David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
9 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”
5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth[a]; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”
Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.[b] But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table,[c] like one of the king’s own sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
Footnotes:
9:6 Mephibosheth is another name for Merib-baal.
9:10 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads your master’s grandson.
9:11 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads my table.
How easy it can be to move into new positions, live out new opportunities, and forget to make room at the table for others. Here we see one of the many reasons David was chosen by God to be king. David's relationship with Jonathan was of substance, so he wanted to keep his word and take care of Jonathan's family. David sends for one of Jonathan's sons, crippled in both feet.
Now already, this is amazing. Most kings will not bring crippled, less than seemingly perfect people into his household. Many felt these kinds of physical abnormalities were curses or even the work of God himself as punishment for something the family had done wrong. But none of this superstition seems to cross David's mind. Instead, he welcomes Mephibosheth into his household and to a seat at his table. The king's table.
Not only this great honor, meal after meal, but also David gives Mephibosheth's grandfather's land back to him and his family. He sends servants to farm it. He offers hope and a future, in addition to a friend. Mephibosheth's life will never be the same.
So who could be invited to our tables? Who has been left in the dust? Who was looked over or forgotten? Who might truly benefit from our friendship, our care, our meals, or even our family time together? Did God simply share this story for us to understand more about who David was, or could God have possibly shared this story to make us more aware of who we are, through his son Jesus?
The next meal you have at your dining/kitchen table, look at the empty chairs and ask God "Who can I show your kindness to, God?"
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