How did David show God's kindness to Mephibosheth?
As a descendant of Saul, he was right to fear the king. But David said, “Don't be afraid.” David showed kindness to Mephibosheth, promising to restore to him all of Saul's fields. He appointed servants to work the fields.
What did David do for Mephibosheth?
Some years later, after his accession to the kingship of the United Monarchy, King David sought "someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God" and Mephibosheth was brought to him. David restored Saul's inheritance to Mephibosheth and permitted him to live within his palace in Jerusalem.
What was the significance of David and Jonathan's relationship?
The fact that they were both married did not inhibit them in emotional and physical displays of love for each other. This intimate relationship was sealed before God. It was not just a spiritual bond it became covenantal for “Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:3).
What did Ziba tell David about Mephibosheth?
In 2 Samuel 9, David speaks to him and tells him how Mephibosheth will be his master. In 2 Samuel 16, when David flees Jerusalem after Absalom's conspiracy, Ziba comes to David with provisions, and claims that Mephibosheth has broken faith with David.
Why did David take care of Mephibosheth?
David sent for Mephibosheth, Johnathan's son, so he could, “show the kindness of God to him” (2 Samuel 9:3). When Mephibosheth came to David, he was expecting to be killed and fell on his face and paid homage to him.
What we learn from the story of Mephibosheth?
We might not be crippled in our feet, but we might be crippled spiritually. God does not want us to be crippled in any way. The story of Mephibosheth tells how his trusted nurse dropped him, and it was not the boy's fault. We should be aware that people will drop us and it will impact our lives.
What do we learn from David and Jonathan's friendship?
Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship and peace that was to last through their descendants forever (see 1 Samuel 20:14–17, 42). What is a covenant? (A solemn promise between two or more people. Remind the children of some of the important covenants we make with God.)
What was the promise between David and Jonathan?
May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father. and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family--not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth." So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD call David's enemies to account."
What was the best thing in David and Jonathan's friendship?
The story of David and Jonathan is one of great friendship. Jonathan went to great lengths to protect David from his father Saul, and David looked after Jonathan's children long after he was dead. Great friends do those kinds of things for each other.
What is the meaning of Mephibosheth?
Freebase. Mephibosheth. According to the Books of Samuel of the Tanakh, Mephibosheth or Merib-baal is the son of Jonathan, and grandson of King Saul,. According to the biblical narrative, Mephibosheth was five years old when both his father and grandfather died at the Battle of Mount Gilboa.
For what cripple did David order Ziba to farm the land?
Saul's servant Ziba was ordered to farm Mephibosheth's land and bring in the crops. This arrangement continued until David's son Absalom rebelled against him and tried to seize the throne.
What does it mean to come out of lodebar?
It is usually believed to be the same as Debir in the Tribe of Gad. (Joshua 13:26) The word means "no pasture,"(2 Samuel 17:27) "no word" or "no communication". Possible locations are: Tel Dover (Khirbet ed-Duweir) in the mouth of Yarmouk River.
Who summoned Mephibosheth to Jerusalem?
And so then in verse 5 through verse 8, the author of the account describes how David summons Mephibosheth to Jerusalem. He sent and brought him out of the house of Machir and brought him to his presence. And in his presence, Mephibosheth fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said one word.
Who was Mephibosheth's son?
Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.”.
What is the deferred fulfillment of the covenant between David and Jonathan?
Secondly, there is a kind of deferred fulfillment in the promise and covenant that was made between David and Jonathan. That covenant and that promise were made very early in Jonathan’s life and in David’s life. As a matter of fact , in the meantime, a number of years have gone by.
What does the book of Memphiboseth illustrate?
It illustrates how, through God’s grace and in Memphiboseth’s grace, the grace shown to him as a result of Jonathan and David’s covenant, individuals come to the assurance and possession of eternal life. I think of a book that George Goodman wrote, many years ago, entitled, “From Guilt through Grace to Glory.”.
Does Mephibosheth have children?
So we have Mephibosheth now has a reached a certain age. He has his family and he has children, but the promise that was made many years before by David and the covenant between the two, that David would preserve his family, is now going to come to fulfillment. But it’s a deferred fulfillment.
Who brought Mephibosheth out of the house of Ammiel?
Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself.
Did Jonathan have children?
Jonathan has married and has had children. And, I think, that he may have had children when the covenant was made. But his children now have married and they have children because we read in verse 12, Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. So we have Mephibosheth now has a reached a certain age.
What is Mephibosheth's response to David's kindness?
Mephibosheth’s appearance and his words demonstrate his response to David’s kindness and reveal how God’s grace keeps us for the return of Christ.
What is grace in Mephibosheth?
There are three things about God’s grace that are illustrated in the story of Mephibosheth: Grace seeks us where we’re at, brings us to the King’s presence, and keeps us for the King’s return. 1.
What would have happened if Mephibosheth had not been crippled?
If he had not been crippled, he might have tried to challenge David for the throne or to escape from the king’s messengers. But being crippled, there wasn’t much he could do except go along with them. It is those who recognize their needy spiritual condition who respond to God’s grace. Those who think that they are spiritually well often rebel or resist. But Mephibosheth came. And did he find judgment? No! He found the A, B, C’s of grace--Acceptance, Blessing, and Communion.
What did Mephibosheth think when the messengers knocked on his door?
Can you imagine what Mephibosheth must have thought when the king’s messengers knocked on his door and said, “Come with us. King David wants to see you at the palace!” Verses 6 & 7 show us what he thought: he was afraid! He thought he would be executed.
Where did Mephibosheth eat?
Mephibosheth ate regularly at the king’s table. In case you missed it, it’s stated four times: 9:7, 10, 11, 13. Can you imagine what that must have been like for Mephibosheth? He was a cripple living in obscurity at Lo-debar, where the most exciting thing to do was to sit around watching tumbleweeds blow. He is brought to the capital city of Jerusalem where he ate all of his meals at the same table as the most powerful monarch in the world, sharing life with the royal family.
Why did David accept Jonathan?
20:13-17 ). Mephibosheth found that he was accepted by David because of David’s beloved friend, Jonathan. Even so, God the Father made a covenant with His beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ. For His sake, He shows us kindness.
What was Mephibosheth's appearance?
Mephibosheth adopted the appearance of a mourner. A usurper was on the throne, and Mephibosheth could not enter into the frivolity of Absalom’s court while David was in rejection. Mephibosheth’s heart was loyal to David, and his lifestyle reflected it.