‹ Back

2 Samuel 19:33 "And [King David] said to Barzillai, 'Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem."

 

Barzillai is a Gileadite who helped David greatly as he fled from his son Absalom. Now that David is returning to Jerusalem after Absalom's death, he invites Barzillai to a place in his court. Barzillai declines, though, citing his old age, but asks that David take his servant, Chimham, instead, and give Chimham all the honors promised to Barzillai. (2 Samuel 19:31-38). 

 

This feels like a primer on how we can help others get to heaven: we can love and serve God with great loyalty, and then ask Him to bestow the benefits of that service on others. It is not transactional, Barzillai is not giving up his good standing in David's eyes by recommending Chimham go to Jerusalem in his place. David recognizes this by promising "I will do for him whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me I will do for you." (2 Samuel 19:38). So Barzillai has expanded the king's blessings intended for him to include Chimham as well. It's kind of like gaining an indulgence and offering it for someone else. No one can outdo God in generosity, so when we do that, we are still blessed with the benefits of what we've done, but someone else also gets to benefit. 

 

When we truly love God and our neighbor, we come to realize we do not lose anything by offering prayers and sacrifices for others. We instead expand our own love to be more like God's, and we gain blessings for others while also gaining greater blessings for ourselves. God sees His own love reflected in our selfless requests, and He says "I will do whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me."