[NIV] 1 David asked, "Is there anyone still left of thehouse of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan‘s sake?" - P138
7 "Don‘t be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surelyshow you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to yourgrandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table. m - P138
10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm theyour mas-land for him and bring in thecrops, so thatter‘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.) - P139
13 AndMephiboshethlived in Jerusalem, because healways ate at the king‘s table; he was lame in both feet. - P139
David finds out that Jonathan‘s son Mephibosheth is lame but still alive. He im-mediately has Mephibosheth brought to him. - P139
David tells him he remembersJonathan‘s kindness and that everything that belonged to Saul‘s householdwill be returned to him. From then on, Mephibosheth always ate at the king‘stable and lived in Jerusalem. - P139
When we engage in an act of kindness, we tend to think it flows fromour own goodness. But all kindness in this world reflects the kindnessof God. - P140
The kindness that David demonstrates in today‘s passage isnot just a reflection but an embodiment of God‘s kindness. Davidhas experienced the kindness of God in his life, so he wants to extendit to Mephibosheth, the son of his beloved friend Jonathan. - P140
But Mephibosheth responds to David with disbelief, thinking himself utterlyundeserving of the king‘s favor. - P140
As someone whose life was bitter andfull of hardship, he is completely overwhelmed by David‘s offer. - P140
Just aswe have been overwhelmed by God‘s undeserved kindness, let us makeit a point to overwhelm someone else with kindness today. - P140
We understand God‘s kindness in a deeper way when we realize ourown helplessness. - P140
Mephibosheth was helpless. David‘s kindness exaltedhim from a lowly position to the honor of eating at the king‘s table forthe rest of his life. - P140
We can imagine that every time Mephibosheth ate herequired assistance, at least to be brought to and from the king‘s table. This would have been a constant reminder of his helplessness but evenmore so a reminder of God‘s kindness shown through David. - P140
God‘skindness redeems our helplessness. Even in our darkest days, we cansee God‘s kindness in the undeserved gift of His grace poured upon usthrough His Son. - P140
His grace is what lifts us up when we are down andcannot get up on our own. - P140
The king of the Ammonites dies, and his son Hanun becomes the new king. David sends a delegation to express his condolences to Hanun. - P143
But insteadof welcoming David‘s men, Hanun listens to bad counsel and humiliates theenvoys. David sends an army against the Ammonites, who partner with theArameans. David defeats them, and they become subject to Israel. - P143
Although David shows kindness to the new king of the Ammonites, Hanun, by sending his servants to express sympathy after Hanun‘s fa-ther dies, David‘s kindness is overtly rejected. - P146
Moreover, the Ammo-nites physically abuse and humiliate David‘s servants. - P146
And as if this werenot bad enough, the Ammonites form a coalition with neighboringarmies and initiate war against the Israelites. Their response to David‘skindness is unjust and out of proportion. - P146
When we choose to do goodas ambassadors of God‘s kingdom, we may be similarly persecuted. The world can be hostile to God and does not always see His servantsfavorably. . - P146
But this should not discourage us. Jesus has promised to bewith us always. Let us share His goodness even in the face of hostility - P146
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