📕 2 Samuel Chapter 9
David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I CAN SHOW KINDNESS for JONATHAN’S sake?” v 1

“.. Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I CAN SHOW GOD’S KINDNESS ? ” v 3

❣️  DAVID'S   COMPASSION  ❣️

David’s queries about any survivors in Saul’s family so that he could show kindness to them is the sweetest and loveliest concern found in the scripture.
💫 David’s generosity to Jonathan’s son doesn’t really surprise us , for he had already declared, “… Jonathan my brother, your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women ” ( 2 Sam 1:26 ) .
📌 But David’s action must have been radical in his own time : “Any survivor of an earlier regime would have been considered a lifelong threat”.

📌 The disabled Mephibosheth , the son of Jonathan, was presented before David, and David proclaimed his heart’s desire :

🔖 David will show his kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of Jonathan ( v 7a )

🔖 David will restore all the land to Mephibosheth that belonged to Saul ( v 7,9 )

🔖 David had arranged workers to take care of all the fields ( v 9-11 )

🔖 Mephibosheth will always dine with David ( v 7b,10b , )

📌 But poor Mephibosheth said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a DEAD DOG like me ? ” ( v 8 ) . He had considered himself as DEAD DOG, which means he was less than worthless.

📝 The status of a LIVE DOG in Israelite society is clear from Ecclesiastes 9:4 “Anyone who is among the living has hope – even a LIVE DOG is better off than a DEAD LION ! ” .
Now Mephibosheth – the DEAD DOG, will enjoy the rest of his life with the rich promises of David ( v 9-11 ) . The phrase ” Mephibosheth would share the king’s table or eat at my table ” is repeated ( v 7,10,11,13 ) .
📌 What a great compassion showed by David, and what a great privilege for Mephibosheth to partake of it.

📌 Many times we behave like Mephibosheth : “We are worthless ; we do have a meaningless life with insecurity and complexity ; fear of rejection and frustration “.
📌 But when we come in the presence of the Living Lord, we are deeply favoured with His rich Promises, Provision and Protection.

📌 The chapter ends beautifully depicting David’s Compassion : ” Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem , because he ALWAYS ate at the king’s table.. “. This is how we will experience with God’s Grace in Christ Jesus ✝️

💞 Beloved Church, in any society, there will be those who are too weak to “make it” . Such people are often marginalized :

WHO MIGHT YOU CONSIDER ” DIABLED ” ❓
YES, WE SEE CLEARLY WHERE THEY STAND.
The question is
WHERE DO WE STAND ❓
DO WE STAND With THEM ❓

📝 David writes, ” Blessed is he who has regard for the weak.. ” ( 40:1 ).
How we live together and how we preserve the inherent holiness of human life is fundamental to our confession of faith.

🙏 Lord, open our eyes to those around us who need our compassion and love . Show us how we can help others today 🛐

Glory to God 🙌
✍🏻 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳