2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 9

Morgan commenting on 2 Samuel 9:1 writes that "There is an exquisite tenderness about the story of this chapter. David's love for Jonathan was still fresh. One can easily imagine how, in the days of his growing prosperity, the king would often think of the old strenuous times, and of his friend's loyalty to him under circumstances so full of stress and peril. For David, the house of Saul, which had caused him so much suffering, was redeemed by his love for (and covenant with) Jonathan; and therefore he instituted inquiry as to whether there were any left of that house, to whom he might show kindness (hesed - a covenant term) for the sake of his friend." Then David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness (hesed; Lxx - eleos) for Jonathan's sake - Note it does say house of Jonathan but house of Saul, another evidence that David harbored no ill-will, unforgiveness or bitterness toward Saul even after having be pursued by him for 10 years. This is another aspect of the character of a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22+). THOUGHT - Are you challenged? I hope so, because this challenges my heart which has difficulty forgiving even a momentary "misstep" by another human being. I am prone to quickly respond in kind, yet David sets the bar so high that the only way we can "jump" it is by continual dependence on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. This is the only way we can be "forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Eph 4:32+). Remember David had flesh just like all of us, but 1Sa 16:13 says "the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward." So David like us had continual access to source of superhuman power and here in 2 Samuel 9:1 he clearly is speaking as a Spirit empowered man. O, that we (I) might remember this the next time a "Saul" throws a spear (figuratively) at us (me). In Jesus' Name and for His glory. Amen. A key phrase is kindness for Jonathan's sake, which speaks of the solemn covenant they had made (see passages above), a covenant which cannot be broken by death or by time (cf "descendants" and "forever" in 1Sa 20:42+)! Keep in mind that Mephibosheth now had a son so he was probably about 20yo. If we compare 2Sa 4:4 he was 5 when Jonathan died. So while David is doing good to ask this question, one might ask why did not David ask this question in the previous 15 years when Mephibosheth was in hiding and undoubtedly daily fearing for his life (which would certainly have been the case after his uncle Ish-bosheth was assassinated!) Kudos to David for even recalling the covenant and seeking to fulfill it if there were any descendants. Given the passage of years, and his increasing success as king, it would have been easy for him to forget about the "forever" clause in 1Sa 20:42. An intimate component of covenant is lovingkindness which David desired to display because of his loyalty and faithfulness to the covenant he had made with Jonathan. Hesed refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Jehovah and Israel). But hesed is not only a matter of obligation but is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. Hesed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law. Notice that David is seeking for someone to whom he can show mercy. The person needing mercy is not seeking David the king. How like our Great God Who sought us and bought us with the price of blood when we were lame, unlovely and uninterested in Him! Believer's Study Bible - True friendship is not easily dismissed. David, having established his kingdom, searched for any offspring of Saul to whom he might show kindness. The discovery of the lame son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth (Or Merib-Baal), provided David the opportunity to be faithful to the promises of his friendship with Jonathan. (ED: WHILE THIS COMMENT IS NOT INCORRECT, IT IS INCOMPLETE - THE ULTIMATE REASON FOR DAVID'S PURSUIT OF DESCENDANTS OF JONATHAN IS BECAUSE OF THEIR SOLEMN, BINDING AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDED THE DESCENDANTS IN 1Sa 20:42+. FRIENDSHIP IS ITSELF A COMPONENT OF COVENANT. SEE NOTE ON FRIEND, A COVENANT TERM). Lovingkindness (02617) hesed/chesed/heced is the idea of faithful love in action and often in the OT refers to God's lovingkindness expressed in His covenant relationship with Israel (His "loyal love" to His "Wife" Israel [cp Hos 2:18, 19, 20+, Is 54:5, Je 31:32+] = His "loyalty to covenant"). God's hesed His denotes persistent and unconditional tenderness, kindness, and mercy, a relationship in which He seeks after man with love and mercy (cp God immediately seeking man Ge 3:9+, who was immediately hiding Ge 3:8+ trying to cover their shame Ge 3:7 - contrast God's lovingkindness manifest by spilling blood to provide skins to cover their shame! Ge 3:21+). In general, one may identify three basic meanings of hesed, and these 3 meanings always interact -- strength, steadfastness, and love. Any understanding of hesed that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. Love by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet strength or steadfastness suggests only the fulfillment of a legal (or similar) obligation. Phil Newton has two illustrations about how changing circumstances make it expedient to forget and forgo our former vows, something David could have easily done regarding his covenant with Jonathan considering that (1) Jonathan was dead, (2) no one else knew about it as far as I can discern (except of course God) and (3) that covenant had been cut almost 2 decades earlier. Illustration: Former President George Bush was defeated for reelection in 1992, according to many pundits, because of one line: "Read my lips: no new taxes!" Then, caught in political maneuvering, he raised taxes. Promises made then laid aside were costly. Illustration: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech in Pittsburgh in 1932 advocated restraint in government spending. Four years later he wanted to speak in favor of government spending. The solution according to his advisors: deny you made a speech in Pittsburgh in 1932. David could have done the same - I Samuel 20's covenant with Jonathan. Now, 15 years later, all enemies vanquished and the lone rival to his throne was Mephibosheth. But David honored covenant love: "life under covenant gives you a firm place to stand and ought to evoke a sense of security, privilege, and wonder from you" (Ralph Davis). J D Watson - Mercy [and] Grace cheseḏ [and] chānan - While not interchangeable, heseḏ (mercy) and chānan (grace) are closely related. While mercy is the withholding of what is deserved (e.g., death and hell), grace is the bestowing of what is not deserved (e.g., life and heaven). 2 Samuel 9 gives one of the most graphic pictures in all the Bible of both mercy and grace, with ten startling parallels to the Savior and sinner: First, Mephibosheth, the son of King David's friend Jonathan, was crippled by a fall (2Sa 4:4), just as each of us was crippled by Adam's fall, even rendered "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1-3). Second, as David wanted to show Mephibosheth "kindness [cheseḏ] for Jonathan's sake" (2 Sam. 9:1), God has shown us mercy and grace for the sake of the Lord Jesus (Eph. 4:32). Third, that kindness was neither deserved nor earned by Mephibosheth, who could do little for himself, much less do anything for the king of Judah and Israel. We in turn deserved nothing but death, and there are not enough works in the universe to save a single soul (Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). Fourth, Mephibosheth was sought by the king (2Sa 9:1, 5), again picturing unmerited favor. Likewise, not a single person has ever "[sought] after God" by his own power (Ro 3:11). "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," Jesus declared (John 15:16). A dead man can do nothing, so "no man can come to [Christ], except the Father which hath sent [Him] draw him" (John 6:44; 65; Acts 16:13, 14). Fifth, David ordered and empowered servants to fetch Mephibosheth (2Sa 9:5), a graphic picture of evangelism. God has likewise called and empowered each of us as witnesses (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19, 20). Sixth, a result of all this was that Mephibosheth reverenced the king (2Sa 9:6), a challenge to us to worship Jesus. Seventh, he became a servant of the king (v. 6), as are we of Christ (e.g., Ro 6:16). Eighth, he was given riches and security (v. 7), just as we have spiritual riches (Eph. 1:3) and security in Christ (John 10:28, 29; Ro 8:29-39). Ninth, he was made a king's son (v. 11), as we are God's children (John 1:12, 13, Ro 8:14). And tenth, his physical condition was hidden from view when he sat at the king's table (v. 13). We, too, have been sanctified by Christ (Heb. 9:12-15) and "sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). THE POWER OF COVENANT Ralph Davis gives the following illustration of the power of covenant - The works of B. B. Warfield, the esteemed biblical theologian of old Princeton Seminary, are still known and read in the evangelical church today. What is not so well–known is the tale of his marriage. Warfield was pursuing studies in Leipzig, Germany, in 1876–77. This time also doubled as honeymoon with his wife Annie. They were on a walking tour in the Harz Mountains when they were caught in a terrific thunderstorm. The experience was such a shock to Annie that she never fully recovered, becoming more or less an invalid for life. Warfield only left her for his seminary duties, but never for more than two hours at a time. His world was almost entirely limited to Princeton and to the care of his wife. For thirty–nine years. One of his students noted that when he saw the Warfields out walking together ‘the gentleness of his manner was striking proof of the loving care with which he surrounded her.’ For thirty–nine years. That is the power covenant exercises. Is there anyone left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness (hesed) - Several observations can be made… First, note that David initiates the search for a possible relative of Jonathan and not vice versa. Second, keep in mind as discussed above that David's query occurs some 15-20 years after the death of Saul and Jonathan. He could have easily reasoned, it's been almost two decades since I cut covenant with Jonathan, so I am free of any obligation. Besides no one else even knows about the covenant we cut. Third, note that David does not seek descendants of Jonathan to assassinate (as occurred with most regime changes in that day) but to show lovingkindness (hesed). Ralph Davis defines hesed as "love that is willing to commit itself to another by making its promise a matter of solemn record". In a sense David is seeking one who by all other reasoning might be considered as his potential enemy (e.g., Mephibosheth would have been the heir apparent to Jonathan's kingdom), and he is doing so in order to demonstrate kindness, not vengeance. As an aside, it is surprising to read a number of commentaries that question David's motives for his actions in this chapter, saying that he wants to "keep an eye" on Mephibosheth. It seems they are almost oblivious to the obvious repetition of the word lovingkindness which is clearly David's motivation reflecting his commitment to covenant with his beloved friend Jonathan. Fourth, notice that David is motivated to do this for the sake of Jonathan. This clearly demonstrates the loyal, faithful love (hesed) that David had for Jonathan and which was a central component of the covenant they cut (1Sa 20:8 "kindly" = hesed). David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), was a man of his word, and understood the solemn and binding nature of covenant. And even though he was in a sense bound by the covenant to show lovingkindness (hesed) (1Sa 20:14, 15) to Jonathan's descendants, there is no hint that David is doing so as a "legalistic" obligation but as an act of his covenant love (See Love that Motivates Cutting Covenant) for his departed friend (covenant term) Jonathan. Such is the nature of covenant for it is undergirded and energized by love not law. THOUGHT - Are you having difficulty in your marital covenant? Perhaps its a covenant you made 20 years ago, but for a variety of reasons you are now even considering leaving your spouse. Beloved, may God find us faithful to the end. May we not be covenant breakers, but emulate David, a covenant keeper, remembering that… The promise made in the past directs fidelity in the present --Ralph Davis So despite the passage of time, David's loyalty to covenant was steadfast and so much so that it controlled his thoughts and actions in 2 Samuel 9. Little wonder David is called a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22)! What a picture of the steadfast lovingkindness of Jehovah (Play Don Moen's "Your Steadfast Love")… O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (1Chr 16:34) Greg Laurie - DROPPED (2 Samuel 9:1) Mephibosheth was only five years old when his father Jonathan and his grandfather Saul were killed on the battlefield. Imagine, if you will, life as he had known it up to this point. The privilege and potential of his present could not have prepared him for the hard life he would face in the future. There was life in the palace as a young prince … people waiting on him hand and foot … being raised by his godly father Jonathan. Life was good for this young boy. But there were dark clouds gathering in his world. In one moment, through no fault of his own, his entire life would change forever. Jonathan knew things were going to change. Thus, he persuaded David to make an agreement to look out for his descendants. He made David promise to show kindness to his family forever. David made that promise. And he kept it. When news hit the palace that Saul and Jonathan had been killed on the battlefield, the nurse who was caring for Mephibosheth, in her frenzied state, dropped this little boy on the ground. As a result, he was crippled for life. Perhaps you have gone through hardships in your childhood. Maybe something traumatic has happened to you. You have been dropped in life, so to speak. You wonder if anything good can come out of your life. Mephibosheth was dropped in life, but God intervened. In fact, God specializes in taking people who have been dropped in life and picking them back up again. That is just what David did for Mephibosheth. That is just what God will do for you. P G Matthew - Daily Delight —2 Samuel 9:1 What does Mephibosheth mean? In Hebrew, bosheth means “shame,” so I believe it means “big shame.” Mephibosheth represents all sinners who are redeemed. We must therefore give special attention to 2 Samuel 9 because it speaks of the redemption of God’s people. Mephibosheth deserved death. His grandfather Saul was an unregenerate who refused to obey God’s command and sought his own glory instead. After David ascended to the throne, it would have been proper and just for him to kill all the descendants of his rival Saul, as kings normally did in those days. As a direct descendant of Saul, Mephibosheth son of Jonathan knew and acknowledged that he was liable to being killed. He later said as much to King David after Absalom’s rebellion: “All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king” (2 Sam. 19:28). But David had made a covenant with Jonathan, and he wanted to honor it. After being established by God as the undisputed king of Israel, David expressed his desire to show kindness to any living descendant of his mortal enemy Saul. And so we find the amazing language seen in verse one above. That invitation is still going out even this day wherever the gospel is preached. It is the invitation of the great King, who, rather than showing justice, chooses to show kindness to his enemies. What is the invitation? “Come unto me; I will give you rest.” This is what the gospel is all about. We are all, by nature, Mephibosheths—sinners, people of great shame, enemies of God and deserving of his wrath. But God in mercy sends out his great gospel invitation, and we are saved. Why? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is the great theme of this chapter: God’s covenant mercy shown to the Mephibosheths of the world. The great King, of his own initiative, shows his kindness, grace, and unfailing mercy, not to well-deserving, or even ill-deserving people, but to his hell-deserving shameful enemies. And, like Mephibosheth, we are given a place at the banqueting table of the great King.