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Barzillai who Served Without Asking for any Reward

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[II Samuel 19:35-36]

"I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way?"

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The great king of Israel, King David also had lots of difficulties.
The son of David, Absalom rebelled against David, so he had to run away from Jerusalem to stay safe from harm.

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When King David ran away from the city one man called Shimei threw stones at David and cursed him. He even said that God was punishing David.

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Many people thought King David would not come back.
So they felt uneasy to help him. Because they were afraid of Absalom.

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David and his followers ran from Absalom to Mahanaim.
They were so tired because they rushed to there without eating and resting.
There King David met one precious person.

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The ones who helped King David and his followers were Barzillai, Shobi, and Makir who lived there. They helped King David with what they had. They brought beds, basins and pots.

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They also brought wheat, barley, wheat flour and roasted grain and red beans, honey, butter, sheep and cheese and gave it to the followers and King David. Through their help they solved their hunger problems and regained their strength.

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They did not hesitate to help King David, even though if Absalom had found this out they might have been in trouble. Among them Barzillai helped David earnestly.

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God helped King David`s army to win the war.
God destroyed the evil plan of Absalom.
They lost horribly on the war with King David`s army.

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Absalom who rebelled against his father ran away because he lost the war.
Absalom`s long hair got stuck on an oak tree.
Then he died horribly there.

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When King David arrived in front of the Jordan River to go back to Jerusalem, many people came to see him coming back to Jerusalem. Barzillai who had helped King David in Mahanaim also came to see King David off.

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King David said to Barzillai," Let's go to Jerusalem together. Then I will take care of you." King David asked Barzillai to come to Jerusalem to reward him.

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However, Barzillai said this to King David, "I'm already eighty years old. So don't mind this old man. I don't deserve to be praised by the king." Barazillai rejected King David`s offer politely.

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Barzillai had not helped King David to receive any reward.
He had helped King David without thinking about any rewards that he could have received.

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King David respected what Barzillai said and kissed and blessed him.
Barzillai watched King David and his company cross the Jordan River and then he went back to his home.

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 We who was called as children of God should try to have a good will like Barzillai. When we help others we should help them honestly and purely. God will be pleased and bless people like this. I hope we will all be a amazing believer like this.

(You can change the conclusion of this sermon best suiting to your listeners of this sermon. We want to make it clear that the provided conclusion is only a sample conclusion provided by CTM.)