2Sa 19:24-30 | KingComments | STEP | The second one David meets is Mephibosheth. It can be seen from him, that during the absence of David, he did not take care of himself. All his thoughts have gone out to his benefactor. Mephibosheth is a picture of the believer who looks forward to the coming of his Lord and therefore is not busy with “provision for the flesh in regard to [its] lusts” ( ). Mephibosheth may be a picture of a believer looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus, but David is certainly not a picture of the Lord Jesus here. He accuses Mephibosheth that he did not go with him. Mephibosheth tells David the true reason and also about the deceit of Ziba. He also points out that he is lame, which made him unable to follow David himself. What Ziba told David about him is not true. Mephibosheth’s attitude is beautiful. He does not speak of David having believed Ziba. He has constantly looked forward to his return, while remaining aware of the grace granted to him. He talks about that. He remembers well how he, someone who was nothing but a dead man because he belonged to the house of Saul, was taken up by David among those who eat at his table ( ). He is still overwhelmed by this evidence of mercy. What right does he have in the light of this? It is to be hoped that we, to whom mercy has also been shown, will live constantly in the awareness of it and that this awareness may always overwhelm us and bring us to great gratitude to Him Who has shown us that mercy. This will save us from standing on our right and claiming our right. David’s reaction to the words of Mephibosheth does not make us think of the Lord Jesus. David is aware that he made a mistake by giving Ziba the land. Yet he does not want to discuss this any further. In his words there is some annoyance about the mistake he made. He does not admit this mistake, but decides that the land should be shared. This is not a wise decision; on the contrary, it is a wrong decision. David’s assignment to share the land reveals Mephibosheth’s mind. Mephibosheth does not protest. On the contrary, he does not want anything from the land, for he has David back. And to him it is about David. Mephibosheth’s attitude is admirable and worthy of being followed by us in view of our relationship with the Lord Jesus. Mephibosheth’s answer is proof that he is only interested in David and does not in any way seek getting his possessions back. It is the language of Paul who says: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him” ( ).

‏ 2 Samuel 19:24-30

David Meets Mephibosheth

The second one David meets is Mephibosheth. It can be seen from him, that during the absence of David, he did not take care of himself. All his thoughts have gone out to his benefactor. Mephibosheth is a picture of the believer who looks forward to the coming of his Lord and therefore is not busy with “provision for the flesh in regard to [its] lusts” (Rom 13:14b).

Mephibosheth may be a picture of a believer looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus, but David is certainly not a picture of the Lord Jesus here. He accuses Mephibosheth that he did not go with him. Mephibosheth tells David the true reason and also about the deceit of Ziba. He also points out that he is lame, which made him unable to follow David himself. What Ziba told David about him is not true.

Mephibosheth’s attitude is beautiful. He does not speak of David having believed Ziba. He has constantly looked forward to his return, while remaining aware of the grace granted to him. He talks about that. He remembers well how he, someone who was nothing but a dead man because he belonged to the house of Saul, was taken up by David among those who eat at his table (2Sam 9:13). He is still overwhelmed by this evidence of mercy. What right does he have in the light of this?

It is to be hoped that we, to whom mercy has also been shown, will live constantly in the awareness of it and that this awareness may always overwhelm us and bring us to great gratitude to Him Who has shown us that mercy. This will save us from standing on our right and claiming our right.

David’s reaction to the words of Mephibosheth does not make us think of the Lord Jesus. David is aware that he made a mistake by giving Ziba the land. Yet he does not want to discuss this any further. In his words there is some annoyance about the mistake he made. He does not admit this mistake, but decides that the land should be shared. This is not a wise decision; on the contrary, it is a wrong decision.

David’s assignment to share the land reveals Mephibosheth’s mind. Mephibosheth does not protest. On the contrary, he does not want anything from the land, for he has David back. And to him it is about David. Mephibosheth’s attitude is admirable and worthy of being followed by us in view of our relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Mephibosheth’s answer is proof that he is only interested in David and does not in any way seek getting his possessions back. It is the language of Paul who says: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him” (Phil 3:7-9).