1 & 2 Samuel

2 Samuel Chapter 9

David's Kindness to Mephibosheth

• 2Samuel 9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 

And we sometimes wonder why David was called someone after God's own heart. He forgives and was forgiven for his own past sins. David was one that was kind, loved God, loved His word, worshipped God and wanted to be obedient to God. He had weaknesses and when he did sin the consequences caused him a lot of heart ache and grief but in the end, he was a man after God's own heart just as the scriptures say.

This is found in two places: One is Acts 13 spoken by Peter on the day of Pentecost.

• Acts 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel says the words to Saul:

• 1Samuel 13:14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

Here we see him wanting to remember any of the house of Saul that might need his help. This is an awesome way to be in spite of Saul's evil intent toward him. His friendship with Jonathan the son of Saul was a strong one that he never forgot.

• 2Samuel 9:2  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 
• 3  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. 

Ziba a servant in the house of Saul was called but later this guy gets greedy and desires to have the what David gives to Mephibosheth.

• 2Samuel 9:4  And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 
• 5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 
• 6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 
• 7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 

Mephibosheth was in his late teens or early 20s, married and had a son. I wonder if he feared David thinking David was here to harm him, not do him kindness. When he was five his nurse dropped him while fleeing with him after she heard Jonathan and Saul were killed by the Philistines. She meant well and was trying to save him but his legs were broken and he became crippled for life. Sad to think about. Innocent little children get hurt so much when wars break out.

• 2Samuel 9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 

He didn't think very highly of himself. Perhaps people treated cripples unkindly in those days. He didn't think himself worthy to be in the presence of the king. Then too perhaps he knew of what his grandfather tried to do to David. Being the son of Jonathan it is understandable that he would have known David was a good man and that his grandfather treated him horribly.

• 2Samuel 9:9  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 
• 10  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 
• 11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 
• 12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 
• 13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet. 

This was so good of David to do. Too bad Ziba later tried to rob Mephibosheth of all that was given to him by David. 2 Samuel chapter 16 and 19 records more about that.

How wonderful it would be if we did as Jesus said. Love thy neighbor as thyself. If we kept that one commandment, there would be no poverty. I'm not speaking of forcing this on people. We can't force love and kindness. If we could get to the place where we loved, really loved every single individual. Young, old, sick, feeble, weak, strong and really cared about their welfare and needs. Leaders of all countries and nations should be ones that really care about the ones they rule over.  Compassion, not control. Compassion is never out of style.

David was surely a person of compassion when he was in right standing with the Lord. We don't have to give ourselves over to hate. God help us.

In 1 Samuel chapter 20 there was a covenant between David and Jonathan. After Jonathan was dead, David did not forget this covenant even when Jonathan's father, Saul pursued after and tried to kill David. Now we know why David was a man to forgive and have the heart of God within him. -DC

2 Samuel Chapter 10