When you and I are loving and kind, especially to the sandpaper people in our lives, we’re acting like we’re children of the most high, and we are children of the one true king. And whenever you and I open up God’s word, we are literally refreshing our souls. So, we’re going to continue to study kindness in the Bible this week. This is such a rich story of kindness, with King David as our example. Let’s dive in.
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Transcription:
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
Wow. When you and I are loving and kind, especially to the sandpaper people in our lives, we’re acting like we’re children of the most high, and we are children of the one true king. Hi, I’m Erica welcoming you to the Bible for Busy People. Today, we’re stopping in the midst of this crazy busy season, right? We’ve got so much going on this time of year to take a sip of iced coffee for our souls. You have heard of self-care? Well, I believe in soul care. CS Lewis says,
You have a body. You are a soul.
And whenever you and I open up God’s word, we are literally refreshing our souls. So, we’re going to continue to study kindness in the Bible this week. What does it look like? What examples can we find? And we’re going to find one beautiful example at the table of a king. But first, a little background. There was a king named Saul in the Bible, And at first he really loved David, the shepherd boy who stood up and said, yeah, I’ll fight the big, huge, giant, literal, giant enemy of Israel. I’ll fight Goliath. And of course, you know that he used five stones in a sling, only needed one to take down that giant because it was really God who took down that giant. But it was David’s faith and courage that God put in his heart That enabled him to defeat the giant. But soon Saul got jealous. David was anointed to be the next king of Israel. He was about to become a giant threat to King Saul, but first it was all roses. First Samuel 18 now verse one.
After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. 5 Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.
Okay. Now, between what you and I just studied together and what we’re about to study together, many a battle took place. King Saul, the current king, and Jonathan’s father, was hunting the future King, King David down mercilessly, trying to take his life. And King Saul eventually lost his life. His son, Jonathan’s life was also taken, and David is now the current king sitting on the throne, and I want you to see his beautiful acts of kindness as we read Second Samuel chapter nine, together, beginning in verse one,
David asked, is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
Okay, remember what we read just moments ago in Luke chapter six, Jesus telling us to love our enemies, and when we do that, we are acting like we’re children of the most high, which we are. This is what David is doing. Saul was his enemy. Over and over, Saul tried to take his life, and yet here is David. After Saul is gone and his best friend in the world is gone, Jonathan Saul’s son, wanting to show kindness. Verse two, now.
Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked.Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” 5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.David said, “Mephibosheth!”“At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
That is such a rich story of kindness. King David is our example. He still loved Jonathan and he still respected Jonathan’s father, the previous King Saul, even though he had tried to murder him. He extended the kindness and love that God asked him to, to Mephibosheth, lame both feet, eating dinner at the king’s table, his land restored… That is a kind of kindness that only God can inspire. Oh Lord, make us as kind and loving as you are. In Jesus name, amen. All right, until next time, you are loved.
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