Success - Demonstrate Kindness - 2 Samuel 9 - August 15, 2010

Bible Study – Success – Demonstrate Kindness – August 15, 2010



This is lesson three (3) in our series “The Essentials of Success.”


Our scripture is 2 Samuel 9:1-13.


Why should a Christian be kind and show kindness? Romans 5:8, Ephesians 1:7-8 and John 3:16 provide the perfect answers:


Romans 5:8:


8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!


Ephesians 1:7-8:


7 In Him[7] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.


John 3:16-18:


16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His • One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.[10] 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the • One and Only Son of God.


People are helpless to save themselves from sin and death. GOD, through HIS love and kindness, allowed HIS only SON JESUS to come to earth to be born as a human, live and give HIS life on the cross. Through HIS shed blood all who believe in HIM receive salvation from sin and death and receive the gift of eternal life. Proof is the resurrection of CHRIST from the dead. HE conquered sin and death. Because HE lives so will all who believe in HIM live eternally with HIM. Kindness comes from the heart. Kindness reflects the character of the heart.


Because of this unmerited kindness GOD and CHRIST exhibited toward all, those who know the truth through salvation, need to exhibit this same kindness toward others. Let’s read the selected scripture to see how David exhibited kindness toward a helpless family member of King Saul after he was made king.


First some background. As you may recall, in an earlier lesson we discussed the following scripture:


1 Samuel 24:20-22: (David slipped up on King Saul while he was in a cave and cut off the corner of his robe off. When King Saul left the cave David called to him and told him what he had done. King Saul knew that David could have killed him but did not. King Saul knew that David had been anointed by GOD to succeed him as king. King Saul asked David to spare his family when he was made king. Traditionally when one king defeated another, he had the entire family line of the defeated king killed.)


20 “Now I (king Saul) know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established[15] in your hand.[16] 21 Therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” 22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.


1 Samuel 20:14-17: (Jonathan, Saul’s son and David made a covenant with each other.)


14 If I continue to live, treat me with the LORD’s faithful love, but if I die, 15 don’t ever withdraw your faithful love from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”[6] 16 Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,[7] saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”[8]


After King Saul’s death, King Saul’s surviving son, Ishbosheth (ish BOH sheth) resisted David from becoming king. Two (2) men killed Ishbosheth and bragged about it. When David heard it, he had the two (2) men executed. David was intent on honoring the promises he had made to Jonathan and King Saul. David was made king and after stability came to the country, David asked the question that begins our scripture.


Let’s read 2 Samuel 9:1-3:


David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth (meh FIB oh sheth)


1 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from Saul’s family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?”[1] 2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba (ZIGH buh). They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “[I am]* your servant,” he replied. 3 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.”[2]


David wanted to know if there were any remaining survivors of Saul’s family. Note that he included that he wanted to show them “kindness.” This was important statement given that conquering king’s usually annihilated the defeated king’s descendants.


Saul’s servant, Ziba, was asked to appear before King David. This was likely a tense moment for Ziba. We will see that once a slave always a slave. Ziba told David that Jonathan, King Saul’s son and David’s friend, had a son who was crippled. [2 Samuel 4:4 - 4 Saul’s son Jonathan had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.[1] ]


Let’s read 2 Samuel 9:4-6:


4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” 5 So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 6 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.


King David wanted to know where he could find Mephibosheth. He was living in the house of Machir (MAY kihr) son of Ammiel (AM ih el) in Lo-debar (loh DEE bahr). Later in David’s life Machir would provide provisions and encouragement for David when he fled his son Absalom. It is speculated that David’s act of kindness toward Mephibosheth prepared the way for Machir to help David in a time of need. Lo-debar was located far from Judah and Jerusalem.


David called out Mephibosheth’s name and Mephibosheth bowed to honor the King and referred to himself as David’s humble servant.


It took courage for Mephibosheth to come to Jerusalem and present himself before the king. It is likely that those delivering the message to Mephibosheth told him that the king had used the words that he wanted to show “kindness.” Still in that day kings were deceitful. Could David be trusted? It is likely that Mephibosheth was apprehensive. Yet, he also knew that David and his father, Jonathan, were best friends.


Let’s read 2 Samuel 9:7-13:


7 “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.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in [the crops]* so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. 11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[3] table just like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet.


David knew that it was a tense moment for Mephibosheth and he quickly put his mind at ease by telling him “don’t be afraid.” David quickly stated what he would do for Mephibosheth.


Mephibosheth was puzzled why David would show him kindness, when he was as good as dead. He knew that he was a descendant of King Saul and Jonathan. He did not know the heart of David and that he was a man of his word. He did not know about the promises David had made to both King Saul and Jonathan.


So often we have good intentions but when it comes down to honoring those intentions we often fail. Are we Christians of character who honor our intentions? Carrying out our intentions reflects our heart.


David restored to Mephibosheth the fields that once belonged to King Saul. We also see that King Saul’s former servant/attendant and his household became the servants of Mephibosheth.


David instructed Ziba to work the fields for Mephibosheth and bring in the crops. This statement likely means Ziba was to bring the crops to market and covert them to funds or items useful to maintain future crops and the needs of Mephibosheth. Since Mephibosheth would be eating at the king’s table, it is believed that the crops would provide money for his housing and care.


Ziba agreed to David’s request. Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. This would increase his work load but also give him more responsibility. Plus, he would be serving the king. In later years, we find that Ziba provided David with much needed provisions and David gave some of Mephibosheth’s land to him.


David was not only kind but generous. This is a message to those who are Christians and serve our LORD. GOD has already been kind and generous to us. We in turn need to be kind and generous to others. I quickly add that being generous can spoil those receiving the kindness and generosity. It is important that Christians are in relationship with GOD through CHRIST so that what is done for others does not become a crutch. Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet and needed the help. David had him to eat at his table. Did David want to keep an eye on Mephibosheth to make sure he was not being spoiled or that his new found prosperity would not result in him trying to reestablish his grandfather’s kingdom? Many believe that David wanted to make sure that his needs were being met. I believe David’s motive was pure.


Ephesians 4:32 is a good summary and message for Christians: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)


We also see in Galatians 5:22 that the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT is kindness. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,[5] 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.


The fruit of the SPIRIT flows naturally and wisely when Christians are in right relationship with CHRIST. Allow CHRIST to rule your life.