The united kingdom · 2 Samuel 9
David and Mephibosheth
David asks, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Ziba, a former servant of Saul, answers, “Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.” He is living at Lo-debar. David sends for him. Mephibosheth falls on his face before the king. “Fear not,” David tells him, “for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” Mephibosheth bows down: “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” Ziba will farm the land. Mephibosheth, lame on both his feet, lives in Jerusalem and eats at the king’s table like one of his sons.
What happens
- “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1
- Ziba speaks of a son of Jonathan, lame on his feet, living at Lo-debar 2 Samuel 9:3–4
- Mephibosheth comes and falls on his face before David 2 Samuel 9:5–6
- “Fear not… thou shalt eat bread at my table continually” 2 Samuel 9:7
- “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:8
- Mephibosheth eats at the king’s table like one of his sons 2 Samuel 9:11–13
Who is in this story
The lesson
David shows kindness to Mephibosheth, who has done nothing to earn it, “for Jonathan’s sake” and because of the covenant that bound them together (1 Sam 20:14-17). In the same way, God welcomes us to his table not for our merits but because of Christ: “God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32).
And David said unto him, 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 father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
Quick quiz on this story
For whose sake does David want to show kindness to a survivor of the house of Saul?
David asks, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1
What disability does Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, have?
Ziba speaks of a son of Jonathan who is “lame on his feet,” and the account notes that Mephibosheth “was lame on both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:13
What does David promise Mephibosheth?
David tells him, “I will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” 2 Samuel 9:7
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