The Painful Reality, 2 Samuel 9

The Kind King

Hesed refers to a sort of love that has been promised and is owed – covenant love.

1 Samuel‬ ‭20‬:‭14-15‬ – If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”

Text: 2 Samuel 9 – Jonathan asks David not to destroy his family when he became king. David entered into a covenant that he was bound to honor. Mephibosheth is who we should resonate with in the story, a beggar with nothing to offer the king.

Finding Yourself in the Story

1. Mephibosheth had once enjoyed the privileged life of the palace.
2. Mephibosheth had nothing to offer David.Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. (‭2 Samuel‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬)
3. Mephibosheth could not remedy his own situation.
4. Mephibosheth received kindness only for Jonathan’s sake.
5. Mephibosheth was not inclined toward David.
6. Mephibosheth needed to receive David’s kindness.
7. Mephibosheth was abundantly provided for.

The Genuine Response to Grace

• Ziba manipulates the situation to his own advantage (and preys off of Mephibosheth’s disability) – 2 Samuel 16:1-4
• Mephibosheth makes a convincing claim that he had been “played” by Ziba.

Mephibosheth says to King David, “let Ziba keep all the property, I am just glad you are home.” Ziba feels entitled to what he receives and self-sufficient. What is our response to God’s grace?

Media

Listen to the Podcast

Sermon series: The Life of David: Shepherd. Poet. Warrior. Friend. KING. See all sermons in this series.

Photo credit: http://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Begging,_Dublin,_October_2010.JPG