The Fugitive - Ultimate Kindness
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David's Kindness to Mephibosheth, reflects the character of God whom extends his ultimate kindness and grace to all who call on the Lord Jesus. Just like in the life of Mephibosheth from Lo-debar, King Jesus can make good of out of what seems to be an irreversible-hopeless situation, as we welcome his invitation of ultimate kindness; and when we do so a beautiful redemptive story will unfold.
Proposition: Share with you how Jesus can make good of out of what seems to be an irreversible-hopeless situation, as we welcome his invitation of ultimate kindness; and when we do so a beautiful redemptive story will unfold.
Attention Getter: When you think of kindness, what comes to mind? Perhaps you may recall stories of kindness in your own life story or even differing levels of kindness ...
Wonderland Trip (stories of kindness): People watching…all walks of life. Differing Priorities, different levels of social interaction and varying levels of kindness…
T.S: To look at a biblical account of ‘kindness’, we are going to start in what would seem like an unlikely place to go for this topic. A place called ‘Lo-debar’, the beginning of a great story of David’s ‘ultimate kindness’ to Mephibosheth. God’s type of kindness.
Disclaimer (comedy): May be wondering, “why as new covenant people, are we spending time in the O.T; let alone why on earth would you be speaking about Mephibosheth.” In short, we will see how this story of a young man, ‘hit’s home’ for all of us, in our ‘redemptive story’ through our relationship with Jesus Christ.
T.S: Go to our passage for today (2 Samuel 9:1-13), to see this display of God’s type of kindness through the life of David to Mephibosheth.
Text: 2 Sam. 9:1-13 (NIV)
1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 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.
3 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.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
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.
7 “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.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 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.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
Setting the Scene:
The First Setting (The House of Saul, in Lo-debar):
Lo-debar in the GK, meaning a place of non, not, nothing, without. A desolate, desert like place, where nothing is believed to have a chance to thrive. Appropriately its name means ‘place of no bread’. At this location in the house of (Machir son of Ammiel), is a living descendant from the house of Saul, a young man named Mephibosheth.
In all respects living a life as an orphan, without his Father Johnathan and Grandfather, King Saul - who died at Mt Gilboa. Without them his life takes a drastic ‘change of course’. Going from future King, to being ‘a fugitive’ on the run, alienated to Lo-Debar, ‘crippled’, with ‘a bloodline that betrays Him and so looking to the future with ‘no hope’ .
Video Clip: Fugitive Train Chase
The second setting (The House of David, in Jerusalem): Meanwhile, hundreds of KM’s South west of Lo-debar, David is ‘resting’ comfortably in Jerusalem, enjoying the newness and expansion of His kingdom. His house growing stronger as the house of Saul grows weaker.
David has successfully with the Lord’s guidance - led a brilliant strategic campaign to defeat many of his enemies, including the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:8-9, 17-19)... Also defeating the Philistines (2 Sm. 5:22-25) as well as the Moabites and Edomites (2 Sam. 8; cf., 2 Sam. 8:13) and bringing the Ark of God into Jerusalem (Ch 6; 2 Sm. 6:1-2, 17-19).
David desires to build a great temple for the Ark of the God to dwell; However, God promises David, that he will build him a kingdom, a dynasty kingship, which will remain within his family blood line, the tribe of Judah (2 Sam. 7:9-16; cf., 2 Sam. 7:27-29).
Ultimately Jesus fulfills this promise, as he is referenced in Rev. 5:5, as the “Lion of Judah”. Redeeming, offsetting the affects of the ‘FALL’ in the garden and bringing the kingdom and blessing of God to all who CALL upon Him (Rm. 11). Fulfilling the ‘promise’ to Abraham (Gn 18:18; 22:18).
18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
In all, the Lord was with David, wherever he went (2 Sam. 7:9), in all that he did (2 Sam. 7:3, 8:14; cf., 1 Sam. 18:12). He did what was right and pleasing, in the eyes of God and his citizens (2 Sam. 8:15 cf., 1 Kings 15:5).
15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
5 For David did what was right in the Lord’s sight, and he did not turn aside from anything he had commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hethite.
T.S: Although his reign was imperfect, David is a great representation of the ideal of the covenantal king. Next to Jesus, David is ideal for looking at God’s type of ‘kindness’, after all David is a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).
22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Remembering a Promise
Remembering a Promise
1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
Customary in ancient times and in the lineage of Israel’s Kings, for the incoming kingship (administration) to dispose of the previous royal bloodline.
Ish-Bosheth, the youngest of Saul’s house, who was appointed by Abner as King of Israel (Saul’s General) upon Saul’s death. However, he only reigned for four years and was murdered (Ch. 4). The house of Saul was being wiped out. T.S: Was there anyone left in the house of Saul or was he too late?
Mephibosheth was a young boy of 5, when his father and grandfather were killed in the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa (4:4).
4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)
But at the time David began his search in this chapter (9:1), Mephibosheth was a grown man with a son of his own, named Mica (9:12).
‘KINDNESS’, in the GK is translated: loyal-obligation
The reason for David’s interest in this information was that he wanted to fulfill the promises he had made to his friend Jonathan - whom he loved as a brother, as well as fulfill his promise to Jonathan’s father, Saul, to spare their descendants should he ever come to the throne in Israel (1 Sam 18:3; 20:12–17,23, 42; 23:18; 24:21–22).
David’s promise to Johnathan (Loyal-Obligation)
12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 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.”
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
David’s oath with Saul
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
4. To David’s credit he did not forget these promises when he became king. Yet, his decision to fulfill his promise appears to have taken place many years after he made his promise to Johnathan.
PA: No better time that the present to make good on a promise. (Fav. verse Proverbs 13:12)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
T.S: How can David extend ‘kindness’ to Mephibosheth?, by all intents and purposes ‘pardoning’ him. Mephibosheth was the innocent party and yet his bloodline betrays him. The blood of Saul flows through his veins; but thankfully the blood of Johnathan is greater. The covenant between David and Johnathan is greater.
Kindness is Supernatural
Kindness is Supernatural
2 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.
3 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.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
1. Status of Mephibosheth ‘crippled’, at the mercy of others. In no condition to challenge David.
a. Mephibosheth - experienced a life changing moment, when he receieved news of his Father death. 2 Samuel 4:4
4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)
b. In a flash everything changed.
His life took a drastic ‘change of course’, when he learned of his Fathers death at Mt Gilboa. Went from ‘future king’ to an orphan and a fugitve, on the run, alienated to Lo-Debar, with ‘a bloodline that betrays Him - looking to the future with ‘no hope’ .
US: All have experience life-changing moments. When we receieved “news”
iIlustration: Father’s Heart Attack in 2011.
2. God’s type of God kindness involves showing favor to those who are vulnerable, ‘poor in spirit’. Even showing ‘kindness’ to those who (in our opinion) do not deserve it, or do not love us in return (Luke 6:35)
T.S: This is the type of kindness that God ‘calls’ us to.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
God’s type of kindness, is a by-product of the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Something that is produced with his help.
PA: The only way to make ‘peace’ with those who have wronged us: is by the Lord’s help - recalling that we too are not so-innocent, yet Jesus made ‘peace’ with us, descendants of the lineage bloodline of Adam (Rm. 5:12).
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
T.S: Like Mephibosheth, we were “without God and without hope” (Eph 2:12-13). It’s the blood of Christ, which makes us whole and restores our relationship with God.
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
PA: Key is to allow Jesus’ kindness towards us to transform our hearts & quicken us to extend that same kindness to others by the power of the Holy Spirit.
T.S: As long as we are open to the prompting & enablement of Holy Spirit, in dispensing that kindness, which we have freely received - anything is possible.
Kindness is Transformational
Kindness is Transformational
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.
7 “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.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
(v.7) When Mephibosheth was ‘called’ - perhaps he assumed I am as good as dead. This is it. The time I have been dreading. The blood of my Father’s father, has handed me over to death.
At the mercy and will of King David. David’s does the unexpected, welcoming Mephibosheth to his table.
PA: David’s display of ‘unmerited kindness’ towards Mephibosheth, gave him hope - fulfilling a promise to his loyal friend and restoring Mephibosheth in the process.
US: Like Mephibosheth, we were ‘dead men walking’, fugitives hostile to God (Romans 5:10)
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
by our very nature, deserving of death(Eph 2). Without God’s loyal kindness, we were without hope. Yet, Jesus displayed God’s ‘unmerited kindness’, bringing us to His table.
This is possible, because He has taken care of the sin debt, in his body on the cross, ‘paid in full’, victoriously proclaiming - “it is finished” (John 19:30).
24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
We can hold our heads high & live with a clear conscience, forgetting the past and looking to the present and future with hope, enjoying the kingdom. ****Don’t waste anymore time dwelling on the things that preoccupied us, in our Lo Debar.****
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
T.S: David’s invitation and kindness lifted Mephibosheth out of Lo Debar and brought him to the Kings table.
Our Vulnerability Does Not Disqualify Us
Our Vulnerability Does Not Disqualify Us
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 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.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.
At the invitation of the King, along with Mephibosheth’s reception this ‘cripple’ (v.12) was:
At the invitation of the King, along with Mephibosheth’s reception this ‘cripple’ (v.12) was:
restored (v.11) to sonship
free to live out his days in the kings protection, as part of the King’s family, a member of his household. Enjoying the benefits of the kingdom.
T.S: Our vulnerbility to sin, does not disqualify us from participation in the kingdom.
Our Story is His Story
Our Story is His Story
28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
US: We too have given a kingdom and adopted into God’s family, we are Sons and Daughters, brothers and sisters of the King of Kings (Ephesians 1:5).
US: We too have given a kingdom and adopted into God’s family, we are Sons and Daughters, brothers and sisters of the King of Kings (Ephesians 1:5).
5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
Mephibosheth’s story, can propel us to believe in King Jesus’ redemptive plan and work in our life. Trusting in his vantage point, trusting in his ultimate kindness, resting in his loving kindness - that will surely be with us all the days of our life.
Mephibosheth’s story, can propel us to believe in King Jesus’ redemptive plan and work in our life. Trusting in his vantage point, trusting in his ultimate kindness, resting in his loving kindness - that will surely be with us all the days of our life.
Closing:
Closing:
David’s kindness shown to Mephibosheth, illustrates that God’s type of kindness is not a emotional reaction or a ‘whim’ of action. Rather, a decisive commitment of covenant, a promise (cf., Hebrews 6:17-18; Hebrews 8:12)
[We] can all see the fulfillment of all the promise’s God has made to us, in full view - as enacted and fulfilled through His Son, Jesus Christ. The mediator and guarantor of the new covenant. Restoring what was lost in the Garden of Eden and enjoying his kingdom (Col. 1:13).
[We] can all see the fulfillment of all the promise’s God has made to us, in full view - as enacted and fulfilled through His Son, Jesus Christ. The mediator and guarantor of the new covenant. Restoring what was lost in the Garden of Eden and enjoying his kingdom (Col. 1:13).
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
PA: God has no desire to leave us in [our Lo Debar] in our rebellion, in our shortcomings, failures, and bad choices - [holding our past against us] but to lift us up, joining Him at his table, experiencing His kingdom, here on earth. Mephibosheth was a young man, by time the promise to Johnathan was fulfilled. Likewise, God’s timing may not be our timing, but its perfect nonetheless.
PA: God has no desire to leave us in [our Lo Debar] in our rebellion, in our shortcomings, failures, and bad choices - [holding our past against us] but to lift us up, joining Him at his table, experiencing His kingdom, here on earth. Mephibosheth was a young man, by time the promise to Johnathan was fulfilled. Likewise, God’s timing may not be our timing, but its perfect nonetheless.
[Jesus has, ‘made good’ - of our consequence and predicament, as participants in the rebellion of Adam’s bloodline ( Romans 5:5 ‘death’). Thankfully Jesus, is the stronger bloodline (Eph 2 made peace through his body and blood). Victoriously ‘paying’ the sin debt with his life and raising us to new life, through his triumphant victory.]
Proposition: Jesus can make good of out of what seems to be an irreversible-hopeless situation, as we welcome his invitation of ultimate kindness; and when we do so, a beautiful redemptive story will unfold.
[We] are benefactors of God’s ultimate Kindness, which is a: promise, supernatural, transformational, and for all who receive his ‘invitation’.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Bid Idea: David's Kindness to Mephibosheth, reflects the character of God whom extends his ultimate kindness and grace to all who call on the Lord Jesus. Just like in the life of Mephibosheth from Lo-debar, King Jesus can make good of out of what seems to be an irreversible-hopeless situation, as we welcome his invitation of ultimate kindness; and when we do so a beautiful redemptive story will unfold.