04/13/2016 REMEMBERING OTHERS
2 Samuel 9:1-10: One day David began wondering if any of Saul’s family was still living, for he wanted to be kind to them, as he has promised Prince Jonathan. He heard about a man named Ziba who had been one of Saul’s servants, and summoned him.
“Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes, sir, I am,” he replied.
The king then asked him, “Is anyone left from Saul’s family? If so, I want to fulfill a sacred vow by being kind to him.” “Yes,” Ziba replied, “Jonathan’s lame son is still alive.” …So Kind David sent for Mephibosheth---Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. Mephibosheth arrived in great fear and greeted the king in deep humility, bowing low before him. But David said, “Don’t be afraid! I’ve asked you to come so that I can be kind to you because of my vow to your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you shall live here at the palace! Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. “Should the king show kindness to a dead dog like me? He exclaimed…And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with King David, as though he were one of his own sons. [Living Bible translation.]
Summary:
David was the youngest son of Jesse. David grew up a shepherd, keeping the sheep. He was essentially “a nobody,” living on a sheep farm. Jonathan, on the other hand, was “royalty,” the son of a king. Although they living in “different world” the two men became loyal friends, despite the fact that Jonathan’s father, Saul, hated David with an insane passion and repeatedly tried to kill him, as he pursued David with a vengeance. Despite his father, Jonathan stood by David, protected him and was there when David needed him. (See, 1Samuel 23:14-18.) Jonathan reassured David (telling him to not be afraid), he encouraged him and Jonathan told David that GOD had a plan for his (David’s) life. The two men made a covenant before the LORD, renewing their pact of friendship, so that David would not be discouraged.
When Jonathan died in battle with the Philistines, David deeply mourned the loss of his friend. But, then a lot of things suddenly started to happened to David. David is anointed king over all Judah. David is involved in a number of military campaigns. There are numerous victories. David gets caught up “being king” and sins against Uriah, stealing his wife. David later repents, but years pass. David, by this time has a number of sons himself. And, then one day David remembers. David remembers his old friend Jonathan and asks if there is anyone from Saul’s family still living. One of Saul’s servant’s Ziba appears before David and tells him about a grandson, Mephibosheth. By this time, all of Saul’s land was lost. There was this grandson Mephibosheth, but he had a disability, he was “lame” in both feet. He couldn’t walk so he couldn’t work the land. The sick, the disabled, and in general having a disease in ancient Jerusalem meant a person was a social outcast. The sick often lived outside the city gates, where they could beg for food. Even Mephibosheth thought of himself as a “dead dog.” But David remembered his friend Jonathan. He remembered his covenant and his promise to show kindness to his friend’s family. So David “found” Mephibosheth. He “restored” his land to him. He “took him in,” like family and sat him at his own table, so he could be with David forever. David remembered poor Mephibosheth.