Now David said is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul that I might show him kindness for Jonathan's sake and There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Zeba So when he had called him to David the king said to him are you Zeba? He said at your service Then the king said, is there not still someone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God? And Zebba said to the king, there is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet. So the king said to him, where is he? And Zebba said to the king, indeed, he is in the house of Machair, the son of Ammiai in Lodabar. Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Macabre, the son of Amiel, from Lodabar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face 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 Saul, your grandfather, and you shall eat at my table continually. Then he bowed himself and said, what is your servant that you should look upon such a dead dog as I? And the king said to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given to your master's son all that belong to Saul and to all his house. You therefore and your sons and your servants shall work the land for him and you shall bring in the harvest that your master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's son, shall eat bread at my table always. Now Zeba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Zeba said to the king, according to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were the servants of Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table, and he was lame in both his feet. Please pray with me. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the life of David and how we see Christ in his life. We thank you for the grace which you've given us in Christ, and we pray, Father, that your word would not only go into our ears, but into our heart, into our ears, but into our heart, that we might do it. We do pray in Christ's name, amen. So one of the things I like to do is make sure that we get the context before we talk about a verse. Because the context in this chapter is important just like any other one. But you have to go back and you have to look at the sequence of events for some of these things. So what I want to do is I want to go through the beginning of chapter, at the end, and kind of give you a little bit of context, chapter at a time up to nine. And so at the end of 1 Samuel, Saul and Jonathan, his son, died in the battle against the Philistines. And in chapter 1 of 2 Samuel, David mourned for Saul and Jonathan. Afterwards, in chapter 2, he was annoyed that king of Judah and Saul's son, Ish-bosheth, began to reign as king over Israel. Now, this led to a battle between Judah and Israel. And the battle grew into a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David grew stronger and stronger and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. Then chapter four, after Abner, the leader of the army of Israel died, Ish-bosheth and Israel lost heart. This led to the death of Ish-bosheth, who was killed by two of the captains of his own army. Then Israel made a covenant with David and anointed him king over Israel. With David as king, they fought and took Jerusalem from the Jebusites. Now the Jebusites were a nation that they were supposed to go into when God gave them the promise land and take that from them. But they didn't. And so David takes it. Following this, in chapter six, David brought the ark of the Lord into the city of David and set in its place in the midst of the tabernacle which he had erected. Then in chapter seven, David wanted to build a house for God. But instead, God made a covenant with David and promised him that he would make David a house after he died. God would set up his seed after him to build a house for God's name. God would establish his kingdom and throne forever. Then in chapter eight, David went on and he conquers the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Syrians. Now at the end of chapter eight, we read this, going into chapter nine. The Lord preserved David wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. And this is where our passage picks up. So one of the things, I wanna point out three things from our passages tonight, or today, this morning. I usually preach in the evening, so forgive me. David's covenant, Mephibosheth's condition, and then the third thing, David's kindness. So let's take a look at first David's covenant. So David asked, is there still anyone who is left in the house of Saul that I might show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? So the kindness that he wanted to show is an unfailing love, kindness or goodness. The Hebrew word translated kindness is often used to describe God's covenant love for his people and his faithfulness to them. But kindness mentioned here in this verse is referring to the covenant that David made with Jonathan back in 1 Samuel. They made the covenant after David defeated Goliath and the Philistines, and this was in chapter 18. It says this, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. Now it wasn't long before this covenant love was tested. And by the way, everyone's love is gonna be tested. In a jealous rage, King Saul, Jonathan's father, sought to kill David. Jonathan had a hard time believing that his father wanted to kill him. So David devised a plan to confirm it. To prove that he would follow through with the plan, Jonathan made a covenant with David. Jonathan vowed a vow to God that he would report back to David, and then he calls David to make this vow. And this is in 1 Samuel 20, verses 14 to 15. And you shall not only show me kindness, the same word that's in verse one of our passage, 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. So David did show Jonathan the kindness of the Lord while Jonathan was alive, but now Jonathan was dead. So David was not gonna cut off his kindness from Jonathan's house. He was gonna show them kindness for Jonathan's sake. But first, he had to find him. So David summoned a servant from the house of Saul by the name of Ziba. And after he was confirmed that it was Ziba, the king asked him a question in a different way. He says, is there still not someone of the house of Saul to whom I might show the kindness of God? In his initial question he said this, show him the kindness for Jonathan's sake. So to David, the kindness for Jonathan's sake is the kindness of God. So David was well aware of the kindness, the covenant kindness of God. As I already mentioned, after Saul and Jonathan died, David became king. God made a covenant with David. He promised him a seed who would come from his body and God would establish his kingdom. He said this, he shall build a house for my name and I will establish his throne. have his kingdom forever. Similar to David keeping his covenant with Jonathan at the beginning of our passage, we can see that God was faithful in keeping his covenant to David at the very beginning of the New Testament. In Matthew 1.1 it says this, the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David. God was going to keep the covenant he made with David to show his house kindness for David's sake. Like Jonathan, the patriarch David was both dead and buried. But God wanted to show his covenant kindness love for David in building his house through his seed, Jesus Christ. Peter said this concerning David in Acts 2. Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. Paul would later point out in chapter 13 of the same book, the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies of David. So similar to David with Mephibosheth, the Lord's anointed is the one who takes the initiative in showing the kindness of God. He is the one who has come to seek and to save that which is lost in the covenant of grace. And he sends us out to preach his gospel. with the good news of this grace. That's why I'm here. In the gospel, we come to see that God has kept his covenant that he gave to David. He is faithful. From this, it follows, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God's unfailing covenant love for David is displayed for all who believe in the son of David, Jesus Christ. God is building his house, just like he promised David. And if you are Christ, then you stand in the same grace that David stands in. Therefore, let us walk in that grace and fulfill our covenants for the glory of God, as David did. Let me call to your remembrance a few that might be in yours. These we do in our church, they may be in yours, but let me just call some to your remembrance. Every member makes a covenant when they become a member of the visible church, publicly pledging honor to Christ and to support his church and worship and work. Church officers such as Rich, myself, Bob, We swear covenant oaths that obligate us to uphold biblical doctrines and faithfully serve the household of God. Parents, covenant to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord when they present them for baptism. We also make a covenant when we enter into the marriage bond, in which a man and a woman publicly pledge to be faithful in love to each other. So by the grace of God, let us reflect His faithfulness in being faithful to keep our covenants for His glory and the edification of His church. So let's look at the second point, Mephibosheth's condition, because this is important in light of the first point for us. In the previous verses, David asked about those who were of the house of Saul. He did not say house of Jonathan. He said, for Jonathan's sake. The house of Saul was in a fallen state because of one man's sin, the head of that house, King Saul. The effects of this fallen state on the members of his house are exemplified in Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and the heir of the house of Saul. Mephibosheth was only five years old when his father Jonathan and Saul, his grandfather, fell in the battle at Mount Gebelah. Their family, including Mephibosheth, fell with them. In the terror that followed that tragic day, Mephibosheth's nurse grabbed the child and fled with him in her arms. But in a rush, the seed of Saul fell, and from that fall, Mephibosheth was lame in both his feet from that day forward. So when the king asked Ziba where is he, he told David that he was in the house of Makir, the son of Amiel, from Lodabar. Mephibosheth fell after the fall of Saul during the long war between the house of Saul and the house of David before the death of Ishbosheth. He and his nurse were most likely fleeing from David to go into hiding in Lodabar. But David was not seeking to hurt Mephibosheth. He wanted to help him. So instead of summoning Mephibosheth like he did his servant Ziba, David sent his servants to bring Mephibosheth out of his hiding place and into David's presence. When he came to David, unlike Ziba, Mephibosheth fell on his face and prostrated himself before David. Then David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, here is your servant. Let's consider the state of Mephibosheth in light of our own state. Mephibosheth was born in the house of Saul. By one sin, the kingdom of Israel was torn away from King Saul. He fell, and the house of Saul fell with him. We all can identify with Mephibosheth. for his state is similar to the state of all mankind. We are all born into a house of one man whom God had bestowed great honor and dominion. His name is Adam. When the head of our house sinned against God, he fell, and all those born into his house fell into a state of sin with him. Like Adam and Eve and Mephibosheth, We flee and seek a place to hide in this state of sin, being the enemies of the one who rules and reigns over his kingdom. So we can relate to Mephibosheth's condition of being lame also, some in a physical way, all in a spiritual way. The sin of Adam resulted in the corruption of our whole nature and its misery in the maiming of our body and soul. This corruption was portrayed in the Mosaic law. God prohibited any lame descendant of Aaron the priest to come near to offer the offerings made by fire to the Lord because he had a defect. Similarly, nothing lame from the herd or flock was to be sacrificed because it had a defect. The first was in Leviticus 21, the second is in Deuteronomy 15. But we should not interpret this to mean that the Aaronic priests who offered these sacrifices were sinless, or that the lame were in that condition because they were worse sinners than others. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And we all experience corruption and misery. The purpose of the sacrificial ceremonies was to show Israel that we are all sinners and we all need a Savior who is perfect and without sin. It was an earthly living picture portraying a heavenly reality that could only be seen by those who viewed it through the eyes of faith. It pointed them to the promised seed, Jesus Christ. He is the perfect priest who offered up himself as a perfect sacrifice once and for all. These ceremonies pictured the covenant kindness of God to sinners. as did the miracles of Jesus Christ. We see this in the message Jesus sent to John the Baptist to confirm that he was the coming one revealed in the law and the prophets. He said, go and tell John the things which you hear and see. The blind see, the lame walk. The lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended by me. So like Mephibosheth, we all hide in our fear, in our fallen condition, separated from the Lord's anointed. Mephibosheth could not change his state or condition. He could not and would not come to David because he was his enemy and he was lame. David had to sin and bring Mephibosheth to himself. We cannot and will not seek God because of our sinful state and fallen condition. But Christ sends and brings sinners to himself through the preaching of his gospel. When Mephibosheth was brought to David, he humbled himself before him. Have you fallen on your knees and prayed for the mercy of God in the name of Jesus Christ? David called Mephibosheth by name, and Mephibosheth answered. Have you heard Christ personally calling you through the preaching of his word, saying, come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden than I will give you rest? Have you personally answered him, believing he can and will do it? This brings us to the last point, David's kindness. I'm gonna get a drink first. Back in 1 Samuel 15, after the sin of Saul, the prophet Samuel told him, the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today. But Samuel went on to say this, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. The kingdom was given to David, the Lord's anointed. He was better. Afterwards, God made a covenant with David to make him a house that we read about. And after he made this covenant, David responded like this, who am I? Oh Lord God. Standing in the grace of God that he received, David showed the kindness of God to Mephibosheth. David brought Mephibosheth into his household and treated him like a son. Even though Mephibosheth was from the house of Saul, David took him in and comforted him through the covenant that he had made with Jonathan. David showed Mephibosheth kindness and assured him that he would enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of David. The king provided Mephibosheth with continual access to himself and the benefits of his grace. where David told Mephibosheth that he would eat bread at his table continually. He would be protected and provided by the king himself. In addition, David promised Mephibosheth his inheritance. He would restore to Mephibosheth all the land of Saul and all that belonged to Saul's house. This included Ziba, his sons and servants. They would work hard the land to bring in the harvest to provide food for Mephibosheth. The kindness of David overwhelmed Mephibosheth. He humbled himself, bowing before David, confessing his own unworthiness, saying, what is your servant that you should look upon such a dead dog as I? In this question, we see an expression of marvelous wonder that King David would take him into his house. and pour out all these blessings upon him. And see, this was very similar to David's expression of marvelous wonder. Who am I, O Lord God? For David treated Mephibosheth with kindness. like one of the king's own sons. Indeed, David was a better neighbor than Saul. And after the sin of Adam, Moses tells us that at the end of Genesis 3, that Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, separated from the presence of God and his blessings. But before that, we read that God promised a seed of the woman in 315. And in the fullness of time, this promised seed was born of a woman, became a man, and dwelt among us. His name is Jesus Christ. He became a neighbor who is infinitely better than Adam. All who are in Christ are brought into the family of God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Similar to David with Mephibosheth, through God's anointed king, the blessings of the covenant of grace are given to us. We are all taken into the number and joy, the liberties and privileges of the children of God. We receive the spirit of adoption and have access to the throne of grace. Our Father pities, protects, and provides for us. And we inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation. And like David and Mephibosheth, we cry out in marvelous wonder, behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God. So if you've received the kindness of God in Christ, give it to others for the glory of God. Invite them into your house. Let them sit at your table. Share the blessings that God has blessed you with in Christ. And above all, share the gospel with them. Let me close with the last verse of our text. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table, and he was lame in both his feet. If you are in Christ, he dwells in you, and you dwell with him. He has invited us to eat the Lord's Supper continually at his table with him. Jesus Christ has invited us to show us the kindness of God. Like Mephibosheth, we are lame in both our feet. Apart from him, we can do nothing. We need his grace. And that's what the Lord's Table is for.