God Shows Kindness

 2 Samuel 9:1-8, 11b, 13

And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 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.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” 

11 So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. ...  13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet. 

Mephibosheth is you and me – we are from a line of men that rebelled against the true king.  We are spiritually crippled and cannot bring ourselves to come and bow to the true king.  God brings us to Himself when we cannot.

 

David is God the Father – note how deliberately he pursues showing us kindness.  David says it 3 times to his court, when they have no interest to doing that.  He makes it happen.  Fathers should make kindness happen in their realms.

 

Jonathan is Jesus– God showed Meph. kindness for the sake of Jonathan; God shows us kindness for the sake of Jesus – Jon. is mentioned 4 times!

 

We eat at the king’s table, like one of the king’s sons.

The gifts of God for the people of God...

9/11/22