Finding Comfort in Things
2 Samuel 17:27-29
One of the things we often say—and we should say—is that this world is more than just things.
We don’t want to fall into the sin of materialism.
Materialism is where we end up loving things, often at the expense of more important things.
We tend to focus on what we can see and the value it has, either intrinsically or due to sentimentality.
But we also can’t ignore material things, either.
They often give us comfort, especially when they are given as gifts.
My wife thinks of herself as a giver, wanting to give the most perfect gift for a particular situation—hating it when she can’t think of just the right thing, but loving it when she can.
Perhaps David’s lowest point shows this idea of comfort in things.
His lowest point, IMO, is when he was driven from his throne by his son Absalom.
His own flesh and blood was behind a coup that would overthrow David.
David had several low points, but to go from being king to being a fugitive in exile ranks as one of the lowest.
The Psalms reveals how he felt at times because of this betrayal.
So many turned against him, not just his son.
In fact I believe Psalm 55 talks of the betrayal of one of his closest advisors Ahithophel.
Psalm 55:12-14.
Whatever the case, he was certainly brought low.
At this time of betrayal, he was still helped by many.
Among his helpers were Shobi an Ammonite, Machir and Barzillai tribes of Israel on the other side of the Jordan.
They brought supplies to help David out at this point.
David now knew who his true friends were, those who would help him out in a crisis.
They were willing to help him when the chips were down as were many others.
It doesn’t say the comfort that David received in getting these gifts, but I’m sure he felt that way.
I’m reminded of the final scene in that old move “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
George Bailey thinks that all is lost, though he has received new hope after experiencing what the world would’ve been like without him.
But when he returns home, all the goodwill he had built up over the years culminated in his friends and the townspeople bailing him out.
They gave him so much because he gave in return.
David, too, likely felt the love and comfort that the supplies given him were meant to convey.
He needed those things, and he was so grateful to receive them.
We see how grateful by what he was willing to offer Barzillai and his family later on.
He even tells Solomon to grant Barzillai’s family the honor of eating at his table (1 Kgs 2).
(Barzillai, an old man in 2 Sam. 17, had likely died by this point.)
Let us be like Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai to those who are in trouble.
We probably can’t help everyone with everything, but we can all do something.
We can help in many ways in this time of pandemic, showing our love and comfort as best we can.
We are hindered from helping in all the ways we like by the stay-at-home orders, but there are ways.
I don’t know who all are at low points during this time—we probably all are.
It’s doubtful we are at our lowest point like David was.
But take comfort in the gospel of Christ and the salvation of your soul.
And for the rest of us, let us help those who have been brought low and lift them up.
This can be done in many ways, but, as is the focus of this lesson, it can even be done with material things—notes of encouragement or other things and supplies that are needed.
This evening, will you help those in need?
The greatest need we all have, however, is our soul’s salvation.
Will you obey the gospel today?