Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – 2 Samuel 9
Set – 2 Samuel 9; Matthew 21
Go! – 2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18; Matthew 21
2 Samuel 9
David: 1 Is anyone from Saul’s family still around that I could honor for the sake of my friend Jonathan?2 One servant from Saul’s household, Ziba, was still alive, and they brought him to King David.
David: Are you Ziba?
Ziba: At your service, Majesty.
David: 3 Is anyone from Saul’s family still alive to whom I could show the kindness of God?
Ziba: Jonathan has a son who is still alive; he is crippled, unable to use his feet.
David: 4 Where is he?
Ziba: He lives with Machir, son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.
5-6 David sent for Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth and had him brought to Jerusalem from the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. When he arrived, Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, laid facedown on the floor and honored the king.
David: Mephibosheth!
Mephibosheth: At your service, my king.
David: 7 There’s no need to be frightened. I intend to treat you kindly for the sake of your father, Jonathan, who was my loyal friend. I will return to you all the territory that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always be welcome at my table.
8 Mephibosheth again prostrated himself before the king.
Mephibosheth: What am I to you that the king should look with favor on a dead dog like me? I am as one of your servants.
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, who had been Saul’s servant.
David: Everything that belonged to his grandfather Saul and his family I have returned to your master’s descendant. 10 You, your sons, and your servants will work on his farms and bring in his produce, so that he and his household will have food. But Mephibosheth will always eat at my table.
Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.
Ziba: 11 I am your servant, and you are my lord and king. Whatever you command I will do.
From then on, Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table as though he were one of David’s own sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son, Mica; and all who lived in the house of Ziba became Mephibosheth’s servants and worked for him. 13 Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem, where he always ate at the king’s table. He was lame and could not walk on either foot.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
The verses you just heard about David’s care of Mephibosheth are important. They tell an important story that partly depicts the reason I chose David as king to succeed Saul. It’s part of the reason I called him a man after My own heart.
David had every reason to despise the descendants of Saul. As king, Saul did everything he could to search David out and kill him. He put him in the hardest parts of the battlefield. He gave him impossible tasks that he felt sure would cause David’s death. Saul chased him across the countryside to put an end to him. And in the ancient world, sons carried on the feuds of their fathers, especially among royalty when thrones were threatened.
Instead, David forgave Saul’s descendants. He found Mephibosheth and brought him into his home. David not only forgave him, but treated Mephibosheth like one of his own sons. That’s forgiveness. That’s reflective of My forgiveness of you when you come to Me in repentance. You can come to Me with a repentant heart and know that I will forgive your sins.
It also reflects how I want you to treat your enemies. Mephibosheth was in no position to cause harm to David any longer. He couldn’t walk. He had no kingdom. His grandfather’s servants had taken over the property when Mephibosheth’s nurse fled with him to save his life at the news of Saul’s death. He had nothing. David did what I do for you when you come to Me. David restored his life. He gave him his property. He treated him like a son.
Not so with Ziba. Later in David’s life you’ll remember he fled from Absalom and Mephibosheth was left on his own. Because he was crippled he couldn’t care for himself. Ziba and his family had the responsibility to care for him, but assuming David would never return, saw instead an opportunity to seize Saul’s property for himself again.
David returned to his throne. Ziba paid the price for his wrongs. Mephibosheth found his place at the king’s table again. Be careful how you treat your enemies when they are defeated. Remember the story of David and Mephibosheth. Remember how he treated the son of his the one who wanted him dead. Forgiveness ran through David’s veins. He understood mercy and grace. He received it and shared it generously. I do, too.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.