2Sa 9:2 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we have a special side of the kingdom. Here we do not see the power and majesty of the kingdom, but its kindness and love. The king of that realm is not only concerned with security and fighting and subjugating enemies, but he is also concerned with some poor, little souls. Mephibosheth is an example of such a poor, little soul. He is not only a picture of a sinner who receives grace and is therefore not killed. The grace that David shows him makes him a man who may continually be at the king’s table. When David is exalted king over all Israel, he wants to show kindness to the house of the fallen king Saul. He also wants to reward his friend Jonathan for the love he once had him swear before the LORD ( ). The report of David’s act of kindness marks the end of the first part of his government’s history. Perhaps it is better to speak of an appendix to that history. In this appendix we see how David, at the height of his power and glory, thinks of a friend’s love and wants to show his gratitude for it. David has defeated his enemies and maintains justice in the land. We have seen this in the last chapter. Then he thinks of Saul’s house and wants to show kindness to Jonathan. David has been closely associated with Jonathan and wants to show the kindness of God to Jonathan’s descendants, although Jonathan’s descendants belong to the house of Saul. In this David is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is the perfect proof of God’s kindness toward a human race which deserves nothing but judgment. In Him “the kindness of God our Savior and [His] love for mankind appeared” ( ). Through Him God saved us, while we only had rebelled against His authority. David cares about the offspring of someone who has persecuted him with deadly hatred. David has a reason for showing his kindness. That reason is Jonathan who was near him in the time of his rejection. The descendants of Saul had to be sought, because they had hidden themselves. Saul is the picture of the enemy, of what we are by nature ( ). When we were still enemies, God gave His Son for us. Man is not only a sinner and powerless and wicked, but also an enemy in mind. Ziba ( ) is not lame. He is a servant of Saul and he remains so, for he is content with it. On the other hand, we see poor Mephibosheth, a grandson of the king. Through Ziba David hears of Mephibosheth. In 2 Samuel 4 there is also a short mention of Mephibosheth, just in a verse in between ( ). There something is said about the cause of his paralysis. In his paralysis, Mephibosheth is a picture of man paralyzed by sin. He is powerless to serve God and to live to His glory. He cannot do anything which is pleasing to God. Mephibosheth is in “Lo-debar”, which means, among other things, “for him there is a meadow”, which in his case means that for him there is a place of grace. He is in the house of “Machir”, which means “sold”, “the son of Ammiel”, which means, among other things, “people of God”.

‏ 2 Samuel 9:2

Introduction

In this chapter we have a special side of the kingdom. Here we do not see the power and majesty of the kingdom, but its kindness and love. The king of that realm is not only concerned with security and fighting and subjugating enemies, but he is also concerned with some poor, little souls. Mephibosheth is an example of such a poor, little soul. He is not only a picture of a sinner who receives grace and is therefore not killed. The grace that David shows him makes him a man who may continually be at the king’s table.

When David is exalted king over all Israel, he wants to show kindness to the house of the fallen king Saul. He also wants to reward his friend Jonathan for the love he once had him swear before the LORD (1Sam 20:12-17 ; 42).

The report of David’s act of kindness marks the end of the first part of his government’s history. Perhaps it is better to speak of an appendix to that history. In this appendix we see how David, at the height of his power and glory, thinks of a friend’s love and wants to show his gratitude for it.

David Wants to Show Kindness

David has defeated his enemies and maintains justice in the land. We have seen this in the last chapter. Then he thinks of Saul’s house and wants to show kindness to Jonathan. David has been closely associated with Jonathan and wants to show the kindness of God to Jonathan’s descendants, although Jonathan’s descendants belong to the house of Saul.

In this David is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is the perfect proof of God’s kindness toward a human race which deserves nothing but judgment. In Him “the kindness of God our Savior and [His] love for mankind appeared” (Tit 3:4). Through Him God saved us, while we only had rebelled against His authority.

David cares about the offspring of someone who has persecuted him with deadly hatred. David has a reason for showing his kindness. That reason is Jonathan who was near him in the time of his rejection.

The descendants of Saul had to be sought, because they had hidden themselves. Saul is the picture of the enemy, of what we are by nature (Tit 3:3). When we were still enemies, God gave His Son for us. Man is not only a sinner and powerless and wicked, but also an enemy in mind.

Ziba (2Sam 9:2) is not lame. He is a servant of Saul and he remains so, for he is content with it. On the other hand, we see poor Mephibosheth, a grandson of the king. Through Ziba David hears of Mephibosheth. In 2 Samuel 4 there is also a short mention of Mephibosheth, just in a verse in between (2Sam 4:4). There something is said about the cause of his paralysis. In his paralysis, Mephibosheth is a picture of man paralyzed by sin. He is powerless to serve God and to live to His glory. He cannot do anything which is pleasing to God.

Mephibosheth is in “Lo-debar”, which means, among other things, “for him there is a meadow”, which in his case means that for him there is a place of grace. He is in the house of “Machir”, which means “sold”, “the son of Ammiel”, which means, among other things, “people of God”.