Key Words: And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan
There are several things we know about Barzillai. First, we know he was a man of great character (II Samuel 19:32). We also know he had great influence (II Samuel 19:32, “...for he was a very great man.”) We know he was a humble man (II Samuel 19:35). But most of all, he was a friend to David. When David sorely needed support during the time of Absalom’s rebellion, it was Barzillai who raced to his side (II Samuel 17:27-29). Barzillai was the kind of friend we all want and the kind of friend we all need.
Maybe you have heard of Sam Davis. He was a Confederate spy executed at Pulaski, Tennessee, for his crime.
“When captured by the Union army, he had in his possession some papers of vital importance. After examining the case closely, the officers in charge knew he must have had an accomplice in securing the papers. He was court-martialed, led out before the firing squad and blindfolded.
“Then the officer in charge put forward a proposition: ‘If you will give us the name of the man who furnished you this information, you may go free.’
“Sam Davis did not hesitate in his reply, ‘If I had a thousand lives I would give them all before I would betray a friend.’
“Loyalty, thou art indeed a gem, seldom found in the hearts of men. Most of us would be better off if we had a friend like Sam Davis.”
David was certainly better off because of his friend, Barzillai. Are your friends better off because of you?
What to do:
✞ Be a loyal friend, but loyal friends never do wrong or support that which is wrong – they correct. That is a true friend.
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