King David's One Great Act of Kindness
King David’s One Great Act of Kindness
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “ for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “ What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
2 Samuel 9: 7 - 8
When you are living in utter hopelessness and your life is likened to a dead dog, then one day the favor of the king comes to you.
That was exactly what happened to Mephibosheth. He was living in a seemingly hopelesssituation with both of his feet crippled .His life was comparable to a dead dog.
Mephibosheth’s life with both feet crippled was a very miserable life. He was unproductive and not capable of working for his livelihood. He maybe just surviving each day at the mercy of his neighbor. He has no means of living a decent life. He was just dependent upon the mercy of his neighbor. He called himself a dead dog. Maybe he could not see anymore purpose for his life because of his disability. He has lost the glory of living. He was stripped off of all his possessions , he has no means for a living. He lives in poverty and despicable life.
But one day the favor of the king rested on him. One day King David asked if there is still somebody left of the house of Saul to whom he can show God’s kindness. Ziba, a servant of Saul’s household answered the king that there is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet. He is Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan.. So king David had Mephibosheth brought from his house in Lo Debar.
King David promised to restore to Mephibosheth all the land that belonged to his grandfather Saul and promised that he will always eat at the king’s table. He is considered among king’s sons. What a great honor David bestowed on Mephibosheth.
Then king David summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and commanded him that he and his sons and servants should farm the land given back to Mephibosheth, to be able to provide for Mephibosheth’s livelihood.
This is indeed a great act of kindness from David. He had done this because he remembered and treasured his friendship with Jonathan, King David has indeed a great heart of kindness.
Just like Mephibosheth, our lives apart from God’s love and mercy are comparable to dead dog. Apart from God’s saving grace, we have no hope in this world. .Apart from God’s salvation, our lives are futile and miserable if not despicable.
Because someone has shown a great act of kindness, that’s why our lives are resurrected from its despicable condition and we are given a very gloroious hope... Someone gave His life to take our place on calvary to open to us the doorway to God’s forgiveness and God’s gift of eternal life
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He restored to us the riches of Heaven and has given us a place in the table of the King in the Kingdom of God. Because of His great act of kindness, we are now considered the heirs of the everlasting Kingdom of God.
As King David shew kindness to Mephibosheth so the Lord JesusChrist gave very great favor to us, As Mephibosheth never deserve the king’s favor, we too never deserve God’s mercy and favor. But since the King is very great in mercy, we all received a very great favor from Him. It is not because we are good, but only because the King is exceedingly excellent in kindness.
