Sermon Tone Analysis

David's Kindness to Mephibosheth, reflects the character of God whom extends his ultimate kindness and grace to all who call on the Lord Jesus.

Just like in the life of Mephibosheth from Lo-debar, King Jesus can make good of out of what seems to be an irreversible-hopeless situation, as we welcome his invitation of ultimate kindness; and when we do so a beautiful redemptive story will unfold.

Proposition: Share with you how Jesus can make good of out of what seems to be an irreversible-hopeless situation, as we welcome his invitation of ultimate kindness; and when we do so a beautiful redemptive story will unfold.

Attention Getter: When you think of kindness, what comes to mind?

Perhaps you may recall stories of kindness in your own life story or even differing levels of kindness ...

Wonderland Trip (stories of kindness): People watching…all walks of life.

Differing Priorities, different levels of social interaction and varying levels of kindness…

T.S: To look at a biblical account of ‘kindness’, we are going to start in what would seem like an unlikely place to go for this topic.

A place called ‘Lo-debar’, the beginning of a great story of David’s ‘ultimate kindness’ to Mephibosheth.

God’s type of kindness.

Disclaimer (comedy): May be wondering, “why as new covenant people, are we spending time in the O.T; let alone why on earth would you be speaking about Mephibosheth.”

In short, we will see how this story of a young man, ‘hit’s home’ for all of us, in our ‘redemptive story’ through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

T.S: Go to our passage for today (2 Samuel 9:1-13), to see this display of God’s type of kindness through the life of David to Mephibosheth.

Text: 2 Sam.

9:1-13 (NIV)

Setting the Scene:

The First Setting (The House of Saul, in Lo-debar):

Lo-debar in the GK, meaning a place of non, not, nothing, without.

A desolate, desert like place, where nothing is believed to have a chance to thrive.

Appropriately its name means ‘place of no bread’.

At this location in the house of (Machir son of Ammiel), is a living descendant from the house of Saul, a young man named Mephibosheth.

In all respects living a life as an orphan, without his Father Johnathan and Grandfather, King Saul - who died at Mt Gilboa.

Without them his life takes a drastic ‘change of course’.

Going from future King, to being ‘a fugitive’ on the run, alienated to Lo-Debar, ‘crippled’, with ‘a bloodline that betrays Him and so looking to the future with ‘no hope’ .

Video Clip: Fugitive Train Chase

The second setting (The House of David, in Jerusalem): Meanwhile, hundreds of KM’s South west of Lo-debar, David is ‘resting’ comfortably in Jerusalem, enjoying the newness and expansion of His kingdom.

His house growing stronger as the house of Saul grows weaker.

David has successfully with the Lord’s guidance - led a brilliant strategic campaign to defeat many of his enemies, including the Amalekites (1 Sam.

30:8-9, 17-19)... Also defeating the Philistines (2 Sm. 5:22-25) as well as the Moabites and Edomites (2 Sam.

8; cf., 2 Sam.

8:13) and bringing the Ark of God into Jerusalem (Ch 6; 2 Sm.

6:1-2, 17-19).

David desires to build a great temple for the Ark of the God to dwell; However, God promises David, that he will build him a kingdom, a dynasty kingship, which will remain within his family blood line, the tribe of Judah (2 Sam.

7:9-16; cf., 2 Sam.

7:27-29).

Ultimately Jesus fulfills this promise, as he is referenced in Rev. 5:5, as the “Lion of Judah”.

Redeeming, offsetting the affects of the ‘FALL’ in the garden and bringing the kingdom and blessing of God to all who CALL upon Him (Rm.

11).

Fulfilling the ‘promise’ to Abraham (Gn 18:18; 22:18).

In all, the Lord was with David, wherever he went (2 Sam.

7:9), in all that he did (2 Sam.

7:3, 8:14; cf., 1 Sam.

18:12).

He did what was right and pleasing, in the eyes of God and his citizens (2 Sam.

8:15 cf., 1 Kings 15:5).

T.S: Although his reign was imperfect, David is a great representation of the ideal of the covenantal king.

Next to Jesus, David is ideal for looking at God’s type of ‘kindness’, after all David is a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

Remembering a Promise

Customary in ancient times and in the lineage of Israel’s Kings, for the incoming kingship (administration) to dispose of the previous royal bloodline.

Ish-Bosheth, the youngest of Saul’s house, who was appointed by Abner as King of Israel (Saul’s General) upon Saul’s death.

However, he only reigned for four years and was murdered (Ch.

4).

The house of Saul was being wiped out.

T.S: Was there anyone left in the house of Saul or was he too late?

Mephibosheth was a young boy of 5, when his father and grandfather were killed in the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa (4:4).

But at the time David began his search in this chapter (9:1), Mephibosheth was a grown man with a son of his own, named Mica (9:12).

‘KINDNESS’, in the GK is translated: loyal-obligation

The reason for David’s interest in this information was that he wanted to fulfill the promises he had made to his friend Jonathan - whom he loved as a brother, as well as fulfill his promise to Jonathan’s father, Saul, to spare their descendants should he ever come to the throne in Israel (1 Sam 18:3; 20:12–17,23, 42; 23:18; 24:21–22).

David’s promise to Johnathan (Loyal-Obligation)

David’s oath with Saul

4. To David’s credit he did not forget these promises when he became king.

Yet, his decision to fulfill his promise appears to have taken place many years after he made his promise to Johnathan.

PA: No better time that the present to make good on a promise.

(Fav.

verse Proverbs 13:12)

T.S: How can David extend ‘kindness’ to Mephibosheth?, by all intents and purposes ‘pardoning’ him.

Mephibosheth was the innocent party and yet his bloodline betrays him.

The blood of Saul flows through his veins; but thankfully the blood of Johnathan is greater.

The covenant between David and Johnathan is greater.

Kindness is Supernatural

1. Status of Mephibosheth ‘crippled’, at the mercy of others.

In no condition to challenge David.

a. Mephibosheth - experienced a life changing moment, when he receieved news of his Father death. 2 Samuel 4:4

b.

In a flash everything changed.

His life took a drastic ‘change of course’, when he learned of his Fathers death at Mt Gilboa.

Went from ‘future king’ to an orphan and a fugitve, on the run, alienated to Lo-Debar, with ‘a bloodline that betrays Him - looking to the future with ‘no hope’ .

US: All have experience life-changing moments.

When we receieved “news”

iIlustration: Father’s Heart Attack in 2011.

2. God’s type of God kindness involves showing favor to those who are vulnerable, ‘poor in spirit’.

Even showing ‘kindness’ to those who (in our opinion) do not deserve it, or do not love us in return (Luke 6:35)

T.S: This is the type of kindness that God ‘calls’ us to.

God’s type of kindness, is a by-product of the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).

Something that is produced with his help.

PA: The only way to make ‘peace’ with those who have wronged us: is by the Lord’s help - recalling that we too are not so-innocent, yet Jesus made ‘peace’ with us, descendants of the lineage bloodline of Adam (Rm.

5:12).

T.S: Like Mephibosheth, we were “without God and without hope” (Eph 2:12-13).

It’s the blood of Christ, which makes us whole and restores our relationship with God.

PA: Key is to allow Jesus’ kindness towards us to transform our hearts & quicken us to extend that same kindness to others by the power of the Holy Spirit.

T.S: As long as we are open to the prompting & enablement of Holy Spirit, in dispensing that kindness, which we have freely received - anything is possible.

Kindness is Transformational

(v.7)

When Mephibosheth was ‘called’ - perhaps he assumed I am as good as dead.

This is it.

The time I have been dreading.

The blood of my Father’s father, has handed me over to death.

At the mercy and will of King David.

David’s does the unexpected, welcoming Mephibosheth to his table.

PA: David’s display of ‘unmerited kindness’ towards Mephibosheth, gave him hope - fulfilling a promise to his loyal friend and restoring Mephibosheth in the process.

US: Like Mephibosheth, we were ‘dead men walking’, fugitives hostile to God (Romans 5:10)

by our very nature, deserving of death(Eph 2).

Without God’s loyal kindness, we were without hope.

Yet, Jesus displayed God’s ‘unmerited kindness’, bringing us to His table.

This is possible, because He has taken care of the sin debt, in his body on the cross, ‘paid in full’, victoriously proclaiming - “it is finished” (John 19:30).

We can hold our heads high & live with a clear conscience, forgetting the past and looking to the present and future with hope, enjoying the kingdom.