“Who is that? Never heard of him before! Where does he appear? Old or New Testament?” I laugh! You really have not heard of him before have you? He’s one of my heroes in the Bible. He appears just twice in scripture and is mentioned 3 times. “How can a man mentioned twice in scripture be your hero? What did he say or do?” His words are not recorded, but his deeds speak volumes. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar 2Sa 9:3, 4(KJV). The first instance was the Mephibosheth issue: he manifests to keep Mephibosheth until grace appears unto him to get into the king’s house. Taking in Mephibosheth certainly was an act of mercy. He was crippled, a liability, and his family had been at war with King David.
“And the second time?” More help for more persons; his coast has enlarged. Now David is in trouble and needs help as he flees from Absalom. Machir was among those who helped not only David, but all those with him: when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi … and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai … brought beds, … and wheat, and barley, and …, 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. 2Sa 17:27-29(KJV). Lodebar means pastureless, a kind of wilderness. Machir the son of Amiel helps those destined for the palace but passing through the wilderness experience until they are restored.
“What is so special about his own? Others did similar things.” Ah Machir sought no reward when those he helped now came into the palace and remained at his duty post. He does more though unrewarded by men. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls, even if loving you more and more, I am loved the less 2Co 12:15(MKJV) . Barzillai got kingly rewards on request for his son, 2Sa 19:31-39 and this passed on to Solomon’s time 1Ki 2:7. He takes in people others would not want, who could be considered a risk, but who have a divine call upon their lives. He sustains them until their time of manifestation and then releases them asking nothing in return and fades into memory.
If your gift is serving, devote yourself to serving others. If it is encouraging, devote yourself to encouraging others. If it is sharing, share generously. If it is helping, help cheerfully. Rom 12:7, 8(ISV)
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