2 Samuel 9:1-7, 9-12
SS Lesson for 12/12/2021
Devotional Scripture: Philemon 1:7-12
In the Christian arrangement of the Old Testament, 1 and 2 Samuel are part of the historical books (Joshua–Esther). They record the transition from being governed by the Lord (theocracy) to an earthly king (monarchy, beginning around 1050 BC). The man Samuel, after whom the books were named, was a pivotal figure: the last of the judges and the first of the prophets (see Acts 3:24; 13:20). While Samuel was well respected throughout the land, his sons did not enjoy the same esteem (1 Samuel 8:1–3). The Israelites, tired of the abuses of Samuel’s sons, demanded that Samuel give them an earthly king “like all the nations” (8:5). This flew in the face of God’s desire for Israel to be a priestly, holy nation under his rule (Exodus 19:6; 1 Samuel 12:12–16). But the Lord did as they desired, choosing Saul to be king. But Saul did not faithfully carry out the Lord’s commands (13:7–14; 15:1–35). The Lord rejected Saul and had Samuel anoint David to be Saul’s successor (13:14; 16:1). Though Saul was initially fond of David and took him into his court (1 Samuel 16:21–22), the king knew that David was chosen to succeed him (20:30–31). He grew fearful and even murderous when David’s renown started to surpass his own (18:6–16, 25, 29; 19:9–10; 23:7–8; 26:1–2). Yet for all of Saul’s paranoid attacks on him, David consistently refused to harm or retaliate against Saul (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:11; 2 Samuel 1:16). In spite of his complicated interactions with Saul, David’s most loyal and trusted friend was none other than Saul’s oldest son, Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1–4). Their friendship resulted in a covenant that obligated both parties. Jonathan would protect and support David, while David pledged to show kindness to Jonathan’s family (20:12–17). Material in 1 and 2 Samuel is sometimes arranged thematically rather than chronologically. So the relationship between events in David’s life can be hard to determine. This is especially true of David’s ordering the deaths of several of Saul’s sons (2 Samuel 21:1–9). It seems at first glance that the incident in 2 Samuel 21 must have occurred after our story. But it also could have been included in the latter chapters of 2 Samuel to fit with other stories about David’s fallibility (example: 24:1–17). Clues from the surrounding material place today’s text some 15 to 20 years after David began his reign in 1010 BC. David had spent much of his time solidifying his control as king over all Israel by defeating enemies both within and without (examples: 2 Samuel 2:8–32; 5:6–25). Saul and Jonathan had been dead for some time (1 Samuel 31). Another of Saul’s sons, Ish-Bosheth, ruled in the northern tribes until his own death, at which time David began his rule over all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1–5). But the tribes had shown their preference for a descendant of Saul on the throne (2:8–9). In situations such as this one, it was often top priority for a king from a new ruling family to kill off all members of the previous king’s household, thereby eliminating any rivals (examples: 1 Kings 15:29; 16:11).
Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
This chapter introduces what is sometimes called the “Succession Narrative,” a literary piece which includes chapters 9-20. Its purpose is to show the steps David undertook to succeed Saul and to establish the permanence of his own dynasty. David’s first step was to solicit the support of the Northern tribes by extending favor to the surviving members of Saul’s household.
9:1-8. David had pledged to Jonathan that he would never forget the covenant of friendship that had bound them together (1 Sam. 20:14-17). He therefore called Ziba, a servant of Saul, and asked him if some member of Saul’s family had special need (2 Sam. 9:2-3; cf. 1 Sam. 20:42). Ziba replied that Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan (2 Sam. 4:4), was still alive and living at Lo Debar (just east of the Jordan, five miles south of the Wadi Yarmuk; cf. 17:27). David immediately sent for him, restored Saul’s personal estate to him, and supported him on a royal pension (9:7). In humility Mephibosheth referred to himself as David’s servant (v. 6) and as a dead dog (v. 8), that is, worthless (cf. 16:9).
9:9-13. David instructed Ziba and his 15 sons and 20 servants to farm Mephibosheth’s land and to treat him as David’s own son (9:9-11). David’s provision for Mephibosheth and his letting him eat at the king’s table (vv. 7, 10-11, 13) again demonstrated David’s magnanimous heart. In all this David showed kindness (ḥesed̠, “loyal love”) for Jonathan’s sake (v. 1; cf. v. 7).
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
1 Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He said, "At your service!"
3 Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet."
4 So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
21 If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.
2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, 4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.
22 But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. 23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.
1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. 2 The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. 3 The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
28 "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!"
7 So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. 2 The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. 3 The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master's son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.
10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do." "As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table like one of the king's sons."
12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, 7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
17 Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."
2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household."
8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,
Every election year we brace for another barrage of “campaign promises,” which we know will be forgotten as quickly as the candidate reaches office. We don't even expect him or her to keep them, and if they do, we are shocked. David is a man who makes promises and keeps them. Before he became Israel's king, he made promises to both Jonathan and Saul. To Jonathan, he promised to protect his life and to show lovingkindness to his house forever (1 Samuel 20:12-17). To Saul, he vowed not to cut off his descendants after him (1 Samuel 24:21-22). Now Saul and Jonathan are dead, and David is king. How easy it would be for David to forget his commitment.
David not only remembers his commitment to Saul, he goes far beyond it. To Saul, David promised he would not harm his descendants. To Jonathan, David covenanted to show lovingkindness. It seems as though all of Saul's descendants are dead. No descendant of Saul approaches David, seeking his favor. David is now king, and he is in a position to carry out his promise to Jonathan. All he needs is one of his descendants. David inquires as to whether there is a descendant of Saul to whom he may show kindness for Jonathan's sake (verse 1). In verse 3, David speaks of this act of kindness as the “kindness of God.” It certainly is.
No one among David's servants is aware of any living descendant of Saul. Ziba, a servant of Saul, is remembered, and he is summoned to David's presence. You can imagine his uneasiness at being summoned to the palace of David. Is David like other kings, simply seeking to remove any vestige of Saul's kingdom? Is David seeking to do away with Ziba and his family? The thought surely crosses Ziba's mind, more than once! How relieved he must be to hear David's question, “Is there no yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” (verse 3). There is indeed. Ziba remembers Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. There is one son, Ziba informs David, but he is handicapped. He is crippled in both feet. Surely David will not want him to be the one to whom he will show favor.
The author of 1 and 2 Samuel has surely prepared us for this moment. In 2 Samuel 4, he rehearses the account of Ish-bosheth's death at the hand of two of his servants. In the midst of this ugly account, the author seems to drop in verse 4, parenthetically informing the reader of Mephibosheth's injury. The incident seems out of place. But the author is preparing the way for our text. On the way, he tells us another story in chapter 5 of the taking of Jebus. Three times in this chapter the word “lame” occurs (verses 6 and 8). The men of Jebus are so confident they boast that even the “blind and the lame” could repulse David's attack on their city. When David took the city, it became a saying among some that “the blind and the lame shall not come into the house” (verse 8).
Now, we find David seeking a descendant of Saul and of Jonathan to whom he may show favor. The only candidate is Jonathan's crippled son. If it was axiomatic that no lame person would enter a house in Jerusalem, surely no lame person would enter the palace. But that is precisely what happens. David summons Mephibosheth, who is living in Lo-debar, a city east of the Jordan and beyond Mahanaim. It must therefore have been close to Ammon, near Israel's border with Ammon. It appears that Mephibosheth is living as far away from David and Jerusalem as he can, feeling like a marked man who will be put to death if he comes too close to Jerusalem. When he presents himself to David, he prostrates himself before him as David's servant. David notes his fear and puts his mind at rest. He intends Mephibosheth no harm; his intent is to show him kindness for the sake of his father Jonathan. He promises to restore to Mephibosheth all the land which had been his father's, and which he had evidently lost sometime after the death of Saul and his father. Not only will David restore all that to which Mephibosheth is heir, he will make him his regular guest at the palace.
Mephibosheth is overcome with gratitude and relief, falling prostrate before David once again, calling attention to the fact that he is but a “dead dog.” David used this very expression to refer to himself in speaking to King Saul (1 Samuel 24:14). David was attempting to convince Saul that he posed no real threat, no matter what others might be telling him. It seems fairly clear that Mephibosheth is calling attention to his physical handicap. A man who cannot walk can hardly serve as a king, leading his army into battle:
6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there (Judges 1:6-7).
Kings were incapacitated by cutting off their thumbs and their big toes. They could not stand or run in battle, nor could they grip their weapons adequately. When one king prevailed over another by winning in battle, he would cut off the thumbs and the big toes of his opponent, and then keep them as a kind of showpiece. These kings would sit under the table of the king, getting the scraps, it would seem. They were not honored guests; they were trophies of war. David would have none of this with regard to Mephibosheth. He does not want him at his table as a subjected foe, but as an honored guest, the son of his beloved friend, Jonathan. It is an amazing act of grace.
David issues orders to Ziba, instructing him that all that once belonged to Saul now belongs to Mephibosheth and should be restored to him. David makes Ziba and his sons (who apparently have been emancipated by Saul's death and the death of his sons) the servants of Mephibosheth. Ziba graciously accepts this turn of events. From this time on, Mephibosheth is David's honored guest, eating regularly at his table, not as a defeated or humiliated foe, but as one of David's sons (verse 11).
(Adapted from URL:https://bible.org/seriespage/8-war-and-peace-2-samuel-81-1019)
For David, the idea that he would help others based on his own remembrances and experiences is a running theme throughout today’s text. He showed kindness and justice to Mephibosheth, partly because David had pledged to do so but also because he had received the same from Jonathan. And David remembered the ordeals he suffered at the hands of an unpredictable Saul and sought to rectify the misdeeds of that predecessor. But most of all, as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), David sought to display in his kingship the characteristics of divine justice that were required of Israel as a whole. He knew that he must fear, serve, and love God with all his heart and soul (see Deuteronomy 10:12). The same is true today. We are called to remember the kindness that God has shown us—especially through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—and show that kindness to others. This may mean providing for the needs of others in our community; it could mean making restitution for wrongs that we did not commit. Justice and kindness call us to go beyond loving our friends to loving even those people who may be enemies (Matthew 5:43–48). In this way, we demonstrate the covenant kindness of our God
Commitment - David and Jonathan, King Saul's son, established a close friendship. They committed themselves to each other in a binding promise. David promised Jonathan to extend kindness to anyone in Jonathan's family regardless of the long-standing conflict between David and Jonathan's father, Saul. Once David became king, he remembered his commitment and asked Ziba, a servant in his administration, "What can I do for my earlier enemy?" David realized the graciousness of God in his life and desired to exemplify the same to others.
Grace - David became king after both Jonathan and King Saul died, and the practice when a new administration took over the throne was to kill everyone in the old royal family. This kept anyone from initiating an uprising. David instead chose mercy. He realized the gracious hand of God in his life and desired to exemplify the same toward others. When David asked a servant, Ziba, who had served under King Saul, if anyone in the house of Saul was still alive, in need of help, Ziba told David about Mephibosheth, a cripple—Jonathan's son. Mephibosheth had been injured when his nurse, fearing for Mephibosheth's life, scooped him up and ran. In her haste, she dropped him. The fall left his legs paralyzed. The thinking was that King David would kill Mephibosheth if he found him.
Mercy and Kindness - When David sent for Mephibosheth, the young man was terrified. He thought David wanted to wipe out every trace of Saul's family. So as soon as he walked into the royal palace, Mephibosheth fell on his face, ready to make a plea. But David assured Mephibosheth that despite David's conflict with Saul, he had extended love and friendship to Jonathan. The king planted his feet in the land of kindness rather than revenge. He turned an ugly situation from his past into something good, something wonderful.