April 4th

April 4th -- 2 Samuel 9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%209&version=NLT)

David's kindness to Mephibosheth

David, one day, asks about Saul's family, inquiring about if there are any left. He explains he wants to show kindness to them because of Jonathan (Recall: They were like best friends, and they had also made a vow to each other about always being friends). One of Saul's servants, Ziba, is summoned and tells David that one of Jonathan's sons, (a crippled man named Mephibosheth, as we find out later) is still alive. This man is crippled in both feet. So David finds out the man's location and sends for him. When David greets Mephibosheth, Mephibosheth answers by saying he is David's servant. David explains thought that he means to be kind to Mephibosheth, having him eat at the king's table and giving him all the property that used to belong to Saul. Mephibosheth is touched and honored by this, wondering out loud why he should have this. David then summons Ziba and tells Ziba what has been given to Mephibosheth. David tells Ziba he and his family will  now serve Mephibosheth. Ziba says that he will do as he has been told. Mephibosheth begins eating at the king's table, as David promised.

Despite that fact that Jonathan is dead, David still tries his hardest to make good of his promise to Jonathan. Since he can no longer bless Jonathan, he tries to instead bless Jonathan's family. He goes out of his way to find any relative, and finds only a crippled man who even the poor would have looked down on because he was crippled. Yet, David takes this man and gives him a huge amount of land, as well as servants to work it (as a crippled man can obviously not tend his own fields). He also has Mephibosheth eat at the king's table daily, which was a HUGE honor back then. Basically, David does not find excuses to find a way out of his promises, but goes beyond and above what is necessary, showing God's love through his actions. We should also strive to do this!

Well, that will be all! God bless! Shalom!