Gracia

2 Samuel 19:1‑40
 
2 Sam. 19:1-401And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 2And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 6In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. 8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent. 9And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? 11And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. 16And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 18And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed? 22And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him. 24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 28For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? 29And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. 31And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37Let 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. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. 39And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. (2 Samuel 19:1‑40)
Joab reprocha a David su debilidad; ¡Joab está exhortando a David! Pero, ¿quién sino solo él había provocado este mal y había retorcido las entrañas de los afectos de este padre? Sin duda, fue de acuerdo con los caminos de Dios que estaba dando curso libre al castigo que había sido anunciado (2 Sam. 12:10-1110Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. (2 Samuel 12:10‑11)), y David debe reconocer Su mano en todo esto. Pero ¡ay del instrumento injusto por el cual se llevaron a cabo estos caminos! Solo que el tiempo de la retribución aún no había llegado. Dios ni siquiera permite que Joab sea reemplazado por Amasa como David, ofendido, quiso hacer (2 Sam. 19:1313And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. (2 Samuel 19:13)). David cumple con el consejo de Joab. No dudo que esto se deba a que conoce la justicia de los caminos de Dios hacia sí mismo. Cuando más tarde delega el juicio de Joab a Salomón, no es en realidad la muerte de Absalón de lo que lo acusa, sino sobre todo del asesinato de Abner y Amasa durante un tiempo de paz (1 Reyes 2: 5). David entonces se sienta en la puerta de la ciudad donde toda la gente se presenta ante él.
La disciplina ha terminado. La disciplina se ejerció en 1 Samuel para mantener a David en el camino de la dependencia. No había amargura entonces, sino más bien la feliz conciencia del favor divino. En el Segundo Libro la disciplina es amarga porque está acompañada por la conciencia de haber deshonrado a un Dios santo. ¡Pero qué fruto da también! Dios llena el corazón quebrantado como sólo Él es capaz de hacerlo, y exteriormente se manifiesta la vida de Jesús. Entramos en una escena de gracia, perdón y paz, la expresión de lo que ahora ocupa el corazón del rey.
En 2 Sam. 19:9-159And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? 11And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. (2 Samuel 19:9‑15) vemos gracia. Las diez tribus habían traicionado y abandonado a David para seguir al injusto Absalón; Son los primeros en regresar y hablar de traer de vuelta al rey. David sabe de esto y abre sus brazos a Judá, tan lento, tan perezoso hasta ahora para reconocer el trono de su rey, y que debería tener cuerno la pena por esto. “Vosotros sois mi hone y mi carne”, les dice (2 Sam. 19:1212Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? (2 Samuel 19:12)). Amasa había sido el jefe del ejército que había perseguido a David, y era aún más culpable porque él, como Joab, era sobrino del rey. “¿No eres tú mi hueso y mi carne?” David envía a decir a Amasa (2 Sam. 19:1313And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. (2 Samuel 19:13)). Su gracia no exige nada; Más bien se deleita en hacer el bien a sus enemigos.
En 2 Sam. 19:16-2316And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 18And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed? 22And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him. (2 Samuel 19:16‑23) encontramos el perdón. El rey perdona a Simei que para evitar el destino que le espera viene a someterse: “No me impute mi señor iniquidad, ni recuerdes lo que tu siervo hizo perversamente... porque tu siervo sabe que he pecado” (2 Sam. 19:19-2019And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. (2 Samuel 19:19‑20)). Abishai, todavía el mismo (cf. 2 Sam. 16:99Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. (2 Samuel 16:9)), quisiera vengarse de Simei. David lo detiene: “¿Qué tengo que ver con vosotros, hijos de Zeruiah, para que hoy seáis adversarios de mí? ¿Debería algún hombre ser condenado a muerte este día en Israel?” No, este es el día de la gracia y el perdón. Si los sentimientos que Simei expresa o no son sinceros, David no se detiene a considerar; Él no los está juzgando ahora; Simei tendrá que dar cuenta de ellos más tarde, cuando su conducta revele su realidad (1 Reyes 2:36-46). “No morirás”, le dice David a este hombre culpable.
En 2 Sam. 19:24-3024And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 28For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? 29And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. (2 Samuel 19:24‑30) tenemos una escena de paz. Mefiboset desciende al encuentro de su benefactor; había estado de luto desde la partida de David. Ziha lo había engañado y calumniado. Aquí descubrimos una nueva característica del carácter de Ziba. Fue en compañía del malvado Simei que Ziha había cruzado el Jordán para encontrarse con el rey (2 Sam. 19:16-1716And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. (2 Samuel 19:16‑17)). El silencio de David en cuanto a Ziba es característico. Parece que está reprochando a Mefiboset. Tal vez su enfermedad no era un obstáculo tan grande como había pensado para seguir a un David que huía. Tal vez, como Jonatán su padre, carecía de cierto coraje moral para asociarse con los peligros que enfrentaba su benefactor. Esto no se nos revela y sólo podemos adivinar. Pero lo que es seguro es que en ausencia del rey su vida había sido una vida de aflicción, luto, oraciones y ardiente anhelo por su regreso (2 Sam. 19:2424And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. (2 Samuel 19:24)). Entonces, ¿cómo puede David tratarlo tan groseramente? “¿Por qué hablas más de tus asuntos?” (2 Sam. 19:2929And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. (2 Samuel 19:29)). Estas palabras nos recuerdan un poco a aquellas, aparentemente tan duras, que Jesús le habló a la mujer sirofenicia. El Señor les habló para poner a prueba la fe de esta mujer. Cuando un ingeniero construye un puente, tiene cargas muy pesadas que lo atraviesan para probarlo. Las palabras de David hacen lo mismo. La preciosa fe de Mefi-boset se pone a prueba y lo que surge es sólo el perfume de la dependencia y la abnegación. Esta fe tiene tres características: Mefi-boset acepta la voluntad de David como la voluntad de Dios: “Mi señor el rey es como un ángel de Dios; hace, pues, lo que es bueno delante de tus ojos” (2 Sam. 19:2727And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. (2 Samuel 19:27)). Esta voluntad, cualquiera que sea, es buena a los ojos de Mefi-boset porque es buena a los ojos de David (cf. Romanos 12:2). En segundo lugar, reconoce que no tiene derecho al favor del rey basado en su ascendencia o valor personal: “Porque toda la casa de mi padre no eran más que hombres muertos delante de mi señor el rey; y pusiste a tu siervo entre los que comen en tu propia mesa. ¿Qué otro derecho tengo, pues? y por qué debería clamar más al rey?” (2 Sam. 19:2828For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? (2 Samuel 19:28)). Finalmente, cuando David responde, diciendo: “He dicho: Tú y Ziba dividen la tierra”, Mefi-boset responde: “Que tome todo, ya que mi señor el rey ha venido de nuevo en paz a su propia casa” (2 Sam. 19:3030And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. (2 Samuel 19:30)). Renuncia a todas sus ventajas temporales; para Mefi-boset es suficiente que su señor haya recuperado el lugar que se le debe.
¡Oh! ¡Que nuestra fe, cuando se pone a prueba, produzca frutos como este!
En contraste con Mefiboset, Barzilai (2 Sam. 19:31-4031And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 36Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37Let 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. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. 39And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. (2 Samuel 19:31‑40)) es probado por la oferta de bendiciones temporales. Era muy rico pero muy diferente del joven a quien “Jesús amaba”, y había puesto su fortuna a disposición del rey durante su estancia en Manaáimo (2 Sam. 19:3232Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. (2 Samuel 19:32)). Su gran edad no le había impedido entregarse a sí mismo, cuerpo y bienes, al servicio de David. David le ofrece una recompensa proporcional a su devoción: “Pasa conmigo, y yo te mantendré conmigo en Jerusalén” (2 Sam. 19:3333And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 19:33)). Pero Barzillai no había trabajado por una recompensa, y juzgándose indigno de ello, se niega. “¿Cuántos son los días de los años de mi vida, que debo subir con el rey a Jerusalén? Hoy tengo ochenta años: ¿puedo discernir entre el bien y el mal? ¿Puede tu siervo probar lo que como y lo que bebo?... ¿Por qué tu siervo ha de ser una carga para mi Señor el Rey?” (2 Sam. 19:34-3534And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? (2 Samuel 19:34‑35)). Que su hijo Chimham se beneficie del fruto de su trabajo: lejos de oponerse a esto, Barzillai se regocija en ello (2 Sam. 19:37-3837Let 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. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. (2 Samuel 19:37‑38)). Más tarde, como Mefi-boset en la mesa de David, los hijos de Barzilai comen en la mesa de Salomón (1 Reyes 2:7).
Tres cosas bastan a este hombre de Dios más allá de la felicidad de ver una vez más los derechos del rey reconocidos más allá del Jordán y verlo establecido en su reino nuevamente. La primera es la hermosa promesa de 2 Sam. 19:3838And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. (2 Samuel 19:38): “Chimham irá conmigo, y le haré lo que te parezca bueno; y todo lo que me requieras, eso haré por ti”. La segunda es que al dejarlo David le da una muestra de su amor: “El rey besó a Barzillai”. A través de este beso, él, como Enoc, recibe el testimonio de haber complacido a Dios en la persona de Su ungido. La tercera es que el rey “lo bendijo” (2 Sam. 19:3939And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. (2 Samuel 19:39)). Jesús también al dejar a sus amados discípulos levantó sus manos para bendecirlos y hoy mantiene la misma actitud con respecto a nosotros. Sus manos, aunque invisibles, permanecen levantadas sobre nosotros, dejando en nuestros corazones la certeza de la plena eficacia de Su obra. Barzillai regresa a su lugar con el calor del amor, el gozo de las bendiciones, y con la promesa de David: “Todo lo que exijas de mí, eso haré por ti”, y esa otra promesa gloriosa de que su hijo, sí, incluso sus hijos deberían pasar por alto con el rey, ¡nunca dejarlo, y sentarse para siempre a la mesa del rey de gloria!