The friendship between Jonathan and David was a special one, and it left such an impression on David that he remembered Jonathan as he sought to do good for lingering members of the household of Saul: “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” David remembered all of the kindness and support shown to him while Saul sought to kill David. David saw Jonathan’s loyalty and willingness to go behind his father’s back to protect him as Jonathan’s commitment to do what was right. This is a good point to remember David’s steadfast faith in God because as he remembers Jonathan, he seeks to show a similar kindness to one of his same household.
After making an inquiry, David comes to know of Ziba, a servant that was formerly of the house of Saul. David asks Ziba if there is anyone in the house of Saul that he could show kindness to. It is David’s way of asking if there is anyone in the previous king’s family that could use some help.
Ziba tells David that there is a son of Jonathan that has lame feet. David sends for this individual and has him brought before him. His name was Mephibosheth. We remember Mephibosheth from II Samuel 4, where in verse 4 we have record of his having become lame: “…[Mephibosheth] was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.” This was after the news of Abner’s death caused members of Saul’s family to flee in fear.
When Mephibosheth comes before David, he bows down before him in fear, perhaps fearing retribution as it was customary in those times for the prevailing king to decimate the family of the old king. But we know from David’s character that he was not one to do this. In fact, David recognizes Mephibosheth and does two very generous things for him:
- David returns all of the land that Saul had owned to Mephibosheth and instructs Ziba to work the land and to reap the crops.
- Mephibosheth will henceforth eat at David’s table continually, just as one of David’s own sons.
Mephibosheth was given a place of honor and respect. This can be seen as a link back to David respecting the office of the king of Israel, even though Saul was incompetent. Also, David loved both Saul and Jonathan and he felt compassion and love for Saul’s offspring despite the way he was hunted and treated by Saul in the end.
An easy lesson for us in this chapter is to seek the righteousness of the Lord above the righteousness of our own selves. How easy it would have been for David to forsake and kill the offspring of Saul in the wake of the conflict that led to David becoming king. Instead of taking the easy, bitter, vengeful way out, David chose righteousness and kindness, seeking to do good to those that the Lord had chosen to bless, even if they were seemingly undeserving.
In our lives, how do we treat our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith? With petty thoughts and vengeful motives based on imagined sleights? Perhaps we should all aspire to David’s attitude instead. Let us not keep our own honor and sense of entitlement about us in our relationships, no matter how full of turmoil they might be. Instead, let us be kind to our brethren in the faith, heeding the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul to “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Monday Night Bible Study 