David began to miss his old friend Jonathan. He started to ask around to see if anyone was left of Saul's house, so that he could honor his friend, and keep his word to Saul.
There was one servant, Ziba, who had 15 sons and 22 servants of his own. He came before David and said, "Jonathan had a son, he is lame. He is in the house of Machir in Lodebar." David immediately sent for him.
Mephibosheth came into David's presence afraid for his life. He immediately fell upon his face to honor David as king. David told him, "Don't be afraid. I want to show you kindness. Your father was a good friend of mine. I want to honor his memory by giving you all the land that King Saul had before he died, that would have been Jonathon's had he lived. Also, you are going to eat at my table from now on. You will never go hungry."
He called Ziba and told him what he told Mephibosheth, then said, "Since he is lame, he cannot work the land himself. I want you and your family and your servants to serve him, and work the land and his house for him." Ziba agreed.
So Mephibosheth and his own son, Micha, were well cared for from that day forward.
============
The lesson I got out of this is that it pays to be kind to people who are not in power, because one day they may be, and they may remember your kindness and take care of you because of it.
Also, it is good to show mercy to those who are less fortunate. If you treat others who have had all they had taken away as if they are family, and help them back on their feet, God will bless you for it in the end. What you give to others, God gives back to you in so many ways.
=============
No comments:
Post a Comment