We are taught doctrinally (and have learned it by experience, too) that faith, love and hope (1 Thess. 1:3; 5:83Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8); Col. 1:45; 1 Cor. 13:1313And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13)) are the three fundamental principles of Christianity. We see them fully displayed in the life of our blessed Lord Jesus when, as Man, He passed through this wilderness, exhibiting them in perfection. We also see them reflected in the lives of many saints recorded in both the Old and New Testaments.
One particularly lovely Old Testament example of these three fundamental principles is found in 2 Samuel 17:27-2927And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, 29And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. (2 Samuel 17:27‑29). Here we read of the time when David, chased by Absalom, had with his followers come to Mahanaim. There we’re introduced to three men who, by their actions towards David and his people, show the practical working of faith, love and hope.
Shobi—Faith—Work
“Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon.” Such a family history is not one which would seem calculated to characterize a man of faith. Evidently, Shobi had a brother named Hanun (see 2 Sam. 10-12). Their father, Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had formerly shown kindness to David when he fled from Saul, and David had desired to return that kindness to his son Hanun.
But Hanun believed his own counselors rather than the words of David’s servants. His faithlessness resulted in a terrible insult rendered to David’s young men and to David himself (2 Sam. 10:35).
Rather than showing kindness as he had intended, David went to war against those who despised his gracious offer. The result was that Hanun and his people were defeated, their royal city of Rabbah overthrown and spoiled by Israel, and the Ammonites taken captive and made slave-servants of David and Israel (see 2 Sam. 12:26-3126And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. 28Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name. 29And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance. 31And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 12:26‑31)).
Hanun’s brother, Shobi, must have witnessed the rebellion of his brother and his people and its sorrowful results. But rather than causing him to become bitter, hating the conquering David, repentance and faith evidently worked in his heart. Knowing of David’s desire to show kindness, he must have recoiled in horror at his brother Hanun’s wicked rejection and insult. Now, when David was being chased by his own son Absalom, dear Shobi is mentioned as one who met the king, bringing aid and comfort to David and his followers.
What a beautiful example of faith! Shobi didn’t help provide sustenance for David because he was established in power or had shown great kindness to Shobi’s people. No previous experience or current evidence at Mahanaim would cause Shobi to act as he did. His practical help for David was founded on faith alone faith that this man was God’s king.
Machir – Love—Laboring
Most know and love the sweet story of David’s kindness shown to Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson (2 Sam. 9). Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar was the very man who opened his home to the fleeing nurse and crippled boy Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 4:44And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 4:4)). He concealed and sheltered Saul’s grandson, perhaps thinking he was an enemy of David one that David would seek to slay. But Machir learned of David’s loving-kindness when Mephibosheth was called into the king’s presence. There the helpless cripple received back all that belonged to his grandfather and, further, was invited to eat at David’s table for the rest of his life.
How David’s love must have won the heart of Machir! The result is seen when he comes to meet David at Mahanaim. His heart has been won in love for the fleeing king love that worked as the motive spring, supplying food and refreshment for David and his followers’ needs.
Barzillai – Hope—Enduring
We know very little of Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, but the details we are given clearly show that he and his family acted for David, enduring in hope as they waited the time that David would again assume his rightful reign in Jerusalem. He was faithful to David though very old, and he was a very great man (2 Sam. 19:3232Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. (2 Samuel 19:32)).
After Absalom’s death, when David returned to Jerusalem, Barzillai conducted the king over Jordan. David invited him to stay there. But, being old and nature’s hope being gone, faithful Barzillai asked the king permission to return to his own city (Rogelim) to die and be buried with his father and mother. Yet spiritual hope was enduring in this aged pilgrim, for he requested that his son Chimham might go in his place and reside with David at Jerusalem.
What happy results this true, enduring hope produced not only Chimham, but all Barzillai’s children (even to the days of Ezra and Nehemiah) valued God’s center. Years later, David mentions his sons, appointing them for blessing because they with their father had supported him in his flight from Absalom (1 Kings 2:77But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother. (1 Kings 2:7)).
A further bright note is found in the prophet Jeremiah (ch. 41:17), where we read that Chimham’s habitation was by Bethlehem, the city of David, and the place where great David’s greater Son our blessed Lord Jesus Christ was born.
That which was precious to their father was valued and acted on in the lives of Barzillai’s children. What a wonderful reward for the hope that animated this dear man. “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children” (Psa. 103:1717But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; (Psalm 103:17)).
Walking Today
“Your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:45).
What an Object for faith to rest in, a suited service for love, and an unchanging reason for hope to endure! We who were sometime “alienated and enemies... by wicked works” (Col. 1:2121And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (Colossians 1:21)) have the blessed Person of the eternal Son of God on whom our faith rests. We have Himself and His beloved, blood-bought own to be loved and served. And we have the sure promise of His return for us and those mansions prepared in heaven, as the certainty of our hope. May faith, love and hope be our daily portion!
Ed.