Because of Him, We Live

2 Samuel 9:1

New Living Translation (NLT)

One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

For Meditation

Imagine the day Ziba broke the news of King David’s invitation to Mephibosheth in Lo Debar (2 Samuel 9:1-8). The city’s name signified a rebellious place with no leader or shepherd, without order or pasture, and barren—not a place for anybody to desire to live. Such was the spiritual condition of the city where the disabled son of Jonathan lived, cut off from the richness of the land his grandfather once ruled. I can see his surprise.

“Who, me?”

“Yes, you, Mephibosheth. King David has thrown a banquet and every prominent person in the nation has gathered in Jerusalem. They will not sit down to dine until you join them at his table. Hurry up; for we can’t keep his Majesty waiting,” Ziba said.

Over in the palace at Jerusalem, the king’s children, generals, and dignitaries waited for the dinner to start. Their appetites mounting as they waited for this person, without whom dinner would not begin. “Who is he?” General Joab asked Absalom.

The door swings open, and Ziba announces the entrance of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan, the king’s deceased best friend.

“What! Is this cripple the reason for our long wait?” Joab angrily asked Absalom.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan … and you will always eat at my table” (2 Samuel 9:6-7).

The beauty of grace; how marvelous!

Mephibosheth bowed and said, “What is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

Mephibosheth had fallen as a baby and become crippled in both feet and rendered undeserving to sit at the king’s table. He considered himself a dead dog. Still, David showed him royal kindness because of his father, Jonathan!

When we read Ephesians 2:8-9, let’s picture this scene and see ourselves in Mephibosheth—crippled in both feet, a wasted dead dog—but God noticed us and called us to Himself because of Christ Jesus. It is all grace! As Paul wrote to Titus:

At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-6)?

As recipients of this grace, can we show kindness to one another for the sake of Jesus? Can we share this love with a dying world because of what Christ has done for us?

Only our actions motivated by love for Christ will stand before Him in judgment.

Shalom

A Friend Indeed.

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Proverbs 18:24

New King James Version

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

For Encouragement

A true friend, who can find in this selfish world?

He was a friend to his father, a trusted warrior by his side. He was not deficient in loyalty (2 Samuel 1:23). Dignified and trusted by the men he led (1 Samuel 14:44-45), Jonathan did not hold on to his rank as king-in-waiting above righteous living.

Then came along a young man, brave and exuding faith in God like none Jonathan knew (17:32-55). Jonathan discerned the heart of David and loved him (19:1).

Our love is tested in the scales of sincerity when another person with everything we adore comes along in a relationship. Couples know this better than any other. Check the current statistics on divorce, and you will know my bearing. However, there are other relationships that also get tested on this scale of integrity. The friendship between Jonathan and David is one of them.

How could Jonathan care for David without betraying his loyalty to his father? Somehow, Jonathan did that refreshingly, and it demands our careful consideration and emulation.

Jonathan honored Saul as his father and king. As his father, he loved and respected Saul. His loyalty to Him as king remained firm.

His loyalty was not a blind one. It discerned and responded with nobility in honor of God’s holiness. When his father was wrong, Jonathan called him out, not fearing his wrath. Neither did he allow his love and loyalty to prevent him from making righteous decisions concerning his father (1 Samuel 20:30-33).

Though he was the legal successor to the throne, Jonathan did not allow that to cloud his spiritual perspective. He knew David had the anointing of God for the throne after his father, and that was enough for him to yield to God and not fight for his rights. Jonathan ceded to David as the anointed king of Israel after his father, without jealousy or malice (12-17). He went beyond and above to support, encourage, and protect David until his loyalty and respect for authority led him to die with his father in battle on Mt. Gilboa (31:1-6). What a man!

Solomon was right. “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

Do you have such a friend? More than that. Are you a friend who sticks closer than a brother to those who consider you their friend?

Jesus is the ultimate friend who is closer than our earthly kindred. He is the only Friend (John 15:13-15) and Brother (Hebrews 2:12), who never leaves our side nor forsakes us in troubled times (13:5-6).

Though it is difficult to love our friends with the sincerity of Christ, we can do it in the power His Spirit provides as we yield to Him with purpose.