Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from Radical.net.

2 Samuel, chapter 19, verse 32.

Barzalai was a very aged man, 80 years old.

He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanayam,

for he was a very wealthy man.

I want to introduce you to someone in the Bible that I'm guessing you know very little,

if anything about.

His name is Barzalai.

That's who's mentioned here in 2nd Samuel, chapter 19, verse 32.

And he was known for providing for David's household

when the rebellion against King David ended it was Barzalai who went with David and his people

to the shore of the Jordan River where they would cross back into Judah on their way into Jerusalem.

And at that time, he was 80 years old. And David offered Barzalai to return to Jerusalem with

him so he could return his kindness and care for his needs. And the picture we have of Barzalai is a man

with a reputation for loyalty to God, for loyalty

to the king, and for kindness, hospitality, provision, and care for those around him.

He used his wealth and his influence for the benefit of others. And in this way, he offers us a great

practically unknown picture here in the Old Testament of loyalty and generosity and kindness

and devotion to God and His people.

When I read this story of Barzoli, I think about the body of Christ around the world

made up of individuals who very few people will ever know their names, but their loyalty to God, their generosity toward people,

specifically those with resources, who behind the scenes are using those resources to care for,

...