2 Samuel 9
-A tender story of compassion and servitude fills the verses
of this pericope of Scripture. David begins the action with asking the
question, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him
kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” There was a servant of the house of Saul named
Ziba who was called to the king and questioned concerning any survivors of the
house of the former king. David truly remembered his covenant with his best
friend (1 Samuel 18:1-3; 20). Ziba informed them that indeed there was a lone
survivor by the name of Mephibosheth, who happened to be in the house of
Machir, the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. He was quickly summoned into the king’s
presence, where he fell prostrate claiming to be David’s servant. The kind king
said to Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet from a fall in escaping with
his life at a tender age (2 Samuel 4:4), “Do not fear, for I will surely show
kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you
all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.”
This prompted Mephibosheth to prostrate himself once again asking why, as David’s
servant, that he should receive such blessing. He considered himself a “dead
dog,” but in the king’s eyes he found favor (2 Samuel 9:1-8).
-The king immediately called Ziba and informed him that
everything from the house of Saul was now given to Mephibosheth. Ziba was
assigned the task of cultivating the crippled man’s fields along with all his
servants and sons. Nevertheless, Mephibosheth would be eating at the king’s
table regularly. Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants, so this was an impressive
staff to take care of Saul’s land, now given to Mephibosheth. This would
certainly have been lucrative. Ziba agreed to the proposition, and Mephibosheth
ate with David just as one of his own sons regularly. Mephibosheth at the time
had a young son by the name of Mica, and they lived in Jerusalem while Ziba and
his sons and his servants cultivated their inheritance in the nearby land of
Benjamin (2 Samuel 9:9-13).
-*Application* This picture of grace and restoration is
inspiring to say the least. This is definitely a foreshadowing to the work of
Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary and the future glory we will receive in
Heaven (Revelation 19:9). We could also look at the sacrificial servitude of
Ziba and his house as examples of lives well lived. Giving is an incredible
blessing, and pouring favor on others gives us the greatest joys in this
earthly life. Don’t we just love happy endings? (for more inspiration in song
see: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=carried+to+the+table+leeland+lyrics&&view=detail&mid=4A4626A2D9C46BDE79244A4626A2D9C46BDE7924&FORM=VRDGAR)
Verse to Memorize:
2 Samuel 9:7
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