Passage: 2 Samuel 9
David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from Saul’s family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?”2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?””[I am] your servant,” he replied. So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family I can show the kindness of God to?”Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who is lame in both feet.” The king asked him, “Where is he?”Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, bowed down to the ground and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!””I am your servant,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in [the crops] so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet.
1. Why did David show kindness to Mephibosheth?
2. Why is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth so significant? What did the incoming king usually do to the outgoing king and his family?
3. What would you have done?
4. Who is your Jonathan?
5. How did you develop a Jonathan friendship? What does it take to develop a Jonathan friendship?
6. What is your Mephibosheth? (Where are you ‘lame’? What is your ‘tweak’?)
7. How does God respond to our ‘tweaks’? to our deformities?
8. How can we respond to other’s ‘tweaks’/deformities?
Dave wrote:
| Cynthia and I just finished watching Evan Almighty. Some of you are probably aware that Cynthia serves Pathways by teaching the 4th/5th graders every other Sunday. Well, last Sunday (1/18) the lesson was on Noah. One of the children brought up the movie, Evan Almighty. Turns out, all of the kids in Cynthia’s class had seen it; neither one of us had. If you have not seen this movie, I recommend you do; we really enjoyed it. So, what does this have to do with our Men of the Path meeting last week? In Bucky’s absence (welcome back Bucky), Drew taught on 2Samuel 9, which is the story of David and Mephibosheth. (Don’t worry, when read the story, the name Mephibosheth comes up often enough you will be able to pronounce it before you finish). {Pause, while you read the scripture.} Okay, now that you’ve read the story (and if you’ve seen the movie) you can see the connection. At the end of the movie, God writes the word “ARK” in the sand for Evan. ARK is an acronym for Act of Random Kindness. In 2Samuel 9, David shows Mephibosheth an Act of Random Kindness. David’s word to his friend, Jonathan, took precedence over the world’s view of what a king should do. In the culture of the day, a king would kill all members of the outgoing king’s family. Mephibosheth was the “son of Jonathan, son of Saul,” as the Bible puts it; Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson. He not only had this as a mark against him but Mephibosheth was also lame in both feet. In David’s day, people had no use for a cripple; they were generally ignored by society and left to die. I got the impression that nearly everyone forgot about Mephibosheth; he was considered worthless. Can you imagine what was going through Mephibosheth’s mind as he was being escorted to see the new king? The man his grandfather was trying to kill? The man who conquered and now ruled the land? Verse 7 tells us the answer; “David said, don’t be afraid.” Rather than follow the culture of the world, David chose an Act of Random Kindness. Mephibosheth got to eat at King David’s table every night and was given all of his grandfather’s land and servants. In the end, Mephibosheth enjoyed a privileged life. So, I ask, have you shown an ARK lately? Has God blessed you and have you given that blessing back by showing kindness to someone who may need it right now? Do you know there are men and women at Pathways who have been unemployed for some time? Have you talked to them or prayed for them lately? Have you asked them how you can help? As I write this I find myself saying I have not done enough. I pray for them but I have not been in close communication with them. I know I cannot offer financial assistance but I can offer words of encouragement, a handshake or a hug. I hope this touches your heart enough to seek out those who are struggling and ask how you can help. If you don’t know who the unemployed are, ask Bucky, or one of the elders. There are a lot of churches and a lot of men’s groups out there. So how can we be different? By walking our talk. Remember, we are a community, a family. And, we aren’t just any men’s group; we are the Men of the Path. Let’s reach out and show we care (see Acts 2:42-47 for a biblical example of truly sharing in community and fellowship and what God did in return). |
As always, please share your thoughts with us.