Bible Study King David's Great Mercy

[D46]

I've always loved the story of how David bestowed mercy on Saul's grandson, Mephibosheth even though he had all the right to kill him under their laws. David in his lovingkindness toward Mephibosheth, honors him instead by inviting him to come and dine at his table for the rest of his days.

2 Samuel 9:3-13 (KJV) 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. 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. Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 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! 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. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 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. 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. 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. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

What an analogy!! This is just what God does for us. We weren't fit to come into his presence and dine at his table but rather, we were fit for death and destruction before the presence of the King. God, in his unbountiful mercies and undying love for a people that continually provoke him to anger to His face in this day and age, just as they did thousands of years ago, wants us to have peace, joy, and contentment in this life and offers to take us our of a dry and desolate place (sin) much as the term Lodebar implies

As David was a type of Christ, his Lord and Son, his Root and Offspring, let his kindness to Mephibosheth remind us of the kindness and love of God our Saviour to fallen man, to whom he was under no obligation, as David was to Jonathan. The Son of God seeks this lost and ruined race, who sought not after him. He comes to seek and to save them!

Lord, what is man, that thou shouldst thus magnify him! Thank you for the blood of Jesus that makes the vilest sinner clean!!

 

[Orthodox Christian]

Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this.

I was thinking about the contrast of David the King and the Rich Man of the parable. Lazarus longed "to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table."

Yet Mephibosheth was invited to and ate bread at the table of the king.

Mephibosheth calls himself a dead dog, and dogs licked the sores of the poor man. Better a dead dog than a live miser.

 

[D46]

I was thinking about the contrast of David the King and the Rich Man of the parable. Lazarus longed "to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table."

There were others who longed for the crumbs which fell from the masters table....and, I recall when I read this, it nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Matthew 15:22-28 (KJV) And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

What great scripture this is! Our words can condemn us or by them, receive our partitions from the Lord.