A Seat at the Table – November 26, 2023
A Study of the story of Mephibosheth
Pastor Mandi Kanei
2 Samuel 9 (NLV)
9 Then David said, “Is there anyone left of the family of Saul, to whom I may show kindness because of Jonathan?” 2 Now there was a servant in Saul’s house whose name was Ziba. They called him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 The king said, “Is there not still someone of the family of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who cannot walk because of his feet.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba answered the king, “See, he is in the family of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent men to bring him from the family of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Mephibosheth the son of Saul’s son Jonathan came to David and fell on his face to the ground in respect. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Do not be afraid. For I will be sure to show kindness to you because of your father Jonathan. I will return to you all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will eat at my table always.” 8 Again Mephibosheth put his face to the ground and said, “Who am I? Why should you care for a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your owner’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants will grow food on the land for him. You will bring in the food so your owner’s grandson may eat. But Mephibosheth your owner’s grandson 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 all that my lord the king tells your servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. Both his feet had been hurt and he could not walk.
It is at this space—at a very special table—that we see a demonstration of true, loyal love in scripture, from none other than the “man after God’s own heart”—King David.
David’s Covenant with Jonathan:
1 Samuel 20:13-17, 42 (NASB)
13 If it pleases my father to do you harm, may the Lord do so to [l]me and more so, if I fail to [m]inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14 And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the Lord, so that I do not die? 15 And you shall never cut off your loyalty to my house, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord demand it from the hands of David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.
42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go [t]in safety, since we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord will be between me and you, and between my [u]descendants and your [v]descendants forever.’” [w]So David set out and went on his way, while Jonathan went into the city.
2 Samuel 7 – God reestablishes his covenant with David.
This reminds David of another covenant he made with Jonathan.
2 Samuel 9
1Then David said, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, so that I could show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”… “There is still a son of Jonathan, one who is disabled in both feet.” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.”… 6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” 7 Then David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will assuredly show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you yourself shall eat at my table regularly.” 8 Again he prostrated himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should be concerned about a dead dog like me?”… 11 So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons… 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he ate at the king’s table regularly. And he was disabled in his two feet.
Comparison / Representation of God’s Loyal Love for Us:
God’s khesed is not based on how much we deserve his love. It is purely based on God’s character—just like David’s khesed toward Jonathan and by extension to Mephibosheth, was not based on Mephibosheth’s worthiness of that love.
Who do you identify within the story of 2 Samuel 9?
David? Always leave a seat at your table.
Mephibosheth? Pull up a chair at the King of King’s table.
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