Mercy / Misericordia
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Introduction
Introduction
Imagine a situation where your physical condition was the cause for discrimination:
Skin color
Disability
Lack of ability
This type of discrimination is particularly devastating, and difficult to understand, because we do not have much control over certain aspects of our physical condition (e.g., height, disability, physical features).
We live in a society where many have fought to prevent discrimination, especially in the workplace, due to physical disabilities. We live in a very different time and owe much to people that stood up to this type of discrimination.
In the case of King David, our Scripture reading, tells us the origin of not allowing people that were “blind and lame” into the kingly palace. God has something to say to us today through the study of his holy word. Today we will consider:
The problem
The origin
The day everything changed
The problem
The problem
El problema
El problema
David has been anointed king over Israel.
He had succeeded king Saul.
David was God’s chosen king after God had abandoned Saul because of his sin.
David has started to reign over the people of God and now he was going to start conquering the land that was still occupied by the enemy.
David’s next plan for attack was Jerusalem.
In those days, Jerusalem was inhabited by the Jebusites. They were canaanites who God had commanded the Israelites to run out of the land.
The Bible tells us about David’s decision and the resistance David faced:
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
El rey y sus soldados marcharon sobre Jerusalén para atacar a los jebuseos, que vivían allí. Los jebuseos, pensando que David no podría entrar en la ciudad, le dijeron a David: «Aquí no entrarás; para ponerte en retirada, nos bastan los ciegos y los cojos.» Pero David logró capturar la fortaleza de Sión, que ahora se llama la Ciudad de David.
They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.
2 sam 4
The Jebusites were not so worried about David coming to conquer their heavily fortified city.
Jerusalem is set atop a hill and was surrounded by a protective wall.
The Jebusites felt secure inside their mighty city fortress.
Any person that tried to come up and conquer the city would face defeat as the city dwellers would go up to the city wall and through heavy stones.
These types of cities were essentially impenetrable.
The Jebusites had the benefit of being on top of a hill and protected by their city walls where they could easily fight against their enemy.
Nevertheless, king David, as God’s chosen king, was to do God’s will and conquer the city of Jerusalem.
The Jebusite king did not feat David and his men. In fact, he ridiculed David and his man saying that he would use the blind and lame to defend the city - in other words - defending the city would be a piece of cake.
He was ridiculing David’s ability to get by the blind and lame defenders of the city.
It is not clear whether the Jebusite king did in fact use the blind and lame of the city as his primary defense or whether he simply said it as a way to make fun of king David and his men.
David’s reaction in verse 8 leads me to believe that it is possible that near the city walls, the Jebusite king, had indeed placed at least some blind and lame men to defend the city as a way to further mock king David and his men.
David defeats the Jebusites in verse 7 and captures the city of Jerusalem and names it the “City of David”.
Even today, it is known as the City of David in commemoration of David’s brave and successful attempt to capture the city.
David had proved the Jebusite king wrong - God had given the city into David’s hands.
Notice how the writer of 2 Samuel describes how the Lord continued to bless and strengthen David’s kingdom:
David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
David se instaló en la fortaleza y la llamó Ciudad de David. También construyó una muralla alrededor, desde el terraplén hasta el palacio, y se fortaleció más y más, porque el Señor Dios Todopoderoso estaba con él.
2 sam 5.
The origin
The origin
El origen
El origen
David triumphed. With the Lord’s help and guidance, David took possession of Jerusalem.
However, neither David or the Lord’s people could forget how the king of the Jebusites has ridiculed them.
Remember how the king of the Jebusites made fun of David and his men? He told them that all he needed to defeat David and his men were the lame and the blind.
This public mockery cemented itself deep in their minds and hearts. For this reason, there was a saying that became very well-known amongst the people
The New International Version Chapter 5
The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”
Nueva Versión Internacional Capítulo 5
De ahí viene el dicho: «Los ciegos y los cojos no entrarán en el palacio.»
This saying was not necessarily because David and his men saw something inherently evil or bad in the lame and the blind. In fact, I do not thing it was right for David and the people to have acted in this way!
David and his men had, without adequate reason, prohibited these unfortunate people from coming before the king’s presence.
It could very well have been that David’s pride was deeply hurt, and every time he saw a lame or blind person we would essentially relive that moment of public mockery.
Many people would come before the king’s presence: foreigners, men, women, rich, poor, old and young - however, you never saw a lame or blind person allowed to enter the palace.
The day everything changed
The day everything changed
El día que todo cambió
El día que todo cambió
One day as David was thinking about Jonathan - his best friend, king Saul’s son - he was thinking about a promise he made to him.
Jonathan was killed in battle along with his father and brothers.
However, when Jonathan was still living, David and Jonathan pledged to each other loyalty. They had a very strong friendship!
Jonathan knew that God had rejected his father as king over the people of Israel.
Jonathan knew that David was the rightful king in Israel.
He asks David to make him a promise:
But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
1 Sam 20.14
Y si todavía estoy vivo cuando el Señor te muestre su bondad, te pido que también tú seas bondadoso conmigo y no dejes que me maten. ¡Nunca dejes de ser bondadoso con mi familia, aun cuando el Señor borre de la faz de la tierra a todos tus enemigos!
Jonathan asked David to be king to his family. Jonathan asked David to protect his family in the event of his death.
Jonathan was not looking after himself but rather he was looking after the protection of his family.
Several years have passed after Jonathan’s death and David remembered the promise he had made to Jonathan:
David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
El rey David averiguó si había alguien de la familia de Saúl a quien pudiera beneficiar en memoria de Jonatán,
Is there anyone left of the household of Saul?
King Saul was dead. All his sons (the princes) were also dead; but did any grandsons/or great grandsons survive?
There is someone left! Someone knows that the Siba is alive. He worked in the king’s palace!
Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“At your service,” he replied.
y como la familia de Saúl había tenido un administrador que se llamaba Siba, mandaron a llamarlo. Cuando Siba se presentó ante David, éste le preguntó:
—¿Tú eres Siba?
—A las órdenes de Su Majestad—respondió.
Siba is summoned to come before the king.
The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
2 sam 9.
—¿No queda nadie de la familia de Saúl a quien yo pueda beneficiar en el nombre de Dios?—volvió a preguntar el rey.
—Sí, Su Majestad. Todavía le queda a Jonatán un hijo que está tullido de ambos pies—le respondió Siba.
Notice how Ziba responds - “There is still a son of Jonathan”.
David’s heart must have jumped for joy knowing that the son of his long lost friend was still living.
David would finally be able to fulfill his promise of protecting his beloved friend’s family.
David would be able to put in action the promise he had made many years ago.
But notice the unfortunate circumstance in this young man found himself “he is lame in both feet”.
Who did David hate amongst the inhabitants of the earth?
How was David mocked when he was about to capture the city of Jerusalem?
Who were the poor an unfortunate people, that because of David’s pride, were absolutely prohibited from entering the king’s palace?
What kind of people had David not seen for many years entering his palace?
All the people of God, including Ziba, must have knows the prohibition “the lame and blind were not to enter the king’s palace”.
David is now confronted with having to make a decision. He must decide what he will do?
Why is this such a critical moment for this young man’s life? Later on (v 5) we learn his name was Mephibosheth.
He was lame - which basically was a death sentence. He could not work. He could not make a living. He was sentenced to a life of poverty and begging. He lived off the people’s scraps.
David is about to act. He has made his decision:
.4
“Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
—¿Y dónde está?
—En Lo Debar; vive en casa de Maquir hijo de Amiel.
Entonces el rey David mandó a buscarlo a casa de Maquir hijo de Amiel, en Lo Debar.
David now summons Mephibosheth to come before his presence.
What will David do to Mephibosheth? Can you just imagine Mephibosheth’s fear as the soldiers come to bring him before the king?
Mephibosheth was aware, as was all Israel, how the lame and blind were not to come before the king!
People knew about David’s hatred of the lame and blind for what had happened many years before!
The scene now focuses upon the king’s throne room. Mephibosheth has come from far away and is now before the king.
2 Sam 9.6
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
Mephibosheth bows before the king. He answers. One way or another Mephibosheth’s life is about to change.
David can no longer contain himself and declares his intentions with Mephibosheth:
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
—No temas, pues en memoria de tu padre Jonatán he decidido beneficiarte. Voy a devolverte todas las tierras que pertenecían a tu abuelo Saúl, y de ahora en adelante te sentarás a mi mesa.
David lavishes Mephibosheth with so many blessings.
Mephibosheth will recover the lands that belonged to Saul’s dynasty.
Mephibosheth will no longer live in poverty.
Mephibosheth will no longer live knowing whether he will live another day.
Mephibosheth will now come even before the great king David and eat at his table!
Notice Mephibosheth’s humility. Notice Mephibosheth’s feeling of inadequateness. Notice his surprise. Notice his gratitude! Mephibosheth cannot believe what is happening to him!
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
2 sam 9.
Mefiboset se inclinó y dijo:
—¿Y quién es este siervo suyo, para que Su Majestad se fije en él? ¡Si no valgo más que un perro muerto!
Mephibosheth compares himself to a dead dog.
He feels so unworthy before the king’s presence.
He does not deserve any of the king’s blessings.
He does not deserve to come before the king.
He deserves to be treated like a dead dog.
Nevertheless, king David has determined in his heart to show mercy upon Mephibosheth.
David had within his power the right to throw Mephibosheth out of his presence.
David, as king, could have decided to reject Mephibosheth - after all, he was lame. Mephibosheth was just like those lame and blind people when David was mocked by the king of the Jebusites.
However, David made the decision to show mercy upon Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth’s life changed forever:
Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
—Yo estoy para servir a Su Majestad. Haré todo lo que Su Majestad me mande—respondió Siba.
A partir de ese día Mefiboset se sentó a la mesa de David como uno más de los hijos del rey. Toda la familia de Siba estaba al servicio de Mefiboset, quien tenía un hijo pequeño llamado Micaías. Tullido de ambos pies, Mefiboset vivía en Jerusalén, pues siempre se sentaba a la mesa del rey.
Mephibosheth was now like one of the king’s own sons.
Mephibosheth would no longer live in the loneliness and poverty of Lo Debar.
He would now love in the kingly palace, accepted, adopted, protected by the great king.
Conclusion
Conclusion
How can we not rejoice over Mephibosheth’s life transformation?
We are Mephibosheth. We see ourselves in the life of Mephibosheth.
We are those that had no future, no hope, we were dead in our sins. We were far away from God.
We could not come before the presence of a holy and righteous God.
But God, through the blood of his son Jesus Christ called us to himself.
God spoke to our hearts through the gospel of his son.
God called us not to mock us, not to condemn us, God called us to grant us forgiveness of sins and adoption and sons and daughters of the everlasting Father!
God called us to be reconciled with him and we are now heirs of God’s richest blessings.
When God called us to his presence, to his Gospel, to salvation - our lives were forever changed!
We do not deserve it.
We did nothing to gain God’s salvation.
God looked upon us and showed us mercy!
How could we not rejoice and give his praise for such a great salvation?