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.
REMEMBER OTHERS
THE POOR
In a recent study published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), something that was “already well-known,” but ignored was confirmed---namely that the poor tend to have shorter lifespans than those who are rich. According to one of the author’s : "There are vast gaps in life expectancy between the richest and poorest Americans," Chetty said. "Men in the top 1 percent distribution level live about 15 years longer than men in the bottom 1 percent on the income distribution in the United States.” The author’s note:
Since 2001, life expectancy has increased by 2.3 years for the wealthiest 5 percent of American men and by nearly 3 years for similarly situated women. Meanwhile, life expectancy has increased barely at all for the poorest 5 percent.
The study noted that poor people in affluent cities like New York and San Francisco, tend to live longer than people with similar incomes in places like Detroit or Tampa, Florida The authors speculate that this may be due to regulations in these cities against smoking, or because such cities try to promote healthy living. Nevertheless, there is still cause for alarm and a need for action because of the huge discrepancy in life expectancy.
See, “Life Expectancy, It’s Not Just What You Make, But Where You Live, by Jim Zarroli, April 11, 2016, NPR, www.npr.org.
Some have linked poverty and obesity to exercise and diet. Some of the reasons include:
- Food Deserts—referring to the fact that poor areas (urban, suburban, and rural) often have limited access to fresh foods. Instead, there is more likely to have places with fast food or processed foods or convenience store food. Processed foods can also be cheaper than fresh foods.
- Lack of Exercise- Often there are no convenient places to walk and exercise. Many places are not pedestrian friendly. There are no nearby parks or fitness centers where people exercise on a regular basis.
- Nonstop Stress---Job insecurity, high unemployment, health care problems, toxic wastes, and violence tend to increase stress, which in turn often leads to overeating or binge eating. High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, causes cravings for sugary and fatty foods.
The vast majority of us grew up poor. Like David, our parent just worked. Many of them “just made a living.” We were not princes or princesses. However, now that many are “doing better,” they have “forgotten” those who are still living in deep poverty, even though we may drive by them every week. We often forget the importance of an increased minimum wage, or searching for ways we can reduce “the stress” on those living in stressful neighborhoods or under stressful conditions. We have a responsibility to remember and, like David, to do something for others
REMEMBERING GOD’s GRACE
Some have likened David “kindness” to Mephibosheth to GOD’s GRACE to us. Like Mephibosheth, we too were weak, hobbled and lost. GOD’s kindness and GRACE to all humanity was to put us in “right relationship” to HIM, allowing us to become HIS sons and daughters so that we could have access to HIM and be with HIM forever.
David’s kindness to Mephibosheth is a pattern for us to show kindness to others. But first, we have to remember.
So, today remember. Remember the poor in our churches, in our families and our communities. Remember, those sleeping on the sidewalks of our cities. Remember, the refugees all over the world who have no jobs, no home and no place to return. Remember, the Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped and other children used as tools of war. Remember those who have suffered and lived through tragedy. Remember those languishing in jails and prisons. Remember adolescents who are being keep for years in detention centers. Remember, the elderly in nursing homes, who used to come to church on a regular basis, before they became ill. Remember, men and women who live under the stress. Remember….
Then remember GOD’s GRACE to you. Pray about what you or your worship community can do. Then, do something.
Like David, remember, be kind and BE BLESSED.
