David's Divine Mercy

Saul and David

The last time we saw Saul and David interact: David’s conversation with Saul before he killed Goliath

In order for us to understand exactly what is going on in we need to look at how Saul and David’s relationship progresses.

David: Small Shepherd boy Kills Goliath and allows the Israelites to win the battle against the Philistines

Saul: Was already taller than all the other Israelites and should have faugh Goliath

David: Experiences the favor of God in battle. The people women would sing when they would return from battle - “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Saul: Gets jealous of David, and begins to disobey the commands of God. He attempts to kill David with his spear.

David: Becomes best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan who help’s David escape from Saul. David seeks refuge with the priests of Nob, who give him the bread of Presence (found in the temple)

Saul: Discovers that the Priests of Nob gave David safe harbor and he kills all of them and their families (85 priests)

David: Hears that the city of Keilah is under attack from the Philistines. He obeys the Lord and saved the inhabitants of Keilah even though they were outnumbered.

Saul: Pursued David into the wilderness hoping to kill him.

David: Discovers Saul in a cave and stealthy cuts a piece of his robe. He then repents because he laid a hand on the “Lord’s anointed.”

Saul: Fearful of the approaching Philistines, he got a witch to summon the prophet Samuel to ask him what to do. Samuel reiterated the consequences of Saul’s disobedience.

David: Sneaks into Saul’s camp and spares his life, respecting him as the Lord’s anointed.

Saul: He and his sons (specifically Jonathan) are killed by the Philistines in battle

David: Becomes free from the tyranny and vengeance of Saul.

However - Instead of rejoicing at the death of Saul, David mourns the loss of Saul and Jonathan

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God continues to bless David:

The remainder of Saul’s army falls apart and kills each other.

David is anointed as King.

God makes a covenant with David ():

His kingdom shall last forever.

God’s steadfast love will never depart from him.

Chapter 8 tells us the story of David’s victory over the surrounding nations - David reigned over all Israel

“The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went”

There was now rest in the land of Israel - all the opponents had been defeated by the power of the Lord

GEOGRAPHY?

Context for ANE Kingship transition

When one king was killed and another took over kingship, it was common that the new king would confiscate any property and eliminate any direct relatives of the old king.

Therefore, David would be expected to take all of Saul’s property and kill all of his remaining relatives.

David was a zealous warrior who was known for his acts of war.

He and his army have killed thousands upon thousands at this point.

1 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake? ”

David decided to show unmerited kindness to the family of his former rival Saul

Not only did he desire to do this, but he actively sought to be merciful to the family of Saul.

The Favor of God in David’s life led him to be a godly authority.

Godly Leadership is characterized by justice and equality for all people

Where did I get that?? - , “David administered equality and justice to all people.”

The presence of the favor of God on David’s life motivated him to show divine mercy to the family of Saul.

Maybe you are thinking… justice would be to inac

Wouldn’t it be just for David to kill the members of Saul’s family?

2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba? ”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to? ”

Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”

4 The king asked him, “Where is he? ”

Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

5 So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

When Mephibosheth was 5 years old, he and his nurse were told of the death of his father Jonathan and grandfather Saul. As they heard the news, the nurse decided to flee the land out of fear and as she was running she fell and Mephibosheth was injured and became lame ().

He has been fearful of David’s kingship since he was 5 years old. Not only that, it was out of this fear that he became crippled.

6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage.

Mephibosheth was likely expecting to be executed.

David said, “Mephibosheth! ”

“I am your servant, ” he replied.

Instead, he replied by committing service to David

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me? ”

9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.

10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants.

13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.

David’s Leadership

At this moment in David’s life, he was an amazing example of a godly leader.

, “David administered equality and justice to all people.”

Godly Leadership is characterized by demonstrating justice and equality for all people

David looked for God’s definition of Justice and Equality

Where do you get your definition of justice and equality?

Often we believe we are promoting justice and equality when the reality is that our world is full of injustice and inequality, but it doesn’t meet our standard of injustice.

Verse 1 - David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show

David decided to show unmerited kindness to the family of his former rival Saul

This is not something that just randomly happened for David.

He did not just wake up extra merciful that morning.

David’s consistent dependance on the Lord resulted in faithfulness.

While being oppressed by Saul, David ought the Lord consistently.

He developed a godly friendship with Jonathan that encouraged him. That friendship propelled David to be more faithful to the Lord.

Whenever he had a decision to make, he would go before the Lord and ask what he should do.

This resulted in David sparing Saul’s life twice, and exercising godly leadership over his men.

This passage highlights David’s faithfulness, but his faithfulness in this moment was possible because of his faithfulness over a life time.

To quote Pastor George, “David faithfully carried the cheese before he killed Goliath.”

He had a pattern of faithfulness

David’s Leadership

At this moment in David’s life, he was an amazing example of a godly leader.

, “David administered equality and justice to all people.”

Godly Leadership is characterized by demonstrating justice and equality for all people

David looked for God’s definition of Justice and Equality

The presence of the favor of God on David’s life motivated him to show divine mercy to the family of Saul.

Where do you get your definition of justice and equality?

Often we believe we are promoting justice and equality when the reality is that our world is full of injustice and inequality, but it doesn’t meet our standard of injustice.

Wouldn’t it be just for David to kill the members of Saul’s family?

David was eager to be merciful to the family of Saul

He summoned Ziba, and Ziba told him about Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth

Verse 5

When Mephibosheth was 5 years old, he and his nurse were told of the death of his father Jonathan and grandfather Saul. As they heard the news, the nurse decided to flee the land out of fear and as she was running she fell and Mephibosheth was injured and became lame ().

He has been fearful of David’s kingship since he was 5 years old. Not only that, it was out of this fear that he became crippled.

It is likely that he was expecting to be executed.

6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage.

Jesus - The greater David

David said, “Mephibosheth! ”

“I am your servant, ” he replied.

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”

When Mephibosheth arrived he fell face down and laid prostrate on the ground before David.

This illustrates Mephibosheth’s desperation.

David declared that he would show kindness to Jonathan’s son in two ways:

Give all that belonged to Saul was now his.

He was welcomed to the King’s table.

Mephibosheth went from being “a homeless refugee to a fairly wealthy man.”

He experienced the special honor of eating at the King’s table.

This is something he would have experienced if Saul has remained faithful.

This passage concludes that he ate at the King’s table regularly, just like one of David’s sons.

God’s Divine Mercy

Maybe you are here this morning and you are trying to see what character in this story you are most like?

Well

Here are some truths we know from Scripture:

Just like David was a king that advocated for justice and mercy, God is our King who demonstrates for Justice and Mercy

Just like David showed unmerited mercy to Mephibosheth, God has shown unmerited mercy to us by sending his son!

Just like David showed unmerited mercy to Mephibosheth, God has shown unmerited mercy to us through sending his son!

Here is what God has done for us:

He has meets us where we are, regardless of how broken we are.

You can not experience the grace of Christ without surrendering to him as King of your life!

He replaces our shame with honor.

Mephibosheth thought of himself as a “dead dog,” yet David welcomed him to his table.

Those who are broken...

Those who are ashamed...

Those who are helpless...

They are welcome at the Messiah’s table.

God has replaced shame with honor.

Just as David called out to Mephibosheth, God calls out to you as his child.

How are you responding to him?

Just like Mephibosheth was welcomed by David as his child, God welcomes us as his child - we have a seat at His Table!

Not now God, I am too busy...

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus.” - Ephesians 2:4-6

God I really just do not want to serve you right now...

God I don’t really know if I can trust you right now...

Application

Application

Are you in a season of faithfulness like David was? Recognize that two chapters later David sleeps with Bathsheba and becomes unfaithful. Walk with God daily.

Do you want to be faithful like David was to Mephibosheth? Work on being faithful every day and it will come.

Do you want to be faithful like David was to Mephibosheth? Work on being faithful every day and it will come.

Praise God for his definition of justice and equality, acknowledging that he has shown divine grace through Christ!

Have you taken your seat at God’s table? He has provided the way for you to sit at his table.

If you have not repented of your sin and trusted in Jesus for Salvation, today is the day!

If you have a seat at the table - how can you be more faithful to God?