“I’m crossing over—who will go with me?”  The battles between Israel and Judah are ceasing for a time.  Absalom is dead.  David is grieving his son but knows he must carry on his work as God’s designated King of Israel.  David goes about the work to bring the two opposing groups of God’s people back together as one.  The term “crossing over” is mentioned often in this passage and is significant to me today.  It means much more than physically crossing over the river Jordan. Crossing the Jordan has become the line of demarcation of loyalty.  Are you crossing over with me as king or not? Whose side are you on?  With whom are you loyal to and trust with your life?  “I will provide for you when you cross over with me,” King David declares.

David took refuge in Judah when Absalom revolted against the king and his father.  While overly grieving his son, he is reminded by Joab to encourage those who were loyal to David in battle. This passage indicates how David made his gratitude known to all who were loyal to him.  David must cross over the Jordan with his family and all his stuff but first he knows that before returning to Jerusalem; David must reach out to bring those who supported Absalom with the purpose to bring them back into the kingdom of Israel. Unity is David’s new agenda.

When we are loving each other, serving with no thought of how it looks or what we will get from it; God’s love grows and matures in us.  Unity of the Body of Christ pleases God who gives us the power and the means to obtain this “Oneness” in Him.

2 Samuel 19

Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” ² And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” ³ The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. ⁶ You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. ⁷ Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.”

⁸ So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes.

David Returns to Jerusalem

⁹ Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; ¹⁰ and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

¹¹ King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? ¹² You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ ¹³ And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.’”

¹⁴ He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.” ¹⁵ Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.

Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. ¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul’s household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. ¹⁸ They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished.

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king ¹⁹ and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. ²⁰ For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”

²¹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed.”

²² David replied, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?” ²³ So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.

²⁴ Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. ²⁵ When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

²⁶ He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba my servant betrayed me. ²⁷ And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish. ²⁸ All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. ³² Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”

³⁴ But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? ³⁵ I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? ³⁷ Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

³⁸ The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”

³⁹ So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home.

⁴⁰ When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

⁴¹ Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”

⁴² All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

⁴³ Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?”

But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Years of intrigue and intertribal conflict left Israel a deeply divided nation, and there was a desperate need for a strong display of unity and loyalty. God desires that his people be unified and avoid petty squabbles, arguments and fights over minor issues. 

What is our response?  We must focus on Christ who makes us One. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Jesus unites us as the Body of Christ who saved us and set us free to love like He loves us! Jesus, our designated by God, King of kings and Lord of lords, was the embodiment of love, mercy, and grace which leads to unity of the Body—His church. Jesus taught, “Seek first God…” to acquire God’s Kingdom thinking with His purposes. God is the One who brings all together as one in Jesus, His Son!  Jesus demonstrated this unity with God. Jesus aligned all His thinking, being, and doing with God who told him exactly who to be with what he must do.

Jesus set aside his own agenda for God’s Will and Plan with humbled, willing obedience to God, the Father.  Jesus knew this “looking to the interest of others” would require sacrifice for His was the Sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus powerfully demonstrated God’s powerful, relentless love as Jesus took on the role of a servant, bending down low to wash the feet of his followers—all of them, even his betrayer, Judas! 

We serve a Savior and Lord who washes feet!  “Do likewise,” says Jesus.  This act of Jesus was the perfect example of love and service to each other.  When we love God, love each other, and serve with gladness; there is less time to grumble and squabble. 

A crisis will bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. As Jesus put it, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25). 

Lord,

When we look up from arguments to look full into your wonderful face our minds see the foolishness of the trivial that blocks the view of all that is the majesty of You.  The things of earth do grow strangely dim when we truly focus on who you are. Our eyes open wider in awe of you as we suddenly see a glimpse of the glorious unity of Father/Son/Holy Spirit who loves us, works within us, with mercy and grace. Oh Lord, we are so petty in our thinking, please forgive us and set us back on the path to your glory righteousness. Remove all the obstacles that make us stumble.  Bring us into your blessed unity as we give all our hearts, minds, and souls to you.  Make your desires be ours.

In Jesus Name, Amen