lord says, oh, no, you'd
still, if you did all those things, how many of us in here can say
we've done all those things that God requires in his word? None of us can say that. No sinner
can. We've all sinned and come short
of the glory of God. None righteous, no, not one.
But if we could say that we've done all those things that the
Lord God requires of us, what would we be then? He said we'd
still be unprofitable servants. We don't deserve anything. Didn't
earn anything. Unprofitable servants. That's
what Barzillai is saying. Why should the king recompense
it me with such a reward? He knew his frame. He was not
seeking to earn anything from the king. But he served the king
out of a right heart. Motivated by what? Not by greed. That's the way most people in
religion today look at God. They look at Him as if somebody
they can get something out of by their efforts and their works.
And that's not grace, that's greed. That's greed. But how about serving God because
He deserves to be served? How about serving Him motivated
out of love? Because you love Him. Motivated
by grace and gratitude. Turn back to 2 Timothy chapter
4. Do you realize that God has given us every good and perfect,
complete thing that we have now and forever? He's already given
it to us in Christ. Blessed with all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And you remember what Paul said
here in verse 6 of 2 Timothy 4? I'm ready to be offered. Poured
out like a drink offering. And the time of my departure
is at hand. Going to meet the Lord. Fought a good fight. Paul's
not bragging here. He's just talking about he's
been privileged to preach the gospel be used of God, finished
his course, kept the faith. And we know Paul himself has
written a lot about that. And the reason he kept it, because
he was kept. That's the way it is. But notice,
he says in verse eight, henceforth there's laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give
me at that day. Now, somebody might say, well,
certainly Paul deserves that crown of righteousness, because
look at what he did. Look at how many messages he
preached. Look at how many churches were raised up under Paul. Look
at all that he suffered. So he deserves that crown of
righteousness. But now me, I won't get that crown of righteousness.
I might get a lesser crown. That's the way people think by
nature. Notice what Paul says in the last of that verse. Look
at it. He says, and not to me only, but unto all them that
have worked as hard as I worked. Is that what he says there? No, he says unto all them also
that love his appearing. Who's that? That's every believing
sinner. You're going to get a crown of
righteousness. And you know, you didn't earn it and you don't
deserve it. It's all by the grace of God
in Christ. And it's the same crown that
Paul wear. Same crown that Peter will wear. Same crown that I'll
wear. All of it. Equally in Christ. And you want to know why? Because
we're sinners saved by the grace of God. And that's what Barzillai
represents here. You see, our reward is not the
reward of merit. Our reward is the reward of grace
in Christ. Period. Period. It's not the reward of works.
Paul dealt with that in Romans chapter one when he was dealing
with Abraham. He said, if Abraham, if God justified
Abraham based on anything in Abraham by his works, then it
wouldn't be grace. It'd be dead, be something God
owed him. But you see, that's not the case. It's grace. And then look back at 2 Samuel
19, look at verse 37 here, he says, Let thy servant, this is
Barzalea, he says, 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 my mother. But behold, thy servant Kimham,
let him go over with my lord the king, and do to him what
shall seem good unto thee. Now, his first concern here is
preparation for death. He knows that his time on this
earth is not very long. He's not seeking any glory for
himself in the courts of David, not even seeking any comfort
for himself in the courts of the king. He's preparing for
death. How does one prepare for death? In young or old age, we prepare
for death by looking to and resting in Christ. That's preparation
for death. He is risen. He lives. He's seated
at the right hand of the Father on high. ever living to make
intercession for his people. That's Christ. And he is our
preparation for death. Nothing else. Just like Simeon. I thought about Simeon. Simeon
was an old man. You remember he was on the scene
when the Lord, when they brought the Christ child, brought the
baby into the temple. And the Holy Spirit had revealed
to him that before he would leave this earth, that he would see
the Christ child. And when Mary and Joseph brought
the baby to him, he held that baby in his arms and he said,
Lord, I'm ready now to depart. Well, why are you ready now,
Simeon? For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. I've seen Christ. My friend, if you've seen Him,
if you're looking to Him as the author and finisher of our faith,
and repented of all dead works, By the grace of God, you're prepared
for death right now, whether you're young or old. So his first
concern was to prepare for death. But his second concern here was
for, not for himself, but for his son. Now, most commentators
say that Kim Ham was either a very well-loved, faithful servant
of Barzillai or his son. I believe it was his son. And
so he's concerned for his son. He said, take my son Kim Ham
with you. Take him with you. But here, look at the third thing.
He said, in verse 37 at the end, Do to him what shall seem good
unto thee. He still submitted to the king's
will and wisdom. Take my son with you. You do
with him what seems good in your sight. You see, it's our desire
that we see our children saved. Isn't it yours? That they come
to know the Lord. But God's going to do what seems
good in his sight And you see, look at verse 38, he says, And
the king answered, Kim-ham shall go over with me, and I will do
to him that which shall seem good unto thee. I'll do what
you ask, Barzillai. And whatsoever thou shalt require
of me, that will I do for thee. The king granted Barzillai's
request, and he took Kim-ham with him and blessed him. You
can read this. Mark, write down Jeremiah 41
and verse 17. It mentions Kim-ham. Jeremiah
does, as one who had a parcel of land or ground close to Bethlehem,
close to the house of bread, Jeremiah 41, 17. But he did bless
him. And then as we read in 1 Kings
2, verse 7, where David told Solomon, show kindness unto the
sons of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and let them be of those that
eat at thy table. That's a picture of salvation.
Feasting at the king's table, just like Mephibosheth. That's
what we're doing tonight, feasting at the King's table in Christ.
And he said, for so they came to me when I fled because of
Absalom, my brother. You see, all Barzillai had to
do was ask. And that's what we tell people,
all you got to do is ask. Christ said in Matthew 7, 7,
ask and it shall be given thee, knock and it shall be opened
unto thee, seek and you shall find. The problem is people are
asking the wrong questions. What's the right question? Have
mercy upon me. Lord, save me for Christ's sake. I have no righteousness of my
own. I have no holiness of my own. I'm at your mercy. The problem
is people are knocking at the wrong door. They're knocking
at the door of works and self-righteousness. Knock at the door of grace. They're
seeking after something that's not there, an idol of their imagination. Seek after the true and living
God who justifies the ungodly through the Lord Jesus Christ.
All you have to do is ask. And you notice there, he said,
whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.
Now you think about that. Now, David is not saying, now
I'm going to play the role of a genie in a bottle. Whatever
you ask, I'm going to do. And that's not the way God's
people are to approach him. You know, you read these scriptures
about prayer. Well, whatever you ask, he'll get. Now, that's
not what that says. It says whatever you ask according to his will,
he'll grant. But I want you to notice something.
What do God's people require of the Lord? Well, Matthew 5 and verse 6 says
it this way, Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness. They shall be what? Filled. That's
what I require. I need righteousness. A hunger
after it. Thirst after it. Don't have it
in myself. Can't find it out there. It's
in Christ. That's what we require. Before
the Lord brought you to repentance and faith, what did you think
you needed? Required. Well, I thought I needed to Straighten
up and do right. I thought I needed to turn over
a new leaf. I thought I needed to join the
church. I thought I needed to get baptized. Is that what the
Lord requires it? Not for salvation. Not for salvation. What do you
know now to be your greatest need? His mercy. His grace. The blood of Christ. The righteousness of Christ.
What will He give you? He'll give you all you need and
all that he requires in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at
verse 39 and 40 and we'll close. And all the people went over
Jordan, and when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai. That was the form of greeting.
Kiss the son lest he be angry. Psalm 2. It's an act of faith
and devotion and love, and it's an act of love for Christ to
his people. Bless him. And he returned unto
his own place, and then the king went on to Gilgal, and Kimham
went on with him, and all the people of Judah conducted the
king, and also half the people of Israel. These are the blessings
of the king to Barzillai and to Kimham, blessings that we
see eternally that come to us in Christ.