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

Second Samuel, chapter 19, verse 32,

Barsalai 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 Barsalai. That's who's

mentioned here in Second Samuel, chapter 19, verse 32. And he was known for providing for David's

household. When the rebellion against King David ended, it was Barsalai who went with David

and his people to the shore of the Jordan River where they would cross back into Judah on their way

and to Jerusalem. And at that time he was 80 years old. And David offered Barsalai to return to

Jerusalem with him so he could return his kindness and care for his needs. And the picture we have

of Barsalai 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 Barsalai, 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, provide for those in need, to build up the people of God,

to spread the gospel of God. And in this way for all of us to be encouraged,

it's not about having a particular name or being known for this or that, for all of us today

to faithfully use the resources God has given us to glorify him, to build up others,

to show kindness toward others, all ultimately for the purpose of God, for the strengthening of his

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