April 9 Daily Devotional

2 Samuel 8–9

David was a strong and powerful king. He looked up to God, who gave him the victory in many battles. His kingdom was1 extended beyond the borders of Canaan. He was the ruler of all the lands from the river Euphrates on the north, down to the wilderness in the south, where the children of Israel had wandered; and from the Great Sea on the west to the great desert on the east. All this land was under the rule of king David with the exception of the territory of Tyre and Sidon on the sea shore north of Canaan. King Hiram, ruler of these cities, was peaceful and a good friend of David.

When David’s wars were over, he remembered the promise he made to his dear friend Jonathan with regard to his children. So one day he asked his men, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” They told David of Ziba, a wealthy man who was taking care of a tract of land that had belonged to Saul. When Ziba was called, the king put the same question to him. Ziba replied, “Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet … Behold, he is in the house of Machir … in Lo-debar.”

Mephibosheth, that was the name of this son of Jonathan, had been in the arms of his nurse, when the report came that his father lost his life in the battle of mount Gilboa. The nurse fled with the little prince to hide from the Philistines. As she ran she stumbled and dropped him to the ground. Both of his feet were injured and he became a cripple. Now he was grown up and lived on the other side of the Jordan river.

David sent for Mephibosheth. He came to the palace and fell down before the king in reverence and fear. David in kindness spoke to him, saying, “Mephibosheth …fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy grandfather; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” Then the king called Ziba, who had been the servant of Saul, and said to him, “I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth shall eat bread always at my table … as one of the king’s sons.”

Thus the lame son of Jonathan was honored by the king to sit among the highest in the land. David had an opportunity to show kindness to the son of his dear friend, whose death he had lamented, “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: how are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished.”