A Show of Kindness
II Samuel 9:1-13
Of all the virtues ascribed to God and available to mankind by His grace, one of the most revered is that of kindness. The psalmist, David, expressed it well, “Your lovingkindness is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). St. Paul lists it among the fruit of the Spirit, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness …” (Galatians 5:22). He further exhorts Christians to, “Be kind to one another …” (Ephesians 4:32). Indeed, this term or its synonyms can be found very often throughout the Scriptures as you well know. In fact, the same Hebrew word, “kheh-sed”, is translated in English versions as kindness, mercy, and lovingkindness.
One of the most touching examples of this virtue is depicted in the life of King David as he reached out to a man in great need of a show of kindness. That is the subject of this visit to an old well. It is our hope that this visit will provide a few moments of spiritual refreshment amid these hectic times of hostility, selfishness, anger, rudeness, etc. which seem to pervade our society each day.
David became king over Israel in 1004 B.C. following a turbulent period of conflict stemming from the jealousy of King Saul. Even as David’s life was being threatened by Saul, he and Saul’s son, Jonathan, made a covenant agreement that he would always show kindness to Jonathan’s family (I Samuel 20:15). Sometime later, Saul and Jonathan were both killed in a battle against the Philistines. When the news of their death reached the family back home, there was obviously great grief. Jonathan’s 5-year-old son, Mephibosheth, was hastily picked up by his nurse who fled frantically. In so doing, she dropped the boy, injuring him; he became lame in both his feet. (II Samuel 4:4).
In the ensuing years, nothing is mentioned about Mephibosheth, so we assume he lived in relative obscurity into adulthood. Somehow, he had been taken to Lo Debar, a village about 70 miles north of Jerusalem on the east side of the Jordan River. It appears that he had no family remaining during those years.
One day, the memory of his covenant with Jonathan came to David’s mind. He began to wonder whether any of Jonathan’s family were still living so he might show them kindness as he had promised. He called to himself Ziba who had been a servant of King Saul and inquired of him, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I my show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.” (II Samuel 9: 3). When David asked of his whereabouts, Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar” (vs. 4). Inserting here the meanings of these terms: Machir (to sell); Ammiel (one of the people of God); Lo Debar (without pasture). We will come back to that.
As an aside, perhaps irrelevant, this Machir just happens to be the brother of Bathsheba (I Chronicles 3:5), who later becomes involved with King David, is taken as his wife, and becomes the mother of Solomon and three other sons. When David called Mephibosheth, he would not have known Machir nor Bathsheba.
King David then ordered a detachment of soldiers to go there and bring Mephibosheth (literally, dispeller of shame) back to him. It is unclear as to whether David had known Mephibosheth earlier, but certainly he had lost track of him. Many years had passed since the death of Jonathan and Mephibosheth’s disappearance.
One may wonder what went through this poor man’s mind when the king’s soldiers arrived at his house in their gleaming chariots and shining armor. Furthermore, what a shock it must have been when the officer informed him that the king had summoned him to the palace! “If I am being punished, what have I done? If I am being rewarded, what do I deserve?” He had nothing to offer that the king would want or need. With these and many more thoughts swirling within him, the journey to Jerusalem must surely have been a mental and emotional struggle for Mephibosheth.
We may want to construct a mental picture of Mephibosheth’s entrance into the king’s palace. Being ushered into the royal chamber by soldiers, limping and clothed in shame, he fell on his face before the king – still perplexed as to what this meeting was about. There may well have been several moments of silence and stillness as the king entered. The soldiers may have been dismissed and the two left alone. Then, to the bowed man’s amazement, the king’s voice broke the silence, “Mephibosheth?”. With his face still on the floor, he answered, “Here is your servant!” (vs. 6). He must have marveled within himself – much like Zacchaeus many years later – as he realized, “He knows my name!”.
As David looked upon this poor man at his feet, he himself may well have understood, at least somewhat, how Mephibosheth felt. You will remember that David, too, had been shamed in his youth by his older brothers. He had been hated by King Saul and ridiculed by jealous adversaries. Yes, King David was not a stranger to shame either. So, perhaps quietly, the king spoke kindly, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually” (vs. 7). It appears that Mephibosheth had risen to his feet as he heard these words of kindness. However, the impact of what he heard compelled him, in a state of disbelief, to bow down again and humbly reply with a question, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I” (vs.8).
King David once again called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and commissioned him to become Mephibosheth’s caretaker and steward of the property and goods that belonged to Saul and Jonathan. The king had restored his inheritance and had “dispelled his shame” in this special act of kindness. In addition to that, the king “adopted” Mephibosheth into his own family, giving him a permanent place at his table, “As for Mephibosheth“, said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons” (vs. 11).
This simple act of kindness was only a small part of the life of King David recorded in the Scriptures. But although it was somewhat hidden within the complex of political, social, and spiritual matters swirling about, it was clearly a life-saving event for Mephibosheth. And as such, perhaps we can find, as earlier stated, some refreshment and relief in our lives – kindness from our King and God.
None of us may have experienced the magnitude of difficulties or adversities which beset Mephibosheth. However, many of us can testify to some measure of shame and pain which has left us crippled and limping through life. He bore the burden of a sinful grandfather (Saul) and the untimely death of his father (Jonathan). He found himself dependent upon one (Machir) who had perhaps “sold himself to the world” and renounced his mother (Ammiel) and her “godly teaching”. He was left in a place (Lo Debar) “without pasture”, lacking spiritual nourishment and the guidance of a shepherd.
How many are there today who have, intentionally or unintentionally, felt estranged from family, limping about in a world without spiritual protection or provision? How many are laden with various degrees of shame but can’t seem to live up to our name (Mephibosheth) and dispel that shame from us?
Well, thanks be to God, there is a King on His throne who remembers His promises of kindness to those who have gone before us. He has given us His word that in Christ, “we have obtained an inheritance” (Ephesians 1:11), “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Peter 1:4). He has told us that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12) and that “if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). And, just as David did for Mephibosheth, our king has prepared a table for us, laden with His body and His blood so that we may eat and drink unto life everlasting.
Brothers and sisters, let us also heed the King’s call, leaving our Lo Debar and coming humbly into His presence. Certainly, we will fall on our faces before Him asking, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” (II Samuel 9:8). And the King, who endured the cross and shame, will kindly say “do not fear, rise, you are My sons and daughters”.
What a special act of kindness! Thank You, Lord.
Fr. Andrew
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