Read 2 Samuel 9
Questions from the Scripture text: What does David ask in 2 Samuel 9:1? Whom do they bring in 2 Samuel 9:2? What does David ask him (2 Samuel 9:3 a)? What does Ziba answer (verse 3b)? What does the king now ask (2 Samuel 9:4 a)? What does Ziba answer (verse 4b)? Then what does David do (2 Samuel 9:5)? What does Mephibosheth do when he comes to David (2 Samuel 9:6)? What does David ask, and how does Mephibosheth answer? What does David say he will do (2 Samuel 9:7)? What does Mephibosheth ask (2 Samuel 9:8)? What does he call himself? Whom does the king call in 2 Samuel 9:9? What does he tell him he has done? What does David tell Ziba to do in 2 Samuel 9:10? But where does David say Mephibosheth will eat? How many sons and servants did Ziba have for obeying this command? How does Ziba answer in 2 Samuel 9:11 a? What does David repeat in verse 11b (cf. 2 Samuel 9:10)? What did Mephibosheth have (2 Samuel 9:12)? What role did all in Ziba’s house have? Where did Mephibosheth stay (2 Samuel 9:13)? What did he do? What comment concludes verse 13?
The ”kindness” mentioned in 2 Samuel 9:1, 2 Samuel 9:3, 2 Samuel 9:7 is “ḳessed”—covenanted, unthwartable love. Specifically, it is the covenant love of God (verse 3) that is between David and Jonathan’s family (cf. 1 Samuel 20:15).
Praise God that, as He forms Christ within His people, He forms His own love within us (cf. Philippians 1:8). For, man’s “covenant” love is often treacherous, rather than loyal. But in this passage about David, the type (foreshadower/forerunner/intentional-picture-in-advance) of Christ, we have a glorious picture of the persistence, reliability, and abundance of the covenant love of Jesus.
This does bring up the question for us of whether we are striving for and enjoying this part of Jesus’s character being formed in us. We make covenant commitments, sacred promises, in our public professions of faith, at baptisms, when taking church office, and when entering into marriage. All of these are covenants and rest upon covenant commitment to our obligations. Are you seeing more and more of Christ in your own zeal and determination, as you keep those commitments?
Of course, one of the things that enables us to reflect Christ’s covenant commitment from within us is our safety and security in Christ’s covenant commitment to us. This is marvelously pictured to us in 2 Samuel 9:7. God shows us love that has been covenanted with our Representative, Christ. He has given us favored status; He has brought us under His protection; He has pledged unto us His provision. Many falter in their commitments because they are worried about, or dissatisfied with, how the other side (the leadership, the congregation, the spouse, etc.) is going to hold up their end.
But, there is another party involved here. And the Lord Jesus ALWAYS holds up His end! Even when others are failing us (or our flesh feels sure that they will), David’s commitment to Jonathan and Mephibosheth is the tiniest little picture of God our Father’s commitment to us, and the Lord Jesus Christ’s commitment to us. You can follow through on your commitments before God and to others, because He is always following through on His commitments to you.
We find this idea daunting. We say, “I don’t have it in me to be faithful to work harder and be even more tender, when my wife only sees where she feels disappointed and is cold and prickly toward me” or “I just don’t have it in me to love and pray and serve even more for this congregation, when people only notice what they have against me and openly despise or reject me.” We are right; we don’t have it in us. That’s why it is so encouraging (though not particularly flattering) that the Lord has given us Mephibosheth as the picture of ourselves in this chapter.
The analogy, of course, must fall short. David cannot indwell Mephibosheth by his spirit to restore his function to match his status. But our Lord Jesus has done just that with us. He has not only seated us at Heaven’s table as so many princes and princesses over all creation, but He has indwelt us by His Spirit to transform our character. He is working on us and in us until we behave entirely as the children of God. What wondrous, covenant love!
What covenant commitments do you most have trouble keeping? How is God keeping His commitments toward you in them? How is He doing so? How does this help you to keep yours?
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”
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