II Samuel Chapter 9
Please read: II Samuel 9 –
A promise had been made many years prior between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son. They had promised each other that if anything ever happened to one of them that the other man would take care of the family of the deceased man. David was about to do just that. David first asked what kindness he could show to God, wanting to build a temple for Him, and then he asked what kindness he could show to the descendants of Saul for Jonathan’s sake.
I Samuel 20:42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.”
It was common in those days that when a new king took over reign of a country to annihilate any remaining kinship to the prior king so that there could be no rivalry rise up against the new king. The nurse of Jonathan’s little baby, Mephibosheth, had taken him into hiding when she learned of the death of Saul and his sons. Mephibosheth had remained in hiding all these years for fear of his life. He must have been truly afraid when he got the message that David wanted to see him.
II Samuel 4:4 Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled 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 as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
Let's Reflect
1. David’s people knew that there was a servant of Saul who was still alive and they could ask him if any of Saul’s descendants were still alive. What was Saul’s servant’s name?
2. The servant told David that he knew there was a grandson of Saul still alive and he even knew where he was living. Where was Mephibosheth living?
3. When Mephibosheth came before David, David immediately told him not to fear. Mephibosheth was royalty himself and he bowed down to the king. What did he call himself as he bowed to David?
4. Mephibosheth couldn’t believe his ears. David had just told him that he was going to restore the land of Saul to him and that he would eat at the king’s table. Showing his unbelief of the goodness of David, what did Mephibosheth call himself?
5. David proved that he meant to keep his promise to Jonathan by doing what?
6. Mephibosheth went from hiding, living in another man’s house, to having his own house, his own servants, and having his grandfather’s land. And he was welcomed to eat at the king’s table. There was someone else who benefited from the kindness of David besides Mephibosheth and Ziba and his family. There was another descendant of Jonathan. What was his name?
