Latest / Teachings On This Day On FerventWord / On Oct 24, 2021: 2 Samuel 9 Uncommon Kindness
Transcript
- Well, as we look at Second Samuel chapter nine, I've titled the Message This morning. David showed uncommon kindness. We're looking at this account of David as he is king and this event where he showed a kindness that is uncommon and the word kindness is used three times here in this chapter. It's a word that is more than just the idea of doing something that's a little bit nice for somebody but it. Is a really important word throughout the Scriptures and the Old Testament. It's used over 240 times. Many times it's translated mercy and is of course connected to the mercy of God. A good example of this is Psalm 136. Where every verse, every line of the song ends with for his mercy endures forever. It's the kindness of the Lord, the mercy of the Lord that is being considered there in that Psalm in it. Provides a really great background to the Lord and his relationship to his people is always rooted in his kindness in his mercy towards his people. Well, today as we look at this account in David's life, we get to see David reflects this character of God and reflects this kind of this kind of. Kindness kind of kindness, right? From God or that that God has towards us towards this man mephibosheth. Now Mephibosheth was a descendant of King Saul, and this is what makes this kindness so uncommon, because for them the common thing of the day, when a new king would step into authority and step into. Reigning over a Kingdom, the normal thing to do, not necessarily for Israel. And it wasn't God's instruction. To Israel, but in their society and in the culture around them. The normal thing to do the common thing to do was for the new king to destroy the family of the old king to make sure that there would be no rivals to the throne, that they, that they wouldn't come back and say, hey, you know, I'm the rightful heir. And I I should be on the throne. Instead of this new king to eliminate that possibility, the normal thing to do the common thing to do was for the king to wipe out all of the family of the previous king to prevent that kind of thing. But here David does something uncommon. Instead of treating the descendants of Saul in this way, he instead extends an incredible kindness, and so we want to consider this kindness that David showed, and we're going to look at David's example here, and consider that a bit, but then also begin to see how that foreshadows or portrays for us. The kindness of God towards us and. What that might mean for us as well as we want to put these things into practice. So let's consider Davids example 1st and we'll work our way through the chapter here in first or sorry second Samuel Chapter 9. The four points that we'll look at starting in verse one is point #1. David desired to fulfill a promise. With kindness, the chapter begins with the desire of David to show kindness as he promised to Jonathan. Check out verse one again. It says now David said, is there still anyone who is left of the House of Saul, that I may? Show him kindness. For Jonathan sake. The chapter begins with David pondering wondering. Considering how he might be able to fulfill a promise that he had made now if you have not been journeying with us through the Bible in three years here in Second Samuel Chapter nine, we are in the middle of David's reign as king over it. Israel, he's been king now probably for about 10 years, 15 years. It's hard to nail down the timeframe exactly, but he's been king for some time before him was king. Saul and Saul, understanding that God had rejected him from being king and recognizing that David was the one that God was going to raise up. To be king after him, Saul persecuted David for about 10 years, trying to destroy David to kill David to take his life and prevent that from ever happening. Of course God preserved David and all of those attempts and he was on the run for many years until Saul finally was killed in battle against the Philistines, and so at that time the Lord brought David back and began to raise him up and establish him as king of the Nation of Israel. The soul also had a son named Jonathan, and during this time also was persecuting Dave. Jonathan did not behave the same way. He was loyal to his father and faithful to his father. But at the same time he loved David and David, and Jonathan had a real relationship centered around their trust in God. Their faith in God, and their belief in what God was going to do. And so Jonathan was a man of God who was loyal to David, and as he was seeking to search out and discover whether or not salt was trying to kill David, Jonathan and David had a conversation. And first Samuel chapter 20 really provides the backdrop for this chapter we're looking at today where. Jonathan is searching out what is happening in Saul's mind and in his heart and his intentions towards David. And as he discovers that salt really does intend to kill David, Jonathan meets with David and gives him some instruction. And first Samuel chapter 20, verse 14 and 15. King Jonathan says you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die, but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever. No, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face. Of the earth. Knowing and understanding God planned for David, knowing that David would be established as King. Says David, our relationship has been really important and we've had great fellowship together. You've been kind to me and my request in this as you're being. Sent out now. Running away from my dad who's trying to kill you is that you would continue to show me kindness on all the days of my life. I know you're going to be king now, Jonathan. Would have been the next king after Saul if traditional events had transpired, but Jonathan sets that aside and says no, I I want what God wants. So you're going to be King David. God said it, I know it. My only request is that you would show me kindness. You would show me mercy that you would be kind and good to me, not just while I'm alive, but he goes on to say from my house forever that that you would be good and kind to my family. As you rise to power and become the King of Israel. And so that was the promise that Jonathan requested for David to make. And he made that promise there in first Samuel, chapter 20. And so now as we look at verse one when he says, I wonder, is there still anybody who is left from Salis house? That I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake. You see David thinking back to first Samuel. Chapter 20. It was something that happened many, many years ago by this point, but. Now he's thinking back to first Samuel 20, and he's reflecting on this promise he made to Jonathan. And he's thinking, how can I fulfill that promise? I would like to I desire to fulfill this promise and to show kindness to someone on behalf of Jonathan because of. The the promise that I made to Jonathan and the relationship that we had, and so as we continue on, we're going to see that this is mephibosheth. The son of Jonathan that is going to be the recipient of this kindness that David is seeking. To bestow. And we can note. Very easily here. In this passage Mephibosheth. Is not doing anything to earn or deserve the kindness of David, but he is there hidden in obscurity and David seeking to fulfill a promise he made a long time ago. Is going to be searching him out and so that brings us to point #2 this morning. And that is. That David searched for someone to be kind to. This all began with a desire in David's heart to show kindness to somebody. And response to that promise that he had made many years earlier, and so he begins the search. Who will be the one? That gets to receive this kindness. The kindness of God through David the King. Verse two and three says this. And there was a servant of the House of Saul, whose name was Eva. So when they had called him to David, the King said to him, are you Ziba? He said at your service. Then the king said, is there not still someone of the House of Salt, to whom I may show the kindness of God? And Ziba said to the king, there is. Still a son of Jonathan. Who is lame in his feet? Had the search. As he reflected on and remembered this promise, he made to Jonathan, he didn't automatically know, yes, one of Jonathan's sons lives right over here in this place, and I immediately know where he is, and I can go show him kindness. David had to call in a servant of Saul. That would be the person most acquainted with where all of Saul's descendants ended up. And as he's searching, what I find is interesting, here is that David was willing to show this kindness. To any of Saul's descendants. Now it turns out Mephibosheth is the one that Ziba reveals to him who has a son of Jonathan, his good friend. But his request wasn't, he is there anybody at the House of Jonathan that I'm able to show kindness to? His request is. Is there anybody of the? House of Saul. If it had turned out that it wasn't mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, that if it was the son of some other son of Saul, David would have been willing to show kindness. To that son as well, that that it wasn't limited to just because he had this special relationship with Jonathan that he was willing to show this kindness. He was willing to show kindness because of the promise he made to Jonathan, but but it didn't really matter who was the recipient. That just was what caused him and stood up his desire to show kindness. But who was going to be the recipient? David was willing even if it was another of Saul's sons or another descendant of saw that he would have been willing to show kindness to him. And so he asked Ziba, is there not someone of the House of Saul? And Ziba reveals mephibosheth. He says at the end of verse three there is still a son of Jonathan, who is lean. In his feet. There is still a descendant of Saul, someone that you can show kindness to his. Name is mephibosheth. He is the son of Jonathan and he is lame. Now we learn about. The leanness of mephibosheth. Back in second Samuel Chapter 4 when Saul dies in battle against the Philistines, there is a great fear, a great concern amongst the royal family, because, again, the common thing of the day was whoever is in power. Next, they're going to wipe out the. Competition to the throne, and so it tells us there in second Samuel chapter four that in the rush to get out. Jonathan was dropped or fell and his leagues were broken. He became lame at that point when he. Was about five years. Old, so mephibosheth now is. Probably in his 20s we don't know again the exact time frame, but when he was five years old and the rush to get out his feet were injured and he became lame and so Ziva points out. This man, mephibosheth. And David says, where is he? In verse four and Ziba said to the king. Indeed, he is in the House of Mikir, the son of Emulin, load of our. Where is he? David says again, David was inquiring. He was searching out. He was seeking out. He had to find the fybush at now it's probable that Mephibosheth was hiding out in obscurity. In fear of David, for fear of reprisal against. Well, what his grandfather had done to David. Remember that Saul persecuted David and attempted to kill David for many years in the wilderness and was intent on doing David Harm. And so it's. Not surprising to consider that Mephibosheth would have been fearful of David paying him back for things his grandfather had done to David, but David didn't know about Mephibosheth. He was laying low. The name lodebar means not a pasture. He was hiding out in this obscure, desolate place. Afraid preserving his life in this way. But then verse 5 King David sent and brought him out of the House of Mikir, the son of a meal from Lodebar. David says go get him. And you can imagine mephibosheth being collected in this. Way at this time. Suddenly the servants of David knock on the door and there's the request the King has sent for you. The fybush ETH. Probably at this point all the way in the journey to Jerusalem. To meet with King David. He was probably expecting execution. But David's intention is clearly stated in verse 3. He's looking for the one to whom he says I may show the kindness of God. It's the kindness, not just kindness. Again, not just a nice thing to do. Not just I want to do a favor, I want to pay it forward and, you know, buy the coffee for the person behind me. It's not not just an act of kindness. Not just a nice thing to do, but the kindness of God. I want to show. I want to show somebody, David says what the mercy, the goodness, the loving kindness of God looks like. That's his intention and so he reaches out. He sends for mephibosheth. These searches until he finds. Someone that he can express. David, a recipient of the Goodness of God, is looking to. Demonstrate that same kindness that same goodness. To someone else. To a descendant of Saul. Because of the promise he made to Jonathan. Moving on to verses 6 through 12, we get the Third Point to consider this morning and that is David took a risk to show kindness. This act of kindness that David takes is a little bit of a risk. It's a little bit of a step of faith in some ways because. Well, again, the reason why it was not common for this kind of behavior was because there would be then a rival to the throne if they were. Allowed to survive. Verse six and seven says now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his feet and prostrated himself. Then David said, mephibosheth. And he answered, here is your servant. So David 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 saw your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually. Right away David reassures Mephibosheth, because of course. He would have expected harm in this circumstance, he says, do not fear. You're mephibosheth. Don't fear, this is great because I want to show you kindness and what he does is he restores to mephibosheth. All the land of the previous King, King Saul. Now that land you could argue was mephibosheth's by right. Anyways, he was the heir so that land belonged to him, but he had not claimed the land. Because, well, that would expose himself and publicly announce himself as being alive and available for killing at any time. David wanted to write, but but he had remained in obscurity. Had he had remained hidden. And David says, here's what's rightfully yours. This this belongs to you. I'm restoring to you. The land of saw your grandfather, but then he goes on to say, and you shall eat bread at my table continually. Restores to him his wealth, his land, his position, his status. But then also invites him in as family and David here is going to really relate to mephibosheth as he fun from here on out. Now the idea of thinking about this as a risk to show kindness in this way. I I could understand we might kind of wrestle with that and say it's a little bit of a stretch. I mean, really, was this a risk but? I would encourage you to consider the rest of the account, because as you continue on in second Samuel. In second Samuel Chapter 16, after Absalom, David's son revolts against David and turns the Kingdom against David, and David has to flee for his life out of Jerusalem. One of his own sons was able to bring about this kind of rebellion against David. In the midst of that situation, Ziba, the same Zeba from Chapter 9, the servant of Mephibosheth falsely accuses Mephibosheth to David, and says Mephibosheth stayed back in Jerusalem because he's convinced he's going to be able to take the throne and be the King of Israel from here on out. And David believed that it was a false accusation, but David believed it. It was a credible accusation. It was a, uh, an accusation that could have made sense. And so David says, Oh yeah, that's that's that was a risk I took when I showed him kindness that I brought him into the court. I I, I exposed myself in this way, and. Allowed him to be available and accessible and have access to the throne and to the royal family. I brought him in in that way and there's the risk the opportunity would be there for mephibosheth if he would seek to. Take all of the generosity and the resources and the goodness of David and exploit it. To turn against David and to rebel against David, that was a risk that David took. But he took it. He showed kindness to mephibosheth, even though that was a potential. Verse nine and the king called Ziba, Saul, servant, and said to him, I have given to your masters son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. You therefore in your sons and your servants shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest that your masters son may have food to eat. But mephibosheth, your master son, shall eat bread at my table always. Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. So we welcomed mephibosheth in, restored to him, his lands, invited him to eat with him every day to be part of the family, and also entrusted to him. Ziba and his whole household, and they would be the ones to work the land and to bring in and maintain the the wealth. In the family of Mephibosheth and so. He gives mephibosheth resources. He gives him land, he gives him servants. He gives them again. Opportunity and resources. That could be understood as risky because Mephibosheth could have used those resources to turn against David, just as David Son Absalom will do in just a few chapters. In second Samuel chapter 15. He gave him this access. It's not just from mephibosheth that David is taking a risk, but. The children of Mephibosheth. Verse 12 tells us Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all who dwelt in the House of Zebra were servants of Mephibosheth. And so it might be, oh, you know, it's probably. Pretty safe to. Treating the fybush F in this way. Not much risk there we might think, but. Later on down the line. Micah, the son of Mephibosheth, would be old enough to. Desire the throne to take the throne, and so perhaps not against David. It would be a competition, but perhaps against David Son. There might be a competition. Again, the whole idea here is just that. The normal thing to do was to eliminate all of these possible competitions. That was the common. Way to handle this, but David desiring to show the kindness of God, says I'm not going to behave like everybody else. I'm not going to do what's normal for the kings of the nations around me. I'm going to bring in Mephibosheth. I'm going to restore to him the land of his grandfather. I'm going to bless him in a way that is reflective of how God has treated me. Well, finally verse 13 point #4. David committed to show kindness for life. Verse 13 says Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the King's table, and he was. Lame in both his feet. Again, this wasn't a one time kind of. Niceness or kindness. It wasn't just that David had a big feast one time in celebration of Mephibosheth. Not even that you know, maybe, uh, once a year like I'm gonna name a holiday today is mephibosheth day and every year we're going to have a feast and rejoice and celebrate. For my 5th. Not a once in a while type of occasion or access. David said every day. I'm going to treat you like family. You're going to be invited to my table. You're going to be part of. My household for life. He brings him in. And for the rest of his life, David is going to continue to show kindness. To give access. To demonstrate the love, the goodness and the mercy of God towards him. And so as we look at this example, there's so much here for us to consider. David provides us a really great example, and as we understand, David as the man after God's own Heart or the man who pursued the heart of God. Chapter 9 is a really great chapter to consider in that regard here. David accurately reflects God's heart. And so I want to walk through these things. Looking at it from that perspective and so changing the title of the message instead of David showed uncommon kindness. Let's consider how God shows us uncommon kindness. Just as David showed, David is accurately reflecting what God does, the heart of God. Towards people, and so we consider the first thing that God desires to fulfill a promise with kindness. Just as David was reflecting on this promise that he had made many years earlier and says I want to fulfill that promise, I'm going to show the kindness that I promised to Jonathan. Again, in verse one David said, is there still anyone who is left of the? House of Saul. That I may show him kindness for Jonathan sake. God, in a similar way. Has made a covenant just as David and Jonathan had made a covenant. The Covenant related to kindness towards each other and to it towards each other families. God has made a covenant. For those who would believe in Jesus, for those who would receive. The only begotten of the father. He's made a covenant a long time ago, but he's still remembering that covenant. It hasn't been so long that it's gone out of memory. He has this desire still to fulfill this prominence to to fulfill this promise. This covenant that he made previously. The commentator FB Meyer states this. He says nothing in the course of events could alter the secret word that David had sworn to his departed friend. Our own case is similar. We were chosen in Christ before the world began, pre destined to be sons included in the covenant between the father. And our surety. Between the father and the son, this covenant was made those. Who believe in Jesus? The promise of goodness, mercy, kindness, grace, loving kindness. It can be translated in so many ways, but the promise of God to do good. And to show kindness. To the descendants of the son. He still desires to fulfill that promise. It's still there for us considering the second point in versus 2 through 5. God searches for people to be kind to. God searches for people to be kind to. He's on the lookout. He's again because he desires to show kindness. He's on the lookout for those who will trust in him. The eyes of the Lord search to and fro. To do good. To provide strength to those who trust. In the Lord. He searches for people to be kind to. Pastor Warren Wiersbe points out that David is the one who. Made the first move. He rescued mephibosheth. He searched him out. Reminds us. That God reached out to us. God sought us. You know, sometimes we talk about us finding God, but. That may seem so from our perspective, but the reality is long before we were ever searching for God, God was looking out for us and looking for the opportunity to bring forth the gospel message to us that we might believe and that he might show us kindness, goodness, his loving kindness. Demonstrated of course first and foremost at the cross. Romans chapter 5 verse eight tells us that God demonstrates his own love toward us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is this reality that God searched for us, and he made the provision and he went out of his way to accomplish for us the opportunity for us to approach. To come in and to receive this kindness from God, he's searching. For someone to show kindness to. He's searching for someone that he might be kind to. And how do we? Be found. How do we experience that? Very simply, it's to believe in Jesus. To receive what he has accomplished for us upon. The cross. We're continuing on to consider God's perspective in this verses 6 through 12 God takes risks to show kindness. It's a risk God takes a risk when he shows kindness and goodness towards us. How so? Consider verse 7 again. David 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 saw your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually. David opened up his doors to bring Mephibosheth close. Gave him access to the Kingdom to the throne, to the royal family, gave him his resources and his grandfathers, property and servants. Again, all of this mephibosheth could have. Received said thank you very much David. And then. Immediately attempted to utilize those resources. To accomplish something against David. It's interesting to think about in the context of God. God gives access to those who believe in Jesus. Perhaps it's a bit of a different kind of risk than what David took, because, well, God's throne is not threatened. That's there's no threat that can really be a credible threat in that regard. But just as Mephibosheth could have received the kindness and used it against him. People have the opportunity. To try to take advantage of the kindness of God. I've shared it this way in the. Past, I'll share it this way again. The only way to rebel against God. Is to use the resources. That he has provided us. The only way to rebel against God. To breathe out threats against God, to speak against God requires that we use the breath that he gives to us to speak against him. To live out a life and pursue something away from God to chase after other things. To trust in our own provisions and finances and to worship gods that we create. It's all based on it comes from things that God has. Delivered to us and given to us in his kindness. And so with his kindness towards us. There is a bit of a risk that we would take the kindness of God. Take the things that God gives us. Take the work that God does in our lives. And then utilize that. To disregard God to rebel against God. God shows kindness even. To those who will lead her on rebel. He shows kindness even. When it will grieve him. As we sinned against him. It's a reality that is there. Paul talks about this a little bit in the Book of Romans Chapter 3. He says, look, we're being falsely accused that we should do evil. That good may come where Senate bounds grace abounds much more so might as well live in sin and just magnify the grace of God by our sinfulness. And Paul says, heaven forbid, that is a false accusation. That's not what we're saying, but some people. Live that way. Some people teach that some people would. Walk that way. And so there. Is this risk that we would receive the goodness of God? But not let it. Cause us to draw near to God and to walk with God, but instead to use the goodness of God, the things that God has provided the very breath that God has given to us. And rebellion against an opposition to God. Well, finally point #4 God commits to show kindness for eternity. In verse 13 mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the King's table, and he was lame in both his feet. David's commitment was for life. God's commitment is a little bit longer. It's for all of eternity. We realize for the rest of eternity. We will be recipients of the kindness of God. Trophies of the grace of God and the goodness of God. And bless by access to God he's at the King's table continually. Perhaps I remind you of Revelation Chapter 3. Jesus says, behold, I stand at the door, knocked. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, he. Will come in. I will come into him and dine with him, and he with me. He he desires this. Real relationship this real connection. This real fellowship. This ongoing dining experience with the Lord for all eternity. David commited. This kindness. For life. But God commits for all eternity, and John Chapter 5 verse 24, Jesus says, most assuredly, I say to you, he hears my word and believes in him, who sent me has everlasting life. And shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death into life. It's everlasting life that God gives to us in his kindness. And so David here. Reflecting on this promise that he made many years earlier demonstrates kindness and reflects the heart of God. Demonstrates for us what it looks like. It's not a perfect illustration. David is still a man, after all, there's there's things that go way beyond what David modeled here in God's relationship to us, but. So clearly still paints a great picture for us of the kindness of God towards us. And as you consider that as you think about the kindness of God. God towards you. I want to walk through this account one last time. Thinking about it again from our perspective, and perhaps what God would desire from us as we consider these things. And so. Looking at this again, changing the title to show people uncommon kindness. And really rooted out of the concepts here that are found in Matthew Chapter 18 in this parable that Jesus told of a servant that owed a great debt that could never be repaid. It was so great of a debt. But the servant begged the master, and said, please. Give me more time, give me another chance. I'll do my best. Please, I'll try to pay you back. And the master took pity on that servant, and forgave him. But that servant went out from that meeting, and. Found another servant who would come. Just a few dollars. Shook him, choked him, demanded. You pay me right now. When the other servants saw. This guy, who had been forgiven so much treat his fellow servant in this way, they reported it to the master as master, called him in verse 32 of Matthew 18. His master called him in and said, you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had? Pity on you. As we think about the kindness of God demonstrated through David to Mephibosheth, reflecting the kindness of God that we experience from God. I would suggest you this morning. It should cause us then too. In light of this parable. Pass on just like David received the kindness of God and then expressed it now to mephibosheth, that that you and I as we receive the kindness of God, have a. To then reflect that kindness towards others around us and so this morning, I want to encourage you to desire. To fulfill a promise with kindness. David had made a promise with Jonathan, and you might think, well, I didn't make a promise to anybody to be. Kind to them, so I guess I'm off the hook. Now your covenant may not be with the grandfather of the person. You need to show kindness, but your covenant instead is with Jesus. You promised Jesus that you'd show kindness. Like wait a minute. I don't remember doing that. When did I make that promise? It's all throughout the scriptures. Jesus instructed us to love one another. He instructed us to Minister to the needs of one another. He instructed us even to love our enemies. In first John Chapter 4. The apostle John says, if someone says I love God and hates. His brother, he's a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, how can he? Love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God, must love his brother also. You can't enter into a covenant with Jesus to receive his grace and forgiveness without also committing to demonstrate that grace and forgiveness. To others around you, that's part of the covenant that you made when you receive Jesus, you say I believe in Jesus. I receive his gift of goodness and forgiveness towards me. That's also me, saying, I commit to. You not perfectly. Not, you know, without fail, but but I commit to extend that grace that mercy that goodness from the Lord. To the people in my life. Even further, Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus. Says I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you and do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you, and persecute you. That you may be sons of your father in heaven, for he makes his sunrise on the evil and on the good he sends rain on the just and the unjust. Jesus goes on in this passage to say, look, if you just are kind to the people. If you just love people who are loving to you who do good things and kind things to you, then you're no different than anybody else in the world. There's nothing special about being kind to others who are kind to you, Jesus says. Here's what's uncommon. Uncommon kindness. Is to love those who hates you. To bless those who curse you. To do good to those. Who spitefully use you and persecute you? To desire good for those who. Have hurt and harmed you. Now, David. Was hurt and harmed greatly by Saul. But for Jonathan sake, he's reflecting back on his. Relationship with Jonathan. His promise. His covenant to Jonathan. And he says I wanna fulfill that I wanna make good on that covenant. For Jonathan sake, I'm not gonna hold mephibosheth accountable for all the things his grandfather did because of Jonathan, and I'm not going to pay back Saul by bringing forth this punishment on Mephibosheth. No, for Jonathan sake. I'm I'm not gonna charge it to cells accounts I'm gonna charge it to Jonathan account my good friend and so I won't pay him back. It's kind of like Paul's appeal to Philemon. If I leave in chapter one when Onesa miss had run away and Paul says, look if if he owes you anything, charge it to my account, 'cause Paul knew. I'm not going to show up and finally men's going to say alright, here's you know the bill for $2500 that you owe me. Paul Paul is like listen. I brought the gospel to you. I brought you into a relationship with God by faith in Jesus Christ and. And so just treat him as if he was me. Charge it. To my account. Essentially cancel the debt. Not that he hasn't caused a debt, not that there hasn't been harm inflicted, but. For Jonathan sake, Pulse is for my sake. And we can look at those around us and say for Jesus's sake I've made a covenant with Jesus and for his sake. I'm going to pardon that debt. Desire to fulfill a promise. A covenant with the Lord. By showing kindness. To others around you while moving on to. Versus 2 through 5. Search for people to be kind to. Be on the lookout. Be searching out to be exploring and seeking out. Who can I demonstrate kindness to? Who can I show the kindness of God to again in verse 3? The King said to Ziva, is there not still someone of the House of Salt? Isn't there somebody I can show the kindness of God to? Now again, if David showed kindness to someone who is kind to him. Then it wouldn't be a full demonstration of the kindness because one of the things that makes the kindness so great. Is because it's kindness toward one who. Would potentially be a threat. Kindness toward one who? Was related to part of. All of the Harman, the Hertz and the. Wilderness years that that David had experienced. Part of the reason why this kindness is so glorious is because it's expressed to mephibosheth, a descendant of Saul. For us we can. Be like the heathens and tax collectors, and be kind to people who are kind to us. It's not that magnificent. Not that great. Not that we shouldn't not we should. I'm not saying be mean to people who are kind to you, right? Like yes, of course, that's a given. We're kind to those people, but what's uncommon about the covenant that we? Made with the Lord. That we're going to be looking. Out for we're going to be searching out. And the contrast between how much you've hurt me and how kind I am to you is going to magnify the kindness of God and the glory of God in this situation. So I would suggest make it a prayer. David asked Zieba, but you can ask the Lord, Lord. Is there not still someone that I can show the kindness of God too? That's a bold. Prayer, and I know that we'll be timid in asking it, but. I would encourage you to do so. Thinking back on this too, I would reflect on this that this way. David, we're leading to mephibosheth. It's been many years since David made that promise to Jonathan. Probably more than 20 years before Beth is now probably in his early 20s. He has a son of his own. He's a grown man. Now when David first took the throne, Mephibosheth was five years old. So we're talking about things that had happened 1520 years earlier. So maybe that's where you start your prayer. I know that's a strange way to pray, or a strange thing to think. About we don't think about it much. Who hurts you? 20 years ago. Who harmed you. 15 years ago. Who who in that past in that history? Treated you like solid treated David. Maybe you begin to pray. But is there some way? Is there someone? That I can show kindness to to magnify God. And his kindness towards us to reflect and demonstrate the kindness of God towards us. By being kind. To someone. Or a descendant of someone. Who hurt me a long time ago? Or maybe it's just someone for right now. In Exodus Chapter 23, the Lord talks about hey, if you come across your enemies, ox or donkey going astray. You shall surely bring it back to him. Be kind even to your current enemies. If you just happen upon a situation where someone who is attacking you and hurting you and you see their animal being going astray, they're you know carbon neutral coasting down the hill or they're stuck on the. Side of the road or. However, you want to apply that illustration. God said be kind to them. Show them kindness, show them goodness. If you see their donkey under a great burden. Help the donkey out. Don't make the animal suffer. For the person who has hurt you. Don't make their kids suffer. Don't even make them suffer. Show kindness. Search for people to be kind. Going on in verses 6 through 12 point #3 take risks to show kindness. This is the reality. And this is a little bit scary sometimes for us, but anytime we show kindness. To one who has hurt us to one who has harmed us to one who has been an enemy of us. It's always a risk. Verse 7 David said to him, do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness. For Jonathan your father. It was at the expense of self preservation that David showed kindness. Now I'm not suggesting that we be risky in the sense that we just throw out all caution. We have no wisdom, we just be foolish, right? But at the same time. If self preservation and self protection is our highest goal. Then we're not going to be able to express the kindness of God towards others. There needs to be a balance. There needs to be wisdom and we. Need to be led by God? We need to be careful and wise. But at the same time we need to understand I'm going to show kindness. This comes at a risk. It may not be received well. It might be used against me. But I'm gonna do it because that's the way that God has related to me. There may be risks involved. The food chef wasn't a physical threat. He was lame. What kind of threat was he? He's a political threat. What if I change this point to be kind? To political threats. Not in this day and age right over the past few years. It's like, no, can't be kind to political threats we've got. To execute them and. Devour them on social media and. Say every chance we get, how terrible they are and how horrible they are and all of the things wrong with them and all the things we disagree with. We can't be kind to them. We got to. That may not be reflecting the heart of God very. Well, be kind. May involve risk. May involve being misunderstood and may involve being accused by others who are not willing to be kind in such circumstances, but. What really matters is what is the Lord? Calling you to do. Be kind to a political threat, maybe in the workplace. Maybe in society? It might be risky. But probably God wants you to do it. Again, be wise, let the Lord lead you. Finally, #4 commit to show kindness for eternity. Always need to put things in the eternal perspective. Again, verse 13 mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the King's table, and he was lame in. Both his feet. We always got to remember and I shared this often, but I'll say it again. People are not the enemy. There is no person who is your enemy. The best case scenario for every situation is that both of you are eating eternally at the King's table in heaven. That's the best case scenario. Commit to show kindness for eternity. Commit to show kindness so that best case scenario. They respond to the goodness of God as demonstrated by you as illustrated by you in your relationship and your in your behavior towards them that they respond to the goodness of God. Right, we celebrate the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. But are you willing to be the agent? Of the goodness of. God that brings someone to repentance. And are you willing to commit to say, I'm hoping? Here's what I hope to get out of this. I'm going to show you kindness and the best result possible. The ideal scenario in me showing you kindness is that you and I get to eat at the King's table eternally. I mean that is radical kindness. It's the kind of kindness that David. Demonstrated to mephibosheth. Uncommon kindness. He fulfilled it. Reflecting the heart of God. Reminding us of God's relationship to us. The uncommon kindness that he expresses to us that he shows to us in providing for us salvation, the gospel eternity, all his goodness and promises in our lives. And so may it encourage. You may inspire you to show people this kind of kindness, to search out, to desire, to seek the. And to receive from God the kindness. That you need to be able to pass on to others around you. Let's pray Lord, we pray that you would help us. But this is. Not easy for us, not natural for us. But would we desire to reflect your heart? To be your ambassadors and to shine. Your light of love. Mercy goodness. And so, Lord, would you help us as we reflect on this example on this model? Or would you help us? To love others to love our enemies. To love those who are good and kind towards us and are seeking our benefit and. What's best for us to? Demonstrate Lord your heart. Even towards those who come against us, even those who have. Hurts are harmed. Maybe it was even many years ago. Or maybe it was just yesterday, but Lord. We desire to be your agents to be transformed by you, to such a degree. That we're able to be kind in an uncommon way. We pray this in Jesus name.