10/07/2020 REMEMBERING OTHERS
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 had 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 King 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]
Summary:
David was the youngest son of Jesse. David grew up a shepherd, keeping the sheep. He was essential “a nobody,” living on a sheep farm. Jonathan, on the other hand, was “royalty,” a prince, the son of King Saul. Although they lived in “different worlds” 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. Nevertheless, Jonathan stood by David, protected him, and acted as a peacemaker. When David lived in the wilderness caves to escape Saul’s wrath, Jonathan went to David and reassured him (telling him not to be afraid) Jonathan encouraged David and told him that GOD had a plan for his (David’s) life. Jonathan literally told David that it would be David who would become King of all Israel. The two men made a covenant before the LORD, renewing their pact of friendship so that David would not be discouraged. See, 1Samuel 23:13-18.
When Jonathan died in battle with the Philistines, David deeply mourned the loss of his friend. But, soon afterward a lot of things suddenly started happening to David. David was anointed king over Judah. David was involved in a number of military campaigns. There were numerous victories. And then, one day, David remembered.
David suddenly thought about his old friend Jonathan and asks if there was anyone from Saul’s family still living. One of Saul’s servant’s Ziba appeared before David and told David about Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth who had a disability. He was described as “lame in both feet.” See, 2 Sam. 9:3. By this time, all of Saul’s land was lost. There was this grandson Mephibosheth, but he had a disability. He couldn’t walk, so he couldn’t work the land.
The sick, the disabled, and, in general, anyone having a disease in ancient Jerusalem was a social outcast. The sick often lived outside the city gates, where they begged for food. Even Mephibosheth, the son of a prince, referred to 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.