Valued. Session 5 2 SAMUEL 9:1-13. God is honored when we extend kindness to others.

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Bernard Roberts
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Session 5 Valued God is honored when we extend kindness to others. 2 SAMUEL 9:1-13 How we treat others makes a difference. We may sometimes wonder what we have to offer to other people.

1 Session 5 Valued God is honored when we extend kindness to others. 2 SAMUEL 9:1-13 How we treat others makes a difference. We may sometimes wonder what we have to offer to other people. We may not be able to accomplish incredible feats, and we may not possess extraordinary knowledge or skill. But we can all extend kindness and in doing so, we can make a difference in people s lives and bring honor to God. Recall a time when someone extended kindness to you. What effect did it have on you? 46 Date of My Bible Study:

2 UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT 2 SAMUEL 8:1 10:19 David was a great leader. His life was marked by incredible feats, including the defeat of the seemingly invincible Goliath though David was only a young man. At many times in his life, this shepherd-boyturned-king showed tremendous courage as a leader of the people of God. While acknowledging that the Lord God was the source of his accomplishments, it is still true that David was an impressive human leader. So, in the normal course of things, we might expect the king of Israel to arrogantly place himself above the needs of ordinary people. We might assume that he would excuse himself from the responsibility of showing kindness to those in need. We might assume he would forget any promises made prior to his ascension to power. And we would be mistaken in those assumptions. The chapters immediately preceding and following our core passage describe military victories won by the armies of Israel under David s leadership. Chapter 8 describes David s victories over the Philistines and Moabites, as well as the conquest of Zobah and Aram. The chapter ends with a summary of the king s accomplishments. Chapter 10 describes additional success in military campaigns. Yet there is more to leadership greatness than the activities and the victories described in these chapters. Sandwiched between accounts of national success is a story about a king showing kindness. It isn t unwarranted or speculative to assume that this structure is intentional. David knew there was more to being a king and a great leader than spectacular exploits of valor. He understood that valuing a single person with physical limitations was also important. It is important to remember that David s life and leadership are ultimately understood in the life and leadership of Jesus. Our Lord is indeed a conqueror, and the King of kings rules over all. Yet His rule is a gracious rule, furthered by abundant kindness. Notice that Saul and Jonathan s names appear repeatedly in 2 Samuel 9:1-13. What does this reveal to us about David s view of these two men? Session 5 : Valued 47

3 EXPLORE THE TEXT SEARCHED (2 SAM. 9:1-5) 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. VERSE 1 In popular culture people often are encouraged to practice random acts of kindness. No doubt we should be open to spontaneously helping another person in need. However, there is also a place for carefully planned kindness in which a person gives consideration to who might be a proper recipient of a demonstration of kindness. David took the latter approach with Saul s family. He inquired whether anyone remaining from Saul s family could be offered care and help for Jonathan s sake. The recipient of David s question is not identified in the text. Perhaps David initially asked himself that question in a moment of reflection and remembrance. Times of meditation before the Lord might surface in our minds a suitable object for an expression of kindness. David did not forget the promises he had made to Jonathan on multiple occasions. Three times in 1 Samuel the text tells us that David and Jonathan made a covenant with each other. The most detailed account of David s promises to Jonathan is in 1 Samuel 20. He promised to do good to both Jonathan and to his descendants (vv ). Jonathan reciprocated in verse 16. David summarized their pledges to each other, which included their offspring (v. 42). He made a similar promise to Saul as well (1 Sam. 24:20-22), committing himself to do good to the man who did much evil against David. 48 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

4 VERSES 2-3 Good intentions often lie dormant in the soul of a person, but David sought to implement his. Through royal communication channels, a servant named Ziba was summoned to the palace. He had served Saul during his lifetime and was acquainted with the royal family. In response to the inquiry about any remaining family of Saul, the king was told of a son of Jonathan. According to Ziba, this son was physically disabled. His name was Mephibosheth and he was crippled as a young child on the very day that his father Jonathan was killed in battle (2 Sam. 4:4). Given that this son of Jonathan was at that time a father himself (v. 12), it is clear than many years had passed since David made a promise to Jonathan to care for his family. David took pains to let Ziba know it was God s kindness that he wanted to show to Saul s descendants. A generous act such as this often results in praise given to the generous person. Regarding motive, this was not David s intended outcome. The king wanted others to know that his actions were a mere reflection of the mercy of God Himself. How can a person show kindness to others in a way that ensures the praise for that act is attributed to God? VERSES 4-5 Mephibosheth [meh FIB oh sheth] lived in a town called Lo Debar [loh- DEE bahr], which means, no discussion. Without reading too much into that, it probably was not a very prominent place to live. As the grandson of a disgraced and disposed king, prudence might have dictated keeping a low profile. The meaning of his proper name is debatable but involves some aspect of the word shame. Mephibosheth s life was not a glamorous one and probably was marked by feelings of inadequacy. We can imagine what might have run through the mind of Mephibosheth as he entered the city of David and made his way to the royal palace. In contrast to his place of residence, the glamour and prestige there was new and unique. Being summoned to an audience with the king was not always good news. Perhaps he feared that David was finally trying to eliminate all potential successors to his kingship. Session 5 : Valued 49

5 EXTENDED (2 SAM. 9:6-8) 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? VERSE 6 Mephibosheth approached the king with humility, bowing down before him, although his disability might have had made it difficult to do so. David replied by calling him by name, which was possibly a practice of those in high positions. Calling a person by name is certainly reflective of God s interactions with us (Isa. 43:1). In keeping with standard practice, Mephibosheth responded to David by identifying himself as the king s servant. VERSE 7 David sought to assure Mephibosheth and alleviate any fearfulness he might have brought with him to the king s palace. We can tell ourselves in certain situations that all is well, but it is comforting to hear the words from the one who possesses authority, Don t be afraid. The basis for David s assurance to Mephibosheth was the promise he had made to Jonathan: I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. Though many years had passed, the king followed through and made good on the word he had given to his friend. The kindness shown by the king was not conditioned on either Mephibosheth s worthiness or unworthiness. Rather, it was the intention of David to bring to pass what he pledged himself to do. David s restoration of the son of Jonathan was two-fold. First, he promised to restore all of the land holdings of Saul to him. Consider how a man who at this point was dependent on someone else for a place to live now controlled property that produced wealth. Second, he gave Mephibosheth the privilege of eating at the king s table. This was more than just free food. It provides access to important discussions regarding matters of state business. 50 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

6 This gesture of David was generous, to say the least. Yet the point could be made that he was doing for Mephibosheth what Saul had done for him (1 Sam. 20:5). Kindness offered is often prompted by kindness received. Whether directly from the Lord or mediated through another person, our hearts are touched by a loving gesture or good deed and we want to do the same for someone else. How was the kindness of David like the kindness that God shows us? BIBLE SKILL: Compare biblical characters. Compare Mephibosheth s actions and words to David in 2 Samuel 9:6,8 to the prayer of the tax collector found in Luke 18: What attitudes are found in both Mephibosheth and the tax collector? What role do the attitudes you identified play in prayer? What can we learn from this? VERSE 8 Once again, Mephibosheth bowed down to David, but we have to believe that he did so with a changed attitude. The physical posture was the same as before, but the attitude of the heart surely was different. He referred to himself as a dead dog, an expression used elsewhere in a selfdirected manner to indicate insignificance (1 Sam. 24:14). The expression What is your servant? echoed the attitude of David himself when he considered all of the great things God had done for him (2 Sam. 7:18). Humility and a sense of amazement were no doubt two of the emotions in the heart of this son of Jonathan. How much more should it be the heart posture of those who have received the kindness of God! There is nothing in any one of us that would call forth the vast love of God shown to us on the cross of Jesus. Nevertheless, the mercy of God has been poured out in abundant measure for our reconciliation to Him. Session 5 : Valued 51

7 How does the response of Mephibosheth mirror the way we should respond to God? PLANNED (2 SAM. 9:9-13) 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 Mica, 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. VERSES 9-10 A royal edict was given to Ziba to care for the land transferred to Mephibosheth. The fact that thirty-five people (fifteen sons and twenty servants) would be employed to work these fields reveals the generous bestowment made by David. The purpose was that this descendant of Saul and Jonathan would enjoy abundant provision. David s kindness was certainly a reflection of God s kindness. One evidence of this may be seen in the correlation between the prohibitions placed on a disabled priest and his access to the Lord s table. Though a disabled descendant of Aaron was not allowed to serve as a priest (Lev. 21:16-24), he was allowed to eat of the allotments provided for the priests through the sacrificial system (Lev. 21:22). Although Mephibosheth did not descend from Aaron and thus was not qualified to be a priest, there is nevertheless an application of the law in this situation by analogy. If a lame man could be fed by the Lord, then he could be fed by the king. Beyond even the assignment of all agricultural profitability to Mephibosheth, David opened the palace for him to live there permanently. To always eat at the king s table was more than having a 52 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

8 place setting at dinner. He was to be treated as one of the king s very own sons. This is a picture of the status of God s adopted sons and daughters, those who are believers in Christ Jesus. Our worship as believers includes praise to the One who has adopted us as His sons (Eph. 1:3-6). How do the things David provided Mephibosheth compare to the things God provides us? What does God provide for His children? VERSES As a servant of the king, Ziba accepted his new assignment. As a former employee of Saul, he should have simply been grateful to be alive. While David s kindness was not nearly as extensive toward him as it was toward Mephibosheth, it nevertheless was just as real. Ziba would later try to maneuver his fortunes more to his liking (2 Sam. 16:2-4). Mephibosheth was not the only beneficiary of David s generosity. He had a young son named Mika. David s kindness was not merely to Mica s father but to the boy himself and even to his descendants. In honoring his promise to Jonathan, David mirrored the covenant keeping qualities of the God (Ex. 34:5-7). Relocation was required to take full advantage of David s generosity. Mephibosheth left Lo-Debar and moved to Jerusalem. There he always ate at the king s table in spite of the fact that his feet had been injured. Sitting there with all of the distinguished company present, we can imagine the picture of a restored Mephibosheth. Although his infirmity may have rendered him incapable of many types of service, he nevertheless received the honor and privilege of a member of the royal family. Our value before our Creator does not ultimately reside in our usefulness to Him. Rather it is established by His mercy and grace. KEY DOCTRINE: Man The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Session 5 : Valued 53

9 IN MY CONTEXT God expects us to keep our promises regardless of the effort required. Believers should approach God with humility, knowing that He extends mercy to us in spite of our shortcomings. Believers can celebrate God s adoption of them into His family through faith in His Son. What difficult promises are you trying to keep at this point in your life? What long-standing promise still awaits your fulfillment? What actions are you taking to fulfill that promise? Discuss as a group ways of extending God s mercy and grace to others. What project can you undertake as a way of showing His mercy and grace to others? Reflect on Psalm 40:10. Take time to praise God for the ways He has demonstrated His faithfulness and love in your life. Memorize this verse this week. Prayer Needs 54 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. Psalm 78:72 (NIV)

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. Psalm 78:72 (NIV) In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them... 2 Samuel 8:1a (NIV) The LORD