LISTEN
This sermon was preached by Eleisha Barrow at the Fallowfield site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 21st November 2021.
BIBLE VERSES
This sermon was based on 2 Samuel 9.
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
1And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
9Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
KEY POINTS
• God’s kindness goes beyond boundaries and expectations.
• They are SHOCKED that someone with Mephibosheth’s circumstances would be invited so undeservedly into the king’s presence.
• David gives Mephibosheth privileges of a king’s family, even though he isn’t king.
• This passage that demonstrates David’s kindness is such a mirror image for God’s kindness that we get to experience everyday.
Our Kindness
• Kindness that doesn’t benefit ourselves in any way is often something that is easily forgotten.
• In this passage the word “Kindness.” is used 3 times (v.1, 3, 7). In Hebrew, the word is hesed which is translated in other places as “loving-kindness,” “grace,” “mercy,” “favor,”.
• Showing kindness isn’t always the easy or the natural response in certain situations but this passage also shows how we can do it.
• Our kindness isn’t used to make gain for ourselves but it is a way to show God’s kindness.
• We know we can give this kindness because Jesus died for us.
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