When he was five years old, Mephibosheth’s father (Jonathon) and grandfather (King Saul) died in battle. When his nurse heard the news, she panicked and ran. She picked up little Mephibosheth to carry him to safety with her and must have tripped in her haste. She dropped him and from the account in 2 Samuel 4, we gather he must have suffered a spinal injury because from that time on, Scripture says he was “lame in both feet”.
Of course, back in Old Testament days, if a king was defeated in batt
le the winning side killed or banished all the former king’s heirs so there would be no competition for the throne. Mephibosheth was forced to hide for years to come, fearing for his life and dependent on others in a society that neither valued nor made allowances for those in his condition.
Miserable.
But in an interesting twist you can read about in 2 Samuel 9, years later King David remembered a promise he had made that would change everything. As young men, David and Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathon, had been very close friends and David had vowed to always show kindness to Jonathon’s family.
Now David is king and he recognizes how good God has been to him and how He has kept His promises. He wants to reciprocate and fulfill the oath he had made to his dear friend so long ago.
He calls a servant in and asks, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Mephibosheth is found and brought to the king, quaking in his boots and understandably terrified.
What a surprise when, in a beautiful display of grace, David says, “I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.” He not only shows mercy, he makes Mephibosheth rich with his grandfather Saul’s inheritance and provides for him to be cared for in the royal palace the rest of his life.
Does this remind you of anyone?
” ‘For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Isaiah 54:10
The undeserved love and blessing that King David pours out on Mephibosheth is just like the love of God toward His people throughout history!
We are Mephibosheth – wounded and unable to fend for ourselves, uncertain and even afraid of what our future may hold. Yet God has rescued us through Christ, just as He promised He would, and the inheritance we have received from God through His son, Jesus, has made us rich for all eternity!
Amazing.
As the redeemed, we now have the opportunity to reveal God’s character to others by practicing kindness ourselves. It is another of the “fruits of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) – an ability God has given us through His Spirit that we are challenged to develop.
We may not have the means to make someone rich or care for them in a royal palace for the rest of their lives, but it doesn’t cost anything to pay attention to another’s needs and make an effort to act. Luck actually has nothing to do with it.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Have you been on the receiving end of unexpected or even undeserved kindness lately? How did you respond?
How will you practice kindness today?
Do you think singles are uniquely positioned to show and share kindness with others? What would that look like?
Please leave a comment and tell us what you think.
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