Fish the Right

Day 105 · Part 7: The Kingdom

The Way Home

2 Sam 19–20 · 69 verses

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In the Story

In context

The battle is won, but the victory turns to mourning while David weeps for Absalom, until Joab tells him to go out and encourage his men, and the king sits in the city gate (2 Samuel 19:1–8). On the way home David meets again the people of his flight. Shimei, who had cursed him, begs pardon and is spared (19:16–23; 16:5–13). Mephibosheth, who had not trimmed his beard or washed his clothes since the king left, says his servant Ziba lied about him, and David divides the land between them (19:24–30; 16:3). Barzillai, eighty years old, sees the king across the Jordan (19:31–39).

Then the men of Israel and the men of Judah quarrel over who has more claim to the king, and Sheba son of Bichri blows a trumpet: “We have no portion in David” (19:41–20:2). Israel will say nearly the same words when the kingdom divides (1 Kings 12:16). The reading is hard at the end: Joab kills Amasa as he greets him, and the town of Abel of Beth Maacah throws Sheba’s head over the wall to Joab, on the advice of a wise woman who saves her city (2 Samuel 20:8–22).

A word of hope
Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

Isaiah 46:4 · Barzillai was eighty and asked to go home to die in his own town; through Isaiah God says, “Even to old age I am he.”

For families

Barzillai, at eighty, would not go to live at the king’s court. “Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother,” he said, and he asked the king to take Chimham with him instead (2 Samuel 19:35–37). The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him (19:39).

Barzillai wanted to go home to the town where his father and mother were buried. What place feels most like home to your family?

In the Bible

World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).

2 Samuel 19

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2 Samuel 20

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A hymn for today

How Firm a Foundation · words by “K” in John Rippon’s Selection of Hymns

Organ and orchestra: an introduction, then each of the 7 verses. Tap a verse’s number to start there.
  1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!What more can He say than to you He hath said,You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
  2. In every condition, in sickness, in health,In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,As thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.
  3. Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
  4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
  5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;The flame shall not hurt thee; I only designThy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
  6. E'en down to old age all My people shall proveMy sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
  7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,I will not, I will not desert to his foes;That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I'll never, no never, no never forsake.