A Promise Kept
Opening Prayer
Lord, You have brought me to Your table and given me a place of honor. I praise Your name.
Read 2 Samuel 8:15-9:13
[15] David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. [16] Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; [17] Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; [18] Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests. [1] David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” [2] 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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What promise has been made to you and kept?When Jonathan warned David of his father’s plan to kill him (1 Sam. 20), they swore an oath to look after each other’s families (20:42). David then seeks out Saul’s family (1) to fulfill this promise. There seems much delay between when David was made king and his fulfilling his vow to Jonathan. Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth is now grown up, with a son of his own (12). Why the delay? Maybe David wanted to consolidate his position first, or maybe his conscience was catching up with him.David’s act flows from 2 Samuel 8:15, where David is described as showing justice to everyone. When God places us in a position of leadership, how do we use it? Are we fair to everyone, or do we show favoritism to people for our own advantage or those who have similar opinions or backgrounds to ourselves? Mephibosheth’s description of himself as a “dead dog” (8) demonstrates Mephibosheth’s humility and indicates he was not a threat to David. In turn, David treats Mephibosheth like one of his sons sitting at his table (11). Although overdue, David has kept his promise to Jonathan.
Apply
Do you keep your promises to others? Think about a promise you have made but not kept. Rectify it.
Closing prayer
Lord, You are the promise-keeping God. Help us to be a promise-keeping people whose word is sure.
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