16 David and Mephibosheth

David was not only an organized and expert leader for the nation, but he continued to show why the Lord referred to him as “a man after Mine own heart”.

1 David Desires to Be Gracious

2 Samuel 9:1

While David had previously shown his desire to build a house for God, here, he is recorded as desiring to bless any known survivors from Saul’s household, because of the great friendship he’d had with Saul’s late son Jonathan.

Interestingly, David didn’t even know if there were any such surviving relatives of the late king, therefore is graciousness is magnified by the fact that he was willing to bless someone he didn’t know.

Rather than hoping to have retribution against Saul’s house, for all that Saul had done to him, David desired to show love and grace:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Jesus had also commanded His followers to love and do good to their enemies:

Matthew 5:44

2 David’s Inquiry

David was referred to a man named Ziba, who had been a servant in Saul’s household. Ziba was then able to provide information regarding a surviving son of David’s friend Jonathan:

2 Samuel 9:2-4

David was being motivated by the Lord, as he desired to show the “kindness of God”.

Ziba informed David, that Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was lame in both feet, had survived. The author introduced Mephibosheth and the circumstances surrounding his disability in chapter 4:

2 Samuel 4:4

Mephibosheth was currently residing in someone’s home in the town of Lo Debar which was on the east side of the Jordan River, in the territory which had been settled by two- and one-half tribes of Israelites who chose not to enter the Promised Land with their brethren.

3 David’s Promise

While Mephibosheth certainly would have been afraid and concerned that David would have sought to kill him, believing that he would have attempted to overthrow the king, since he would have been in line to Saul’s throne.

However, David assured Mephibosheth, that he not only desired to do him no harm, but on the contrary, he intended to bless him greatly:

2 Samuel 9:5-8

David displayed grace to Mephibosheth in three ways:

First, he showed that Mephibosheth had nothing to fear from him.

This pictures how the child of God is not to fear either:

1 John 4:18

The second aspect as recorded in verse 7, is that David would restore to Mephibosheth, all the land previously possessed by his grandfather Saul.

While he currently didn’t have any property of his own, as he was living in another man’s home, soon Mephibosheth would own everything the former king had.

This pictures the great spiritual position and possessions every believer has:

Ephesians 1:3

The third aspect of David’s grace, is the promise that Mephibosheth would continually eat at David’s table, thus being counted amongst the king’s family.

This aspect shows how believers have wonderful, continual fellowship with the Lord.

Mephibosheth’s literally lameness, points to how we are all “spiritually lame” until we encounter and are thus spiritually healed by the Lord.

4 David Ratifies His Promise

David then reaffirmed his words, by giving instructions to the servant Ziba:

2 Samuel 9:9-13

David once again reaffirmed that Mephibosheth would eat his meals as one of David’s family. Therefore, the land previously owned by Saul, would now be under the management of Ziba, who was to ensure that the crops were to be used for Mephibosheth’s family (which would not be living and dining with David), as well as Ziba’s family and servants.