Kindness and Conflict

2 Samuel 19:31-43
    31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
    34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”
    38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
    40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David's men with him across the Jordan?” 42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?”
   43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”  Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

We find both kindness and conflict here as David the king returns to Jerusalem; kindness from David to Barzillai, the aged man who had supplied David and his small band out of his wealth when he was banished, and now was too old to accept the gracious invitation of kindness to enter with the king.  There was conflict between the tribe of Judah from whom David was a part, and the other ten tribes of Israel who wanted in on the pomp of parading David across the Jordan and back to Jerusalem.  The arguments of Judah were “fiercer” than those of Israel, however, and they prevailed in that argument.  They were more solid, tougher words of right to bring him in as a kinsman.  Here we can learn to be more kind ourselves in honoring those who give us aid in times of need, even returning the favor to others related to the helpers when necessary.  We can also be firm in conflict, solidly standing tough, but with love and not with malice or hate.