Lesson 6 - 2 Sam. 9:1-13 - DAVID'S KINDNESS TO MEPHIBOSHETH
INTRODUCTION: Last week, in 2 Sam. 7:1-16, we came back into the story of David as he was making plans to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem, and we were introduced to the prophet Nathan, who will become an important figure in David's life. Initially, out of his human enthusiasm, Nathan supported David's plan; however, the Word of the Lord came to Nathan, commanding him to inform David that he would not build a temple (vv. 4-7), but to tell David that God would (1) make him a "great name" (v. 10), (2) give him "rest" from his enemies (v. 11b), and (3) make a "house" for him that will establish "his throne forever" (vv. 11c-16). These verses announce what we know today as the Davidic Covenant. It is one of the most significant declarations in the OT and ranks with God establishing a covenant with Abram and the calling of Moses from the burning bush. In this unconditional covenant, God promised David a dynasty, one that would last forever. In the near sense, this promise will seem to be unfulfilled. After Solomon's death, Solomon's kingdom will split between the southern and northern kingdoms. But what appears on the surface to be a simple promise to David will turn out to be something vastly more important, because this and the other promises will ultimately be fulfilled by Jesus, the seed of David-the Messiah promised. The early church will see this story and the promises made to David as foundational for the church-the new people of God, the new Israel. The two main point of application were: (1) We should seek the Lord first before making important decisions or giving counsel to others. Like David, God might have better plan for us that is far superior to our human desires. (2) When we make plans, we must be patient to wait on God's timing. As modern Christians, we don't see the fullness of God's kingdom today but have the assurance it is coming because God has promised it to us.
This week, in 2 Sam. 9:1-13, we return to the story of David sometime during the middle of his reign when we see him do something that was completely uncharacteristic of kings during his day: He asked if there were any survivors in the line of Saul so that he could "show them kindness for Jonathan's sake" (v. 1). For a king in David's time to suggest doing such a thing was radical, but completely consistent with Jesus who would later say things like, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44).
Read 2 Sam. 9:1-5 - IS THERE YET ANY LEFT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL?
1 Then David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "I am your servant." 3 The king said, "Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet." 4 So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar." 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.
v. 1: "Then David said, 'Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?'" - In David's time, it would have been unthinkable for a king to consider showing any "kindness" to the line of those from whom he had taken his kingship. More commonly, such a king would have been busy tracking down any potential rivals in the old line and putting them to death. However, in David's case, this reflected a mark of his true compassion and loyalty towards Jonathan. Fifteen to twenty years before this, prior to Saul and Jonathan being killed in battle (1 Sam. 31:1-6), Jonathan and David made a covenant of everlasting friendship (1 Sam. 20). This verse makes two things obvious about David: (1) that he had never forgotten the love bond of deep friendship between himself and Jonathan and (2) that he was confident that the Lord would protect his throne.
v. 2: "Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "I am your servant." - In response to David's inquiry in v. 1, his advisers and court officials had located and brought to him a man named "Ziba," who was apparently a former estate manager for Saul. It's very likely that Ziba was fearful of this encounter due to the danger inherent of having been one of former king's prominent servants. We can almost hear the tremor in his voice when he answers and says, "I am your servant."
v. 3a: "The king said, "Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" -We can only imagine Ziba's relief when he learned that the purpose for which the king had summoned him was a quest to find descendants of Saul's so the king could show "the kindness of God" towards them. The "the kindness of God" was the highest form of unmerited kindness-grace-that was possible to show, and David knew this from personal experience because of the kindness that God had shown to him many times over.
v. 3b: "And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet." - Ziba probably would have been unwilling to reveal the identity of Jonathan's son had David not assured him of his intention to show him mercy. We should also note the fact that David began the search before he learned that Jonathan's son was a cripple, so it wasn't an gesture of helping him out of sheer pity.
v. 4: "So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar." - When David inquired of the son's whereabouts, Ziba informed him that he was under the protection of and in the house of "Machir, the son of Ammiel." "Lo-Bar" was located in Gilead about 40 miles NE of Jerusalem, above the Jabbok River (see map). Machir was a very wealthy man living in the Transjordan area who would later prove his genuine loyalty to David by helping David and his men when they were fleeing from Absalom (2 Sam. 17).
v. 5: "Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar." -Ziba most likely went on this mission to fetch Jonathan's son in order to assure Machir that the king's intentions towards him were honorable and merciful.
Read 2 Sam. 9:6-8 - MEPHIBOSHETH, THE SON OF JONATHAN, CAME
6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!" 7 David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly." 8 Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?"
v. 6a: "Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself." - If Ziba had been filled with trepidation, Mephibosheth must have been absolutely terrified. In a king's language the kindness of God could also mean a merciful death. He would certainly be aware of what usually happened to the children of former royal dynasties. It's not at all surprising that he immediately "fell on his face and prostrated himself" in the king's presence.
v. 6b: "And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!" - Mephibosheth's verbal admission, "here is your servant," confirms that this person is in fact the son of Jonathan whom David is seeking.
v. 7a: "Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan," -But David immediately assures Mephibosheth that didn't need to be afraid because his intentions-to show him kindness "for the sake of your father, Jonathan"-were wholeheartedly good, not bad. And David was surely aware that if the situation had been reversed, that Jonathan would have shown the same mercy and consideration to his children.
v. 7b: "and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul;" - And this was not all: Since the former estate of Saul was considerable, and restoration of these lands would make him wealthy.
v. 7c: "and you shall eat at my table regularly." - This was an impressive privilege and a great gesture of personal friendship on David's part. I can imagine that Mephibosheth's ears were ringing. Scholars note that David's restoration of the heir-apparent to Saul's throne was yet another indirect demonstration of his confidence that God would safeguard his throne.
v. 8: "Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?" -Mephibosheth again shows humility in response to David's unexpected kindness and generosity toward him. He not only regards himself as a "servant"-someone below David-but compares himself to a "dead dog," which was a Hebrew figure of speech for being useless-nothing. Commentators say this was Mephibosheth's way of acknowledging the difference in station between the himself and the king. He fully realizes that this kindness was not deserved, yet was freely given-pure grace.
Read 2 Sam. 2 - MEPHIBOSHETH ATE AT THE KING'S AS ONE OF THE KING'S SONS
9 Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master's grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall eat at my table regularly." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king's table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet.
vv. 9-10: "Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master's grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall eat at my table regularly." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants." - Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants at his disposal, a ready-made workforce. So, as good as his word, David called-in Ziba to explain that he had given everything that had once belonged to Saul back to Mephibosheth, and that Ziba was to be his estate manager with overall practical responsibility for working the lands and storing up its produce for Mephibosheth; and in doing all these things, he would be accountable to the king himself. This was in effect, a reward to Ziba, who, instead of being out of a job, would now have far more responsibility and power than what he had previously held.
v. 11a: "Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do." - Ziba accepted the king's command (in truth, he had no other option).
v. 11b: "So Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons." - This was an exceedingly high-minded deed. In effect, David had adopted Mephibosheth as his own son. Scholars note that Mephibosheth's condition reflected a true picture of the house of Saul: A house that could only stumble before God. At the same time, however, we should notice that at no time did David ever made any reference to Mephibosheth's handicap, which shows that David was moved by loyalty to Jonathan and heartfelt generosity rather than pity.
v. 12a: "Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth." - Here we learn that Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. He would have been much younger, but not crippled like his father. In those times, he might have been perceived as a potential rival to David's future throne, but as before, David had confidence and faith that the Lord would keep his throne secure. Mica would apparently be kept on Saul's former estates under the supervision of his mother and Ziba. As it turned out, David's confidence was not misplaced. Scripture later reveals that Mica would bear four sons who would become skilled fighting men and archers in a fruitful family that was loyal to the king (1 Chron. 8:34-40).
v. 12b: "So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king's table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet." - So, from this time on, Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem where "he ate at the king's table regularly" and was treated like a close member of the king's own family. In effect, David had raised him to the level of his friendship with Jonathan and treated him with the same loyalty and respect, irrespective of the fact that he was still "lame in both feet."
APPLICATION-A Lesson in God's Grace:
Note: In terms of the grace extended to Mephibosheth, David reflects a Christ-type in this passage.
1. Grace seeks us out where we are. God's grace initiates the relationship. He does not wait for us to come to Him. He may use other people-witnesses like Ziba--to facilitate the process, but He does not wait around for us to come to Him. As a Christ-type, David sought out Mephibosheth, a cripple who deserved nothing and was not seeking the king's favor. In fact, he was in hiding when the king found him.
2. Grace brings us into the Lord's presence. Mephibosheth's handicap was a blessing in disguise. If he had not been a cripple, he might have tried to challenge David's throne or to escape from the king's messengers-witnesses-but being a helpless cripple, he had little choice but to go with them. Those who think they are spiritually okay often rebel or resist, but in this instance Mephibosheth was helpless. But Mephibosheth came and what did he find? Judgment? No! He found the ABCs of grace-acceptance, blessings, and a close personal relationship with the king.
