2 Samuel 9: 1 – 13
Try a little kindness
9 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!” 3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone 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 lame in his feet.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” 8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” 9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
Kindness seems to be a lost art these days. It’s a rare gem, hidden among the pushers of haste and the irritable impatient and often distracted people we pass in our lives. I often search for evidence of kindness, as I’m going and doing things out in the world, and what I often see is a lot of people that want nothing more than to stay to themselves. I get that. I really do. I’ve been one of them many times.
But it still makes me sad to think most people out there going and doing things are so consumed by their own hassles; they really don’t think to look any further.
I try to work on this from my end of the world. I often feel compelled to engage with other people. It is not natural but I try to be intentionally kind when chatting with the cashier or passing by someone who appears to need a little lift. Oftentimes, it lights us both up with a new air of goodness. Sometimes, my words and smiles fall on empty ground — no new buds are going to grow there.
But I keep trying. Most of the time, it’s worth it.
I’d like to think there are at least five simple ways to be kind. These efforts of kindness are truly doable for us all. Here’s what I find most inspiring:
When we are kind, we have more energy and feel better about ourselves and the world we live in.
1. Smile. Seriously, just smile, would you? When the bank cashier asks for your I.D: Smile. When the crosswalk guard yells at you to slow down: Smile. When you’re at your kid’s sporting event: Smile. When you’re walking through the grocery store: Smile. When you are in the break room at work: Smile. When you are out in this world, doing what you do: Smile.
You know how it feels when someone smiles at you, right? Just think how many people you can show kindness to with simply curving up your lips and showing your teeth. It’s infectious, and in this simple act itself — you are lighting up the world because what often happens when you smile? Others smile too.
2. Give Eye Contact. This one is just interesting to me, because I rarely see eyes anymore. I’m out and about I find that no one looks at each other. In Philly we have always had the potential of someone say after you just look at them, ‘Who you looking at? If your look goes with a smile and a ‘good morning’ or just ‘hi, how you doin’ you are not in a challenging threat act. We are all drifters in our own little worlds, head into our phones or our own business — not interested in what wonders are around us. What really fascinates me, are the conversations I can have with people without them looking at me at all. I’m always looking around me and spotting people here and there, going about their business without so much as a glance toward other human beings in their path.
3. Say ‘Thank You.’ What happened to manners? I know many of you have them, and use them, but there are some rude people out there. A simple thank you can have an enormous impact on a person, don’t you think? I might as well add “Please” to this task too. Any time you have a chance, say these words and mean them.
Appreciation goes a long way in this world. We need more of it. I think there are many people who do their jobs or live in their roles without the gratitude they deserve. I’ve witnessed people walking away from others with no mention of a thank you, and I’ve also seen many request or demand things with no “please”. Why are we so intolerable these days? These words translate into respect. We all deserve that, yes? Two words, they make a difference. Let’s all use them more.
4. Acknowledge another person’s presence. As you fly by those people in your life that you may pass repeatedly, it’s a really kind thing to acknowledge their presence. I wave at the poor janitor who got dealt the hand of standing out in the cold morning air to monitor school drop offs. I may be tired and wanting to drive out of there fast but waving and smiling and looking at him as I go is a simple gesture I can safely say he appreciates. He smiles and waves back every time. I’ve been known to do this at both schools, and I’m surprised to have teachers thank me for my morning waves and smiles.
It takes little effort, and yet it goes a long way to acknowledge those people you pass on a regular basis. They are out there in your community, doing their job as best they can. Wave, nod, smile, say please and thank them, would you?
5. Compliment someone. This one’s my favorite thing to do, but it takes just a little bit more effort on your part, but I promise the effort is worth it. When we are in public, there are so many people we see and often we think to ourselves how cute they look in those boots, or how great their hair looks, or how adorable their kid is — why don’t we just say it to them? I seem to be one that has no problem doing that. I just love seeing people’s faces light up after I deliver an impulsive compliment to someone I meet or pass by when I’m out in the world. It sometimes throws the person off balance, but more often it surprises them with delight.
If we have nice thoughts about people, why not tell them? It doesn’t take much time at all, and I promise it’s worth those few seconds of discomfort when approaching someone with kind words. I wish more people did this. If you are naturally shy, I understand your hesitancy. But may I challenge you to step out of that safe place and go for it? It won’t be as painful as you anticipate it to be. I promise. And the payoff is totally worth it.
I admire the musical artist Glen Campbell. His music has appealed to almost every kind of music lover. Here are the lyrics of one of his songs called A little kindness.
If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he's sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say "You're going the wrong way"
You got to try a little kindness, yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way
You got to try a little kindness, yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness, then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
Today our brother David remembers his vow to his good friend Jonathan. He then wants to extend kindness to any of his deceased friend’s children.
The story today, commences with David making an attempt to seek out any member of the house of Saul in order that he might ‘show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake’. David’s kindness goes on to show how David not only restores to Mephibosheth all Saul’s lands, but even more importantly in many ways, invites him to sit among his sons at the king’s table. It made evident the fact that he felt totally secure in his own position, and that his love for Jonathan, and the commitment that he had made to him, had not in any way diminished (1 Samuel 20.15-16). He was loyal to the end. Many a king in those days would have considered that exterminating those of his rival’s house took precedence even over a sworn covenant.
We find here a beautiful picture of the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for us. Like Mephibosheth we are ‘lame in both our feet’, but our Lord Jesus Christ not only came to redeem us back to Himself at the cost of His blood and life, but also promised that we would sit with Him at the King’s Table, yes, and even that, once we are there, He Himself will act as our servant and feed us at that table (Luke 12.37). It is because of what He has done for us that our heavenly Father shows us kindness ‘for Jesus’ sake’.
9 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
We should recognize that very few if any of David’s contemporary kings would even have considered the possibility of showing kindness to the house of those from whom they had taken over their kingship. They would have been busy rooting them out in order to destroy them. It was therefore a sign of David’s genuine compassion and loyalty towards Jonathan that he sought out a member of the house of Saul, not so that he could destroy him, but so that he could show him kindness ‘for Jonathan’s sake’. It makes clear that he had never forgotten the bond that had lain between them. It also makes clear the total confidence he has in the ability of Yahweh to maintain him on his throne.
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”
David’s words were addressed to his ‘servants’ (advisers and courtiers) for it appears to have been they who sought out Ziba, a former estate manager of Saul, and brought him to David. It is probable that Ziba was somewhat afraid for he would recognize the danger inherent in his position as one of the deceased king’s prominent ‘servants’. We can almost hear the tentative note in his voice as, to the king’s question as to his identity, he says, ‘I am he’.
3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone 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 lame in his feet.”
He must therefore have been greatly relieved when the reason that he had been summoned turned out to be for David to show mercy to Saul’s descendants. For David questioned him about them to show ‘the kindness of God’ towards them. To David the ‘kindness of God’ was the highest form of unmerited kindness that it was possible to show, for he knew from experience what the kindness of God was like because God had shown His kindness towards him.
4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
When David enquired of his whereabouts Ziba informed him that he was under the protection of, and in the house of, Machir, the son of Ammiel (my kinsman is God), in Lo-debar. Machir was a very wealthy man living in Transjordan who would later prove his genuine loyalty to David by helping to provision him and his men when David himself was fleeing from Absalom (17.27-29), an act of generosity and loyalty that could also have landed him in trouble if Absalom had been victorious. But when the news reached his house that Mephibosheth had been summoned into the king’s presence he too must have felt some trepidation, both for himself (he would know that he himself could only too easily be accused of harboring a rival claimant to the throne) and for Mephibosheth. It is very probable that the depth of his love and admiration for David was increased by this incident, even though David would have been totally unaware that he was casting his bread upon the waters which would in future return manifold (Ecclesiastes 11.1).
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
If Ziba and Machir had been filled with trepidation Mephibosheth must have been literally terrified. Whatever he had been told he probably could not bring himself to believe any other than that this summons was bad news. Note the emphasis on the fact that he was the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Saul. That could be sufficient to guarantee his demise.
7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
David immediately reassured him and told him that he need not be afraid, because his intentions were good towards him. He intended to show him kindness for Jonathan his father’s sake. In addition he intended to restore to him all his family’s lands, and give him the privilege of eating at the king’s table permanently. He would become the king’s friend.
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
Mephibosheth again did obeisance to David in acceptance of his generous gifts, and his words indicate his true gratitude.
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
As good as his word David then called for Ziba and explained that he had given to Mephibosheth everything that had once belonged to Saul, and that Ziba was to be his estate manager and take practical overall responsibility for the maintenance of his lands. Ziba would know from this that he would be accountable to the king himself. He and his sons and servants were to look after the land and were to store up its fruit for Mephibosheth. This was, of course, also a reward for Ziba. He was being given a position of great responsibility, probably far above what he had had previously. He and his sons would not be lacking anything for it would be recognized that he would receive his fair portion of the produce, and that they would be able to hire many servants to do the hardest work. It is quite possible that he was already watching over the lands and obtaining his livelihood from them, (someone would be watching over them), but not to the extent that would now be possible when enjoying the king’s favor.
Please take note the emphasis on Ziba’s own grandeur. He had fifteen sons, and twenty servants. He was thus a man of position and prestige in his own right and was well equipped to fulfil the king’s command. We are going to read in the upcoming scripture with David having to flee Jerusalem why Ziba would lie to David about Mephibosheth. After Saul’s death Ziba must have taken over Saul’s land totally and had profited from its resources.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”
Ziba accepted the king’s command (In truth what else could he have said. He actually had little option) and assured the king that he would carry out his will as a true ‘servant’. The king meanwhile confirmed that Mephibosheth would eat at the royal table and would indeed be treated as one of the king’s sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
We now learn that Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. He would be very much a youngster, but he would not be lame, and could well have turned out in the future, as a heir of Saul and could possible turn out to be a threat to David’s dynasty. So, we see that David’s act of kindness was not simply based on Mephibosheth’s incapacity. It was based on his total confidence in Yahweh. Mica would apparently be maintained on the Saul estates watched over by his mother, and Ziba. He would himself later bear four sons and his son’s sons would become skilled fighting men and archers, and would themselves be very fruitful, developing into a large family (1 Chronicles 8.34-40). But there is never any hint of disloyalty. David’s confidence had not been displaced.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
From this time on Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, the royal city, and ate continually at the king’s table. David proved to be as good as his word. The reference to the fact that he was lame in both his feet is probably intended to underline David’s generosity. Many another would have dismissed such a person as not fit to live in the royal city and sit at the king’s table, especially as he would be excluded from the court of the Tent of Meeting. But in David’s eyes he stood in the place of Jonathan his friend.
The greatest threat to Israel currently, with both Egypt and Mesopotamia in a weak condition, was a burgeoning Aramaean empire to his immediate north (8.3). This was something that Saul had to combat in its infancy (1 Samuel 14.47).
It was not, however, initially a consequence of David’s choice. It arose because he wanted to show kindness to the son of Nahash, the king of Ammon who had previously shown kindness towards him. But in view of what follows we must surely see the attitude of the princes of Ammon as inspired because of their intrigues with their Aramaean ‘allies’. Those who are suspicious of other people’s attempts at spying usually have something to hide. Perhaps they did not want David to know they themselves were building up their armed forces, and even had Aramaean advisers among them. And the sudden availability of a combined Aramaean army can surely not have been coincidental. It smacks of preparedness. (You do not just contact someone and say, ‘Oh by the way, I think I have offended David. Do you think that you could lend me three armies from scratch’ and expect them to arrive in time to deal with his reprisal)?
We can take away from this passage how our Holy and Gracious God protects us. I have learned that there is no such thing as a ‘coincidence’. Our Precious Holy Spirit stirred up David to remember how the Ammonite king was kind to him. He then wanted to be kind in like measure. However, behind the scene the Ammonites were gathering forces to ultimately come against the Israelites. Thank You Lord for your Love and Protection.
