We all need kindness. It is a language the dumb can speak, the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.
• Kindness is more than just loving people. It is loving people more than they deserve.
• Kindness is ‘going the extra mile’, it is grace put into action.
We are going to look at one encounter in King David’s life today, and see the example of kindness.
• And through it, we want to remind ourselves of the kindness of God, and the grace of God in our own lives.
[Read 2 Samuel 9:1-13]
David is now the reigning King of Israel. The previous King – King Saul and his son Jonathan died in the war with the Philistines.
• They had a descendant, now an orphan, Mephibosheth. He was lame in both feet.
• 2 Sam 4:4 tells us why – “Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth.”
King David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (9:1)
• He remembers them. King Saul was his predecessor and God’s anointed. Jonathan was his good friend.
• When Jonathan died, David wrote a lament. See 2 Sam 1:25-26 “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.” They were very close friends.
So David asked Ziba, King Saul’s servant. “Is there anyone to whom I can show God’s kindness?” (9:3)
• Is there anyone in your life that you can show God’s kindness? Having received God’s blessing, is there someone that you can share this blessing with? Is there someone that needed God’s grace too?
• The servant answered the King, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.” (v.3)
The King asked for him to be brought to the palace. He wants to see him.
• I believe Mephibosheth would never forget that day. His grandfather and father have already passed away. He is a ‘nobody’.
• But now the King has asked to see him. He must be afraid. In those times, it is quite common that when a King takes the throne, he would eliminate the family of the King before him, to prevent future revolt or other problems.
The first words that David said to him were: “Don’t be afraid.” (v.7) He was afraid, as expected.
• But the King shows him kindness. He restores to him all the land that belonged to his grandfather Saul.
• And He wants him to sit with him at every meal. He is going to share the same table with the King.
Mephibosheth found grace that day. Or rather, grace found him.
• He did not seek the King; King sought him out. He did not do anything to earn it. He just receives it.
• Even though Mephibosheth felt small, crippled, and unworthy, he ended up spending the rest of his life with the King, sharing the same table with him.
• He got what a prince would have received, because the King showed kindness.
Today we are blessed because God has been kind to us.
• It is the grace of God that finds us. It is not that we have been seeking God.
• He was the One looking for us. He came because He loves us.
• We did not do anything to deserve it. We were sinners when Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). He died for our sin on the cross.
We were crippled by sin and living in misery, and God showed His love towards us by seeking us out and bringing us home to be with Him.
• God’s grace will find you, and His grace will sustain you.
• When you are weak, He carries you. When you are in need, He provides.
Mephibosheth would not be able to reach the King; he could not walk.
• David’s men find him and carry him to the King.
• His handicap and his past left him feeling worthless and useless. He called himself “a dead dog” (v.8).
• But now he realises that he had value in the eyes of the King.
We have a value in the eyes of God. We are so precious to Him. I know that because He sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world to die for me.
• He died for my sin, so that I can be saved and be given “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
• Mephibosheth’s position was restored to that of royalty. All the land and “everything that belonged to Saul and his family” (v.9) were given back to him.
• Not only that, he was given a position of family. Verse 11 says “So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.”
• The King regards him as one of his own.
The Bible emphasized this a few times.
• In verse 7 David says, “…you will always eat at my table.”
• Verse 10 he instructed the servant: “Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.”
• Verse 11 confirms “So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.”
• And finally, as if we still did not get the message clear, verse 13 says “he always ate at the king’s table… and he was crippled in both feet.”
I think the emphasis was deliberate. It was all about kindness, love and grace.
• It was not something that Mephibosheth did; it has nothing to do with what he has achieved. He did not earn it. He simply receives it.
God’s grace won’t just make us His servants, or just the royal priesthood – although serving Him is really what we ought to do.
• But God wants us to know that we are His sons and daughters today. Serving Him is our privilege and honour.
• We have done nothing to deserve His kindness. We have not been morally good or righteous, to deserve His love.
To eat together at the same table means Mephibosheth would have personal time with the King. He will always have the King’s ear, his attention, every day!
• David made it clear that this position wasn’t just a good suggestion, occasionally. It was to be “always”, continually.
• As long as David sat on the throne, Mephibosheth would never have to worry about anyone taken his seat away. It’s a permanent place.
Today we have the same experience with our King of kings.
• God listens to us every day. Each time we pray, He is there to listen.
• Heb 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
• God wants to show His love and kindness to you. Trust Him and simply receive it.
David himself experienced God’s love and kindness. He had just subdued the enemies around Israel and established his Kingdom.
• As he sat in his palace, he looks back over his past and remembers how God had blessed him, how he had come from a sheepfold to a throne room.
• It is the grace of God, and he wanted to pass this on to the descendants of Saul, and he did well.
Do that today, Christians. We’ve received much from the Lord; let us “show God’s kindness” (as David said in v.3).
• Share God’s love, grace and kindness to the many that are spiritually, physically, emotionally ‘crippled’ people around us, people who are hurting and struggling today.
• Bless them, because we have been greatly blessed!
Dear friends, God have shown His kindness towards you. All you need to do is accept it.
• This morning His invitation is extended to you, come and fellowship with me.
• If you have never experienced God’s love, if you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour, you can do that by a simple prayer, inviting Him to come into your life.
• The Lord says in Rev 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
• Are you willing to do that? Salvation is a gift, you can earn it. Just receive it by faith. Put your trust in Jesus Christ today!
