The lovingkindness of the Lord

This true story is an illustration of the Gospel, the amazing grace of God available to anyone who will humble themselves before the king and obey him.

2nd Samuel chapter 9, Verse 1 (NASB 1995)

Then David said, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

-David had been king now for about 15 years.

-Before he became king, while Saul was still king, David made a promise, a covenant of loyalty to his best friend, Jonathan; who was Saul’s son;  to always show lovingkindness to Jonathan and his family (1st Samuel 18 and 20:15).

-Jonathan knew that David was called by God to displace his father, Saul, and become king; and it was common in ancient times for new kings to get rid of everyone who would be in line to take the old king’s place, but David promised that he would show Jonathan’s family the lovingkindness of the Lord.

-It is common for people to forget their promises.  But David was faithful and remembered the commitment he had made to his best friend in the sight of God.

-David, the man after God’s own heart (1Sa13:14, Ac13:22) instead asks, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

Verses 2 and 3

Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

The king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.”

-David wanted to show the kindness of God.  God is kind, and we are called to be kind in our interactions with others.  (Eph. 4:32 & Lk. 10:37)

-15 years before this story, Jonathan was killed in battle along with his father.  At that time, Jonathan had a 5 year old son at home.  When the bad news arrived that king Saul and Jonathan had been killed, the little boy’s nurse scooped him up and fled.  Then, an accident happened, and the little boy became crippled for life in both feet.  This little boy lost his daddy and the ability to walk normally.  

Verses 4 and 5

So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.”  Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

-This son of Jonathan was living in obscurity in a place called Lo-debar, a desolate and insignificant place.

-He was staying at the house of a man of influence and wealth named Machir, who by his actions was compassionate in providing a home for a crippled young man.

-Showing kindness through hospitality is a marker of people who are walking with God. (Heb. 13:2)

-To care for people who have been forgotten or set aside by society is the kindness of God.

Verse 6

Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself.  And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he said, “Here is your servant!”

-Jonathan’s son’s name was Mephibosheth.  He was about 20 years old while David was now in his 40’s.

-Despite his disability, he fell on his face and payed honor. He humbled himself.

-Then, David called him by name: 

• David recognizes him.  
• David affirms him.   
• David welcomes him.  
• David shows him grace.

-Calling someone by name is kind and loving.

-Mephibosheth’s response is “Here is your servant!”  He was saying to David, “I am at your service”.

Verse 7

David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.”

-David said “do not fear”, to put Mephibosheth at ease.

-And then David tells him what he is going to do:  The good news.

-David says to Mephibosheth that he is going show him the kindness of the Lord for the sake of his father Jonathan, and graciously restores his grandpa’s estate to him. 

-This is an illustration of the grace of God where God does far more abundantly than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

-Mephibosheth’s story is an illustration of what the Gospel is.  We are saved completely by grace through faith or faithfulness, which means  all we have to do is to submit to the king and obey him for the rest of our lives.

-But David did not just restore Saul’s estate to Mephibosheth, suddenly making him a very wealthy man, and then sending him on his way, to live happily ever after.  No.  There is much more.  The best part is that he will now eat at the King’s table, as one of the king’s sons, for the rest of his life.

-When we receive and obey the grace in the gospel of the kingdom, we don’t just get eternal life, we get adopted to become God’s children and  we get to eat at the King’s table forever.

-That is the lovingkindness of the Lord.