TLIC FAMILY. DAY 53. FEBRUARY 22: MEPHIBOSHETH.

THINK TOGETHER

Have you ever had a chance to be kind to someone who needed help?

READ TOGETHER

There’s a story from the life of King David that really shows how God treats us and how we should treat others. Before becoming king, David had spent a long time battling King Saul. Saul made David’s life miserable. But David still loved King Saul and his son Jonathan, David’s best friend.  

One terrible day both Saul and Jonathan died in a battle against Israel’s enemies. David would be the new king of Israel. When he became king David did something truly wonderful. David asked if there were any relatives of Saul that he could be kind to. And there was one – Mephibosheth. Can you say Me-phi-bo-sheth?

Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. And he was also lame. He couldn’t walk. Back then Mephibosheth would have been poor and considered useless because he couldn’t even be a servant to King David. On top of that, Mephibosheth should be David’s enemy because he was related to King Saul. But listen to what Mephibosheth and David said to each other when they met:

2 Samuel 9:7-8. ⁷ And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan…and you shall eat at my table always.” ⁸ And he said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

David was kind and loving to Mephibosheth even though Mephibosheth didn’t deserve that kindness. He could never give anything to King David. He couldn’t serve the king, or fight for the king, or pay money to the king like everyone else. But David was kind to Mephibosheth anyway. Why? Because of Jonathan. Now let’s think: how are we like Mephibosheth? And how is King David like God?

David loved Mephibosheth because of Jonathan. God loves us because of Jesus. Like Mephibosheth we are God’s enemies. We are dead dogs without Jesus. We are useless and hopeless. But because of Jesus and his death on the cross for our sins, we are now invited into God’s house to eat at his table forever in Heaven.

Because of Jesus we are God’s friend, not his enemy.

With Jesus we can be kind to others, like David was with Mephibosheth.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Invite someone who needs kindness over to your house to eat at your table.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, with you I am no longer a dead dog. I am alive and loved by God! Amen.