2 Samuel 9:1-6: a reflection

1David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2There was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.” 3The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.” 4The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”

Now settled as king, David asks a question that reveals his heart: Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? Saul had been David's enemy, hunting him; by the custom of the times, David might have wiped out Saul's remaining family. Instead he seeks out any survivor, not to harm, but to show kindness, for the sake of his covenant friendship with Jonathan. And he finds Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, disabled and living in obscurity, and brings him to the king's table.

Notice the ground of David's kindness: not anything in Mephibosheth himself, but David's love for Jonathan. Mephibosheth had done nothing to earn this; he was from the house of David's enemy, disabled, living in a forgotten place. The kindness came to him not for his own sake, but for another's, for Jonathan's sake, because of the covenant David had made with his friend. It was grace: unearned kindness, given for the sake of a love-bond Mephibosheth had no part in.

That is a moving picture of the grace God shows us. Like Mephibosheth, we have done nothing to earn God's kindness; we come to his table not on the strength of our own merit, but for another's sake, for the sake of Christ and God's love for him. The kindness God shows us is grace, given not because we deserve it, but for the sake of Christ, in whom God has bound himself to us. Receive God's kindness, then, as Mephibosheth received David's: as unearned grace, given for another's sake, not your own. You are brought to the King's table not because you have earned a place, but for the sake of Christ; rest in that grace, and do not imagine you must deserve the kindness God shows you for the sake of his Son.

Lord, David, now king, sought out any survivor of Saul's house, not to harm, but to show kindness for Jonathan's sake; and he found Mephibosheth, disabled and forgotten, and brought him to the king's table, for the sake of a covenant Mephibosheth had no part in. Show me in that the grace you show me. Like Mephibosheth, I have done nothing to earn your kindness; I come to your table not on the strength of my own merit, but for another's sake, for the sake of Christ and your love for him. The kindness you show me is grace, given not because I deserve it, but for the sake of Christ, in whom you have bound yourself to me. Help me receive your kindness as Mephibosheth received David's: as unearned grace, given for another's sake, not my own. I am brought to your table not because I have earned a place, but for the sake of Christ; help me rest in that grace, and not imagine I must deserve the kindness you show me for the sake of your Son. Thank you for your grace to me, Lord, for Christ's sake.