The First 3 Kings Of Israel Series

Mephibosheth comes there to the palace, before the very throne of David, where he falls on his face. Can you see him there? He’s quivering, trembling like a bird in a trap. And he’s saying in his heart, “David, go ahead, let the ax fall on me. Get it over with, David. Go ahead and do it. I’ve been told that you hate me, I've been told that you want to kill me.” But he’s not prepared for what David says next.

2.3.3 An Ancient Custom

In ancient times, when a new regime or dynasty came to power, the prevailing practice was to kill every one of the former king’s family (1 Kings 15, 16; 2 Kings 10). In order for the new king to solidify his position, he killed every living family member known of the previous king. Everybody knew it and everybody practiced it. In order for David to really secure his throne, it was necessary for him to hunt down every direct descendant of Saul and kill all of them.

Imagine listening to this story for the first time. You are just waiting for that ax to fall on Mephibosheth but then you realize, David was not seeking the descendants of Jonathan to secure his thrown or to extinguish Saul’s bloodline, but to show them kindness? Instead of killing Mephibosheth, he invites him into his family. David restores the servants to work that land and bring him the produce and profits: Mephibosheth moves from exiled and crippled to possessing numerous servants. But more importantly: David invites him to dine at his table like one of his children. Now the king’s table will cover his crippled feet.

2.3.4 God’s Character

I want you to see the relationship between David’s actions and God’s character. The whole story I just told you about Mephibosheth begins with David asking this question: “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake” (2 Samuel 9:1)? The word for “kindness” is the Hebrew word “chesed.” This is a challenging word to translate for it means much more than kindness. The word “chesed” is also the word that the Bible uses to remind us of God’s covenant love.

A few moments ago, I told you that Jesus is seldom called the Son of Moses or the Son of Abraham. Instead, Jesus is called over and over again, the Son of David. David’s kindness is here to tell us about God’s rich kindness in at least 2 ways.

2.3.4.1 David Searches/God Searches

Just as David searched for someone in Saul’s family to show incredible kindness, God searches for you to demonstrate His incredible kindness. And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him” (2 Samuel 9:3)? God searches for you just as David searched for Mephibosheth.

2.3.4.2 David Remembers/God Remembers

But God is like David in at least one other way. Just as David showed “chesed” because of his promise to Jonathan, God showed “chesed” because of His promise to King David.

2.4 David’s Lasting Significance

2 Samuel 7 is one of the most important chapters in your Bible. In fact, it is arguably the one chapter that plays the single most significant role of any Old Testament passage in shaping the early church’s understanding of Jesus. How did the first disciples know Jesus was the Son of God?