2 Samuel 9:1 – 13 “Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
So, the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?”
Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”
“Where is he?” replied the king.
And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”
So, King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell face down in reverence.
Then David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely, I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may 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. And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.”
So, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. So, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.”
David and Jonathan loved each other dearly, and Jonathan knew that God had selected David to become king instead of Jonathan’s father Saul. Even Saul realized that God had anointed David as king in his place. David had promised Jonathan that he would care for Jonathan’s family and later promised the same thing to Saul. 1 Samuel 24:20 – 22 “Now I (Saul) know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” So, David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”
Consider Ziba. Ziba had probably gained great wealth under Saul. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants and may have been farming Saul’s land on the sly, assuming nobody would ask any embarrassing questions. After all, the only surviving members of Saul’s family were a cripple and his young son. But things were about to change for Ziba. When David asked Ziba for information about those surviving members of Saul’s family, Ziba might have worried about what was to happen, but he had to answer the king truthfully. The upshot was that David invited both Jonathan’s son and grandson to join him at the palace and restored to Mephibosheth everything that belonged to Saul and to his house. In addition, David commanded Ziba, his sons, and his servants to work the land for Mephibosheth. (But don’t waste too much sympathy on Ziba; later on, he betrayed Mephibosheth. Ziba hadn’t survived for years because he was stupid.)
The name “Mephibosheth” means “from the mouth of shame.” Why anybody would give such a name to their son is the question. Perhaps Mephibosheth was born when Saul was still pursuing David, and Jonathan was ashamed of his father’s actions. Mephibosheth was lame in both feet, probably from a spinal injury he suffered as a child. The story is told in 2 Samuel 4:4. Mephibosheth was five years old when Jonathan and Saul died. When the news of Mephibosheth’s father’s death came, his nurse panicked. Grabbing Mephibosheth, the nurse was attempting to escape when she dropped Mephibosheth, injuring him. Despite this injury, Mephibosheth had fathered a son, Mica. Now David plucked both Mephibosheth and Mica from obscurity, seating them at the royal table and treating them like family members.
APPLICATION: The story of Mephibosheth and Mica could easily be made into a Hallmark movie. Mephibosheth was a helpless cripple from a displaced royal house. Most kings would have allowed Mephibosheth to suffer in poverty, depending on charity. But David was a promise keeper, and David had promised both Saul and Jonathan that he would care for any surviving members of their families. (The women of these families were never mentioned, apart from Saul’s daughter Michal.) Now instead of groveling in someone else’s home, Mephibosheth and Mica were living in the royal palace, enjoying the same status as members of David’s family, all because King David kept his promises.
The analogy is not original, but it is still valid. Each and every one of us is in a position similar to that of Mephibosheth and Mica. We have a sin problem, and we are helpless. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” There is nothing we can do to deliver ourselves from that problem; however, there is a heavenly King who has graciously done for us what we could not do for ourselves. King Jesus left his heavenly throne, came to earth to live as a man, and died a cruel death on a cross as the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins. Because of that sacrifice, all those who believe on Jesus Christ will be saved from eternal damnation and will join Him in His heavenly kingdom. Just as King David took Mephibosheth and Mica into the palace and treated them as if they were his own sons, so Jesus will receive anyone who will believe on Him into his heavenly kingdom.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You for shedding your blood for us to save us from our sins. Help everyone who reads this to receive what You have done for us. Amen.
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