Friday, February 17, 2012

Carried to the Table



David and Mephibosheth-I Samuel 9, NIV

The following story blesses me every time I read it.  The kindness of David amazes me, and I can only imagine the joy and change of circumstances that rocked Mephibosheth's world. The story further captivates me when I listen to the song by Leeland entitled "Carried to the Table".  I'll share the link at the end of this post.  How like our God to remember with kindness those who are forgotten by society. As I contemplate the goodness demonstrated to Mephibosheth, my heart responds with desire to share God's kindness--to whomever.  For we all need kindness and blessing along the way.

1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“At your service,” he replied.
3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” 5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, 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 whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[a] table like one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

-Leeland's Song-  Carried to the Table  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pum11nM5MrU

3 comments:

  1. Yes, that is a beautiful event!

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  2. You're right. This is a beautiful story. I'm glad it was preserved for us in the Bible and I'm glad you shared it today.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  3. Kingly sheltering. Love it. Kindness takes such little time.

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Thanks for sharing your response!