Showing Kindness To Someone In Need

This chapter records a beautiful story of grace bestowed upon someone who felt unworthy to receive it. It reveals the virtue of a man who many automatically think of the sin he committed. Although there can be so much good in a person's life, people will only remember the sin that someone has committed.

For quite a long time Saul, who had been partly out of his mind, had fanatically pursued David as if he were some major game in a safari hunt. Since Saul was dead, David had been crowned ruler of Israel.

Most rulers in David's day attempted to clear out the families of past rulers to keep any relatives from looking for the throne. In any case, David gave grace to Mephibosheth, whose father was Jonathon, the son of king Saul. This was partially a direct result of David's faithfulness to God's recently blessed ruler, partially on account of attempting to join Israel and Judah back together, but chiefly due to his pledge to give grace to the entirety of Jonathon's future descendants. (1 Samuel 20:14-17, 42, 1 Samuel 23:18, 1 Samuel 24:5-6)

Trying to find a family member of Saul and Jonathon took some time. Ziba was a servant in Saul's house and David inquired of any relative of Saul or Jonathon. Ziba replied that there was a son of Jonathon who was lame, his name was Mephibosheth. David sent Ziba to bring the young man back to him. We learn that Mephibosheth had been lame since childhood due to an accident.

2 Samuel 4:4, And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

Mephibosheth was reluctant to visit king David. He falls to the floor crying out that he is like a dead dog. David restored Mephibosheth's inheritance, the land, and property of Saul, and places him at the king's table. He was honored as if he was one of David's sons. Despite the fact that he dreaded his life and felt disgraceful, that did not mean he should deny David's blessings.

We may feel unworthy, which we are, but God benevolently offers us absolution of sins and a place in paradise, and we will receive these blessings if only we believe in the saving grace of Christ Jesus. It is not on the grounds that we merit it, but only because of the promises of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

David's treatment of Mephibosheth shows the honor and decency of a leader who acknowledged his commitment to show love and kindness. The generosity that he showed to Saul's son went past any political advantage he may have gotten. Are we willing to pardon the individuals who have done something wrong to us or against us? Would we be able to be generous to those who may not deserve it? Each time we show sympathy our character is reinforced.

Something to consider:

A child of God realizes that he is also a cripple in the sight of God. For Jonathon's sake, David shows kindness to Mephibosheth. David said nothing regarding the faltering feet of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth did not say anything regarding his feet. No one else commented on Mephibosheth’s feet.

Here we are talking about feet, which can refer to our walk. And not necessarily our physical walk, but our spiritual walk as well. And when we are talking about our spiritual walk, we are also talking about the condition of our spiritual heart.

I do not think that the conversation between Mephibosheth and David had anything to do with Mephibosheth's handicap, his feet, but I would be inclined to think that they discussed David's relationship with Jonathon. They may have discussed the relationship with God the Father. No one really knows. But what we do know is that David looked upon Mephibosheth as he looked upon Jonathon, as God looks upon us. (Romans 3:9-20, Isaiah 53:6, Proverbs 16:25, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 7:18)

Jesus is calling us to His table, no matter what the state of our lives may be. (John 14:6, Ephesians 1:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Matthew 11:28, John 7:37)