2 Samuel 9

“So the king asked, ‘Is there anyone left of Saul’s family I can show the kindness of God to?’ Ziba said to the king, ‘There is still Jonathan’s son who is lame in both feet.’ The king asked, ‘Where is he?’ Ziba answered the king, ‘You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.’ So David had him brought from the house of Machir in Lo-debar. Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, bowed down to the ground and paid homage. David said ‘Mephibosheth!’ ‘I am your servant,’ he replied. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.’” 2 Samuel 9:3-7 (HCSB)

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt made a speech in Pittsburgh advocating restraint in government spending. Four years later, he wanted to speak there in favor of government spending. He asked one of his advisers how he could manage an about-face without seeming like a flip-flopper! The advice was straightforward: Deny that you made a speech in Pittsburgh in 1932!

Ahhh, politics. I think I speak for us all when I say we need leaders whom we can trust to keep their word!! David did not practice the Washington D.C. way. When he made a promise to Jonathan, he kept it. He could easily have denied the private conversation, said he had been impetuous, and argued national security overrode personal agreements. No. David honored his word. And one greater than David offers the same to us!

Perhaps, you have already begun to see a parallel of this story with the offer of salvation that Jesus extends to all who would accept His Grace.

David offered Mephibosheth: 1) Protection, 2) Provision, and 3) Position

“For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Messiah died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person – though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!” Romans 5:6-10 (HCSB)

We can never appreciate David’s commitment of love unless we understand the source of it, the Author of love. The Messiah (the Son of David), whom David called “My Lord,” has extended His “Do not be afraid” to us “spiritual Mephibosheths.” The first principle for grappling with the marvel of God’s love is to realize that He has no personal benefit in loving us. Our presence cannot advance His worth. There is absolutely no reason why we should be eating continually at the King’s table. And if we have any sense, we won’t be able to understand it, either! We must simply receive His grace and, thankfully, live in His presence, inviting others in need of salvation to join us.