«One day David asked, ‘Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive— anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s’ » (2 Samuel 9:1).
Have you ever been persecuted for years on end and had to go into hiding to protect your life? Or, maybe less tragically, have you ever had a constant enemy who made life impossible for you?
David had to face both situations because of Saul, but it didn’t prevent him from having a wonderful friendship with his son Jonathan and always honoring God’s chosen one, no matter what.
His faithfulness to Israel’s first king was seen till the end and, after Saul and Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines, David didn’t forget his love toward his best friend.
Now that his kingdom was well established, he looked for a way to honor the promise he had made to Jonathan that, when he had rested from his enemies, he would show kindness toward Saul’s family. What an incredible attitude of forgiveness, loyalty and unconditional love!
He could have used the opportunity for revenge, but he fulfilled his promise and found out if there were still any descendants.
Mephibosheth, Jonathan ‘s son, was crippled. He had been crippled because he had fallen from his nurse’s arms as they were trying to escape when they were defeated by the Philistines. After learning he was alive, David sent for him.
«Through reports from the enemies of David, Mephibosheth had been led to cherish a strong prejudice against him as an usurper; but the monarch’s generous and courteous reception of him and his continued kindness won the heart of the young man; he became strongly attached to David, and, like his father Jonathan, he felt that his interest was one with that of the King whom God had chosen» (Patriarchs and Prophets, ch. 70, p. 713).
Mephibosheth sat every day at David’ s table and also received the lands that had been taken away from him. Just as David had been faithful to Saul and Jonathan, now Mephibosheth was faithful to David.
It’s important, in every aspect of our lives, to review what motivates us to do the various things we do. Many times our attitudes are born out of fear, necessity, selfishness, pride, etc. But when we act out of love, things can be very different. We give from our abundance. In God we find the source of unending love and the wisdom to act based on it.
Ask God to show you what you can do to show that love and loyalty to Him.
