The King Who Seeks and Saves
You would think that David would want nothing to do with any person from the house of Saul. You would think he would be fully caught up in his own glory and kingdom having crushed his enemies on every side. You would think David was ready for "David-time."
You would be wrong.
In 2 Samuel 9, something wonderful happens for one of Saul's descendants. David is ready to bless someone for the sake of Jonathan. It just so happens that someone is a crippled boy named Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:1 (ESV) And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
We've heard the name Mephibosheth before. He is briefly mentioned during Saul's defeat and ultimate death in 2 Samuel 4. His nurse fell as she carried him and caused him to be lame for life. Further, he is living at Lo-debar which means, "No pasture."
Mephibosheth is a victim of bad choices made by others before he was ever responsible. His nurse dropped him, his grandfather forsook God and died leaving him fearful and hiding out in a place where there wasn't food. When he comes before King David, he's scared for his life.
2 Samuel 9:6 (ESV) And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.”
Mephibosheth's life is a picture of our own. We are disabled to obey God, descendants of those who rejected His goodness in the garden. We also live in fear because of our sin and shame. We know we don't belong anywhere near God's chosen King Jesus. Many people run from God for these reasons but if they only knew what Scripture has shown us.
Look at David's actions for Mephibosheth:
2 Samuel 9:7–8 (ESV) And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
David not only doesn't kill Mephibosheth, he brings him to his own table. Consider also that while seated at the king's dinner table, no one would see his lame legs.But David is not done. He gives Mephibosheth BACK all the servants of Saul.
2 Samuel 9:9–10 (ESV) Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Not only does David welcome this former "enemy" and lost son into his home and at his table, he restores what his grandfather's sin lost for him. David is redeeming Mephibosheth the same way Jesus redeems lost people.
David is a picture of King Jesus - bringing us in and establishing our place at the table, making our future secure and restoring what our ancestors lost for us. Yes in Adam all sin. But in Christ all will be made alive.
What a picture of grace. What a King we serve!
You would be wrong.
In 2 Samuel 9, something wonderful happens for one of Saul's descendants. David is ready to bless someone for the sake of Jonathan. It just so happens that someone is a crippled boy named Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:1 (ESV) And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
We see here that David is unlike any other ancient king. Protocol required all living descendants of a former king to be put to death. But David does the opposite. He seeks out any living member of the house of Saul to BLESS!
Let's see who he finds:
Let's see who he finds:
2 Samuel 9:3–5 (ESV) Ziba (Saul's servant) said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.
Mephibosheth is a victim of bad choices made by others before he was ever responsible. His nurse dropped him, his grandfather forsook God and died leaving him fearful and hiding out in a place where there wasn't food. When he comes before King David, he's scared for his life.
2 Samuel 9:6 (ESV) And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.”
Mephibosheth's life is a picture of our own. We are disabled to obey God, descendants of those who rejected His goodness in the garden. We also live in fear because of our sin and shame. We know we don't belong anywhere near God's chosen King Jesus. Many people run from God for these reasons but if they only knew what Scripture has shown us.
Look at David's actions for Mephibosheth:
2 Samuel 9:7–8 (ESV) And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
David not only doesn't kill Mephibosheth, he brings him to his own table. Consider also that while seated at the king's dinner table, no one would see his lame legs.But David is not done. He gives Mephibosheth BACK all the servants of Saul.
2 Samuel 9:9–10 (ESV) Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Not only does David welcome this former "enemy" and lost son into his home and at his table, he restores what his grandfather's sin lost for him. David is redeeming Mephibosheth the same way Jesus redeems lost people.
David is a picture of King Jesus - bringing us in and establishing our place at the table, making our future secure and restoring what our ancestors lost for us. Yes in Adam all sin. But in Christ all will be made alive.
What a picture of grace. What a King we serve!
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