David’s name means ‘loving’ and he showed here ’the kindness of God’, v. 3. Mephibosheth was linked with rebellious Saul, lived in fear in Lo-debar (‘no pasture/no bread’) and was lame. He described himself as ‘a dead dog’, v. 8. Any change in his condition could only be brought about by David’s kindness. He reminds us of God’s kindness toward us through Christ Jesus’, Eph. 2. 7. David displayed the nature of God’s kindness.
It does not treat us as we deserve. Mephibosheth might have expected judgment and death as a result of his links with Saul, but he found love which embraced and forgave him.
It loves us in spite of our condition. There was nothing attractive about Mephibosheth and yet David showed him the kindness of God. It was ‘while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us … when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son’, Rom. 5. 8, 10.
It makes the first move. It was David who enquired after, searched and sent for Mephibosheth. We should be thankful that divine love made the first move towards us. ‘Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son …’, 1 John 4. 10.
It reaches out to us where we are. Mephibosheth was not able to reach out to David, so David’s kindness went out to him. ‘But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ’, Eph. 2. 12
It removes our fear. It was a comfort to Mephibosheth’s trembling heart to hear David say, ‘Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake’, v. 7. ‘Even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you’, Eph. 4. 32, are words to allay any fears that might arise in our hearts.
It restores what it did not take away. Mephibosheth received back his land, but he also ate continually at the king’s table, vv. 7, 10, 11, 13. David’s words in Psalm 69, ‘I restored that which I took not away’, point us to Christ. ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us … hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’, Eph. 2. 4, 6.
