HUNGRY, WEARY, AND THIRSTY

" . . . for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness." (2 Samuel 17:29)

It was a grievous time. David's own son, Absalom, was trying to wrench the kingdom from his father, and had organized a significant conspiracy against him. Absalom and his army camped in the land of Gilead, part of the promised land that passed primarily into the hands of Gad and his people. David and his army fled from Absalom, coming to Mahanaim, one of appointed cities of refuge (Josh 21:38). It was situated between Gilead and the river Jabbok. While there, God providentially supplied their needs through three united men: Shobi of the children of Ammon, Machir from Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite. This is the only mentioning of Shobi in the Bible. Machir is the man who had earlier housed the crippled son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:4). Barzillai was an older man, being about eighty years of age, and "a very great man" (2 Sam 19:32). Thus we have a generally unknown man, a compassionate man, and a great man joining together in a common cause.
The provisions supplied by these three men were staggering. Remember, they were providing for an army of thousands. They brought "bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat" NIV(17:18-19). The reason for this extraordinary deed of kindness was this: "For they said, ‘The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.'"NIV Thus, during a revolt, and in jeopardy of their own lives, they extended themselves to provide nourishment for an entire army–because they had become weary and thirsty in the desert.
Throughout history, and in our own time, there remain those precious souls who are able to detect weariness and thirst among fellow pilgrims and strangers in the earth. Such souls extend themselves to refresh the saints. Like the household of Stephanas, "they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints" (1 Cor 16:15). They will not allow the people of God to grow weary without doing something about. These are motivated by the love of Christ, which
"compels" them (2 Cor 5:14). Not only must we give thanks for this faithful army of providers, but seek to be numbered among them ourselves. Such deeds are done to Christ (Matt 25:40).