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January 17, 2024
- By Ed Powell
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"And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2 Samuel 9:1
Saul and his two sons had been slain in battle and David is now King. Instead of using his royal power maliciously, he extends kindness. The beautiful covenant between David and Jonathan finds a reason to exercise loving-kindness from the heart of David. He seeks to extend pity to the descendant of his archenemy, to befriend one who might well have feared death at the hands of David. He takes the initiative to find any descendant of Saul that he may show kindness for Jonathan's sake.
The one who now receives kindness at the hands of the king is so blessed, not because of anything he has done, or any worthiness he possesses, but wholly because of a covenant promise by David to Jonathan. "And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan has yet a son, which is lame on his feet. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face and did reverence."
David's words were full of grace as he addressed Mephibosheth, "Fear not, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table continually." What a moving scene! Mephibosheth "bowed himself and said, what is your servant that you should look upon such a dead dog that I am?"
The mercy and grace shown by David moved to contrition the heart of this crippled, outcast son of Jonathan. It brought a deep consciousness that he was utterly unworthy yet the recipient of matchless grace. There was life for him, for David refused to take revenge upon him for the injustice and cruelty he suffered from Saul. He returned good for evil, love for hate, grace instead of justice, and mercy instead of wrath. David's words--"fear not"--put to rest all anxiety, quieted his heart, and set him at perfect ease in the presence of the king. There was an inheritance: "All that pertained to Saul and to all his house" was restored to him, after it had been lost to his family. Then David extends to him a most gracious gift: "You shall eat bread at my table continually." What a contrast from being a crippled outcast in Lodebar [place of no pasture] to being seated at the king's table, not once, but continually! The capstone of David's grace is his words: "As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table AS ONE OF THE KING'S SONS!" Not as an alien or a stranger, or a servant or a guest, but as a member of the royal family. AS ONE OF THE KING'S SONS!
What a magnificent picture of our redemption! We, who deserve nothing but the judgment of God, are taken in by His love and grace, given an eternal inheritance, and made to sit at the Father's table forever! Cleansed by the blood of Christ; reconciled to God and given a peace that passes understanding, a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, and mercy that endures forever; accepted in the Beloved, made an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ; indwelled by the Holy Spirit...ALL BY THE MATCHLESS GRACE OF OUR LOVING LORD! His grace is greater than all our sin. Marvelous, matchless, infinite grace!
© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.
This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-01-17&print=1
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