2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 9: Mephibosheth

“This charming idyl of faithful love to a dead friend and generous kindness comes in amid stories of battle like a green oasis in a wilderness of wild rocks and sand. The natural sweetness and chivalry of David’s disposition, which fascinated all who had to do with him, comes beautifully out in it, and it may well stand as an object lesson of the great Christian duty of practical mercifulness.” (A. MacLaren)

Jonathan loved David and it was indeed mutual! So David agreed that when he had come into his kingdom, he would leave a branch of Saul. He covenanted: “You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." (1 Samuel 20:15)

Now that David’s enemies were subdued, he asks, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (1) David also was mindful of his covenant, though it would be deemed null and void by all his court.” (Joseph Sutcliffe) “Then the king said, ‘Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?’(3a) That is, the utmost, the highest degrees of kindness; as the hail of God, is very great hail, the mountains of God, exceeding high mountains: besides, this kindness was according to the covenant of God made between him and the family of Jonathan.” (Adam Clarke)

“And Ziba said to the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.’ (3b) So David found him and brought him in and said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.’ (7) “’Will restore thee all the land'— I believe this means the mere family estate of the house of Kish, which David as king might have retained, but which most certainly belonged, according to the Israelitish law, to the descendants of the family.— ‘And thou shalt eat bread at my table’ — This was kindness, (the giving up the land was justice,) and it was the highest honour that any subject could enjoy, as we may see from the reference made to it by our Lord, Luke 22:30: ‘That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.’ For such a person David could do no more.” (Adam Clarke)

“Then Mephibosheth bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”— That you should consider me who is like a Gentile to you. He rightly considered that he had no rights to such treatment. Dead dog— “This is a high expression of humility; for a dog was accounted a vile and unclean creature, and a dead dog as of no use at all.” (Joseph Benson) “This poor cripple at Lodebar never supposed that David would show him favor. Did he not belong to the rejected house of Saul? What could he expect from one whom his grandfather had hunted like a partridge on the mountains? Besides, his lameness made him unfit for court-life. We, like him, are the children of an apostate race; we have neither beauty nor worth to commend us. We may class together those two sentences: ‘What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?’ and, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord,’ 2 Samuel 9:8 and Luke 5:8.” (F. B. Meyer)

“And what words of grace came from David’s lips! Surely the kindness of God is here fully made known. He is lifted from his low place of shame to take a place at the King’s table ‘as one of the King’s sons.’ It is the kindness of God as made known in the gospel of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. He takes us out of our shame and makes us one of His sons. ‘So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both feet.’ When the kingdom has come the King will show such grace and kindness to the poor and needy (Isaiah 11:1-5 ; Psalms 72:1-4 ).” (Arno Gaebelein)

“’Afterwards Mephibosheth did eat at the king's table,’ as one of the king's sons. Dr. Delaney supposes, that David composed upon this occasion the 101st Psalm.

Note; Our forfeited inheritance is restored to us in Christ; and, though we are utterly undeserving the least of his regard, he kindly condescends to invite us to his table below, and to sit down with him in his kingdom above.” (Thomas Coke)

“David’s treatment of Mephibosheth was very gracious and beautiful…[But we have another lesson as well!] When David was driven away from his home by Absalom, and compelled to flee for his life, he was received by Machir, Mephibosheth’s friend, across the Jordan. In his home he found refuge, shelter, and entertainment. Thus David’s generous kindness to Jonathan’s son prepares kindness for David himself. It is often so. We do not know what we are doing when we are showing love’s sympathy and helpfulness to some friend or neighbour. Some day it may come back to us many fold.” (The Church Pulpit Commentary)