2 Samuel 9
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And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.
12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
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Commentary
David had a kind heart and he desired to show someone the “kindness of God” he himself had received. When we have been blessed by the Lord, we want to share this love with others! David had truly loved Jonathan and desired to find anyone left from his lineage. Ziba, a servant from the house of Saul, knew that Jonathan had a living son with a physical disability.
Mephibosheth had been hidden all these years in the house of Michir. This potential heir to the throne had been living a humble lifestyle in another man’s house. Mephibosheth was brought before David where he fell on his face before the king in reverence and described himself as a dead dog. But David showed mercy and love towards the son of his beloved Jonathan and called Mephibosheth son. He restored the lands of Saul to him and gave the family of Ziba to be his servants. David insisted that Mephibosheth eat all his meals at the king’s table.
The love David gave this shunned man is a reflection of the love Jesus gives each of us. We are all handicapped by sin, but God calls us sons and daughters and invites us to eat bread at His table. We have been adopted by our Heavenly King.
Cheri Holmes
