Try A Little Kindness

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.