Excuses are like armpits, everybody’s got them and they usually stink. Bishop Billy McCool has said, “Those who want to work for the Lord will find a way. Those who don’t will find an excuse.”
Excuses are what we find in 2 Samuel 19:31-40. We read of a man by the name of Barzillai. We first meet this easily overlooked character in 2 Samuel 17:27-29. He, along with a few others, supported David while Absalom was staging a revolt in Israel. The majority of Israel may have been seduced by Absalom’s stunning good looks and charisma, but Barzillai remained loyal to David. Barzillai and his cohorts provided for David while he was a refuge in Mahanaim.
It wasn’t long until Absalom was killed and the kingdom was restored to order. The only thing left to do was bringing David back to his rightful throne in Jerusalem. There were many who met David on his return: Shimei, who threw rocks at David as he fled from Jerusalem (2 Sam. 19:16-23); Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan (2 Sam. 19:24-30); and Barzillai (2 Sam. 18:31-40).
David asked the eighty year old Barzillai to accompany him back to Jerusalem: “Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem” (2 Sam. 19:33). The king simply wanted Barzillai’s company. But David was met with numerous excuses as to why Barzillai couldn’t go to Jerusalem. First, Barzillai said he was too old to go (19:34-35a). Next, he gave a barrage of phantom inadequacies: can’t discern, can’t taste, and can’t hear (19:35b). He follows that with a presumption: “I’ll be a burden to you” (19:35c).
But it’s the last excuse that’s really troubling: “Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king. Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother” (2 Sam. 19:36-37). In Barzillai’s estimation, it was just too far to journey with King David back to Jerusalem. He’d rather go back to the same old life and eventually be buried with his parents.
Like Barzillai, there are too many satisfied with doing the same old thing. They are afraid of trying anything new, or fearful of any change to their life. Then there are those who have no hope beyond the grave. It’s eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Others will go a little way with Christ, but just not too far in fear of being labeled a fanatic.
Beloved, let us go further with King Jesus. All He wants is our company at His table. We used to sing a song that said, “Come and dine, the Master calleth, come and dine.” You can come eat at Jesus’ table all the time, but you’ll have to leave all of your excuses far behind.