The Kindness of King David
The Kindness of King David
Read 1 Samuel 20.14-17; 24.20-22; 2 Samuel 4.4; 9.1-13;10.1-6;19.24-30.
In 2 Samuel chapters nine and ten, we see David King of Israel, extending kindness to two men because of his friendship with their fathers. In chapter 9 he offers his kindness to Mephibosheth because of his friendship with his father Jonathan. In chapter 10 he offers it to Hanun the son of Nahash the King of Ammon.. Mephibosheth accepted the offer, but Hanun refused it. Here is an illustration of the contrasting response sinners give to the Gospel. One can either accept or reject the Gospel message, that is, we are all in need of God’s forgiveness which is available through believing that His Son, the Lord Jesus, died on the Cross for sinners.
I shall major on Mephibosheth.
In 2 Samuel 4.4 we read, “Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth”.
The fall of Mephibosheth reminds me of Adam who fell in the Garden of Eden; not literally, but morally. The Fall is a term used to indicate him succumbing to temptation by Satan and so forfeiting his position of supremacy on the earth.
2 Samuel 9.1. Mephibosheth was the grandson of Saul , who was the arch enemy of David, the King of Israel. We, too, are associated with God’s arch enemy, Satan. Compare 3.1.
In spite of this, David longed to show kindness to the house Saul. Likewise, God longs to bestow His kindness on sinful humanity on account of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 4.32 we read, “God, for Christ’s sake Has forgiven you”. Ephesians 2.7 states,” That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”. Also, Titus 3.4 says, that “the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared”. Many Psalms refer to the “kindness”, “loving kindness” and “mercy” of God in the King James Bible, though they are the same word in Hebrew.
David was keeping his promise to Jonathan when he displayed his kindness to the house of Saul about the very time Mephibosheth was born, 1 Samuel 20.14-17.
David heard that Mephibosheth was living in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo Debar, verses 4,5. Lo Debar means “place of no pasture”. This sinful world we live in has its attractions but they are fleeting. True satisfaction is in Christ alone. As the hymnist has put it,
“Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other Name for me.
There’s love and life and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus found in Thee.”
To experience true satisfaction we must pray to God with all humility. As Mephibosheth compared himself to a dead dog, implying his unworthiness before David, so we must admit we are hell-deserving sinners before God, verses 6-9. Then, and only then, can we find true satisfaction. Compare Ruth the Moabitess’ attitude towards Boaz in Ruth 2.10,13; and the prodigal son’s attitude towards his father in Luke 15.19.
David also kept his promise to Saul that he would preserve his family, verses 7,9. Compare ! Samuel 23.17;24.20-22. He restored Saul’s lands to Mephibosheth his grandson. In Psalm 23.3 David says that God restores his soul. God is the God of restoration. Compare Ruth 4.9,10.
Three times David said Mephibosheth would eat at his table, in verses 7,10,11, 13. “He shall eat at my table as one of the King’s sons”, David added in verse 11. Compare verse 13 and 2 Samuel 19.28. Likewise, we can be brought into God’s family and be at His table continually. A table in Scripture symbolises fellowship, 1 Corinthians 10.21.
”So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem”, verse 13. Jerusalem was the capital of Israel. He, therefore, was in the palace. Christians belong to the New Jerusalem, which is in Heaven. See Galatians 4.26;Hebrews 12.22;Revelation 3.12; 21.2. Well might hymn writer say
“Then will He own my worthless name
Before His Father’s face,
And in the New Jerusalem
Appoint my soul a place,
At the Cross, at the Cross,where I first saw the Light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away.
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day”.
Mephibosheth is mentioned again in relation to David’s exile, when Absolom his son usurped the throne, 2 Samuel 19. In verse 29 David said to Mephibosheth on his return to Jerusalem that he and Ziba should divide his estate between them. Mephibosheth’s reply is very touching,”Yea,let him take all, forasmuch my lord the King is come again in peace unto his own house.”
Sadly, in 2 Samuel 10 we see David’s kindness spurned by Hanun. His princes said that David’s envoy who came to convey David’s sympathy on the death of his father, accused them of espionage. So the envoy’s had their beards half shaved off and their garments were were cut off and their buttocks. Such treatment shameful to easterners. David told them to stay in Jericho until their beards were fully grown.
When the Ammonites realised that their treatment of the envoy was repulsive to David, they sought support from the Syrians. The Israelites, under the leadership of Joab, defeated all of them. In chapter 12 Joab invaded the Ammonites’ capital. In verse 26 we read, “Now Joab fought against Rabbah … and took the royal city”. The outcome was victory for David. Verse 30 is most notable, “Then he (Joab) took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. He also brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance”.
In a similar way, the person who spurns the kindness of God, as it is presented in the Gospel message, must suffer judgement in a lost eternity.
I conclude with the words of William Rodgers. “The difference was that Hanun was not in a position of dire straits like Mephibosheth, having just succeeded to his father’s throne. Also, he was surrounded by princes that were evil advisers. And,worse of all, he was too proud to take a low place Mephibosheth did. Not a few have lost their souls through similar causes”.
“ It is an interesting fact that Machir, who had sheltered Mephibosheth in Lo Debar, and had seen David’s kindness to him; together with Shobi, another son of Nahash King of Ammon, who had seen David’s judgement on his brother Hanun for rejecting his kindness; both united in showing kindness to David himself at his time of need. See 2 Samuel 17.27-29”. (Fifty Two Bible Lessons, p.101, volume 1).