2 Sam. 9.
HERE is a boy who cannot run about and play like other boys. Let us hope that his lameness is only temporary. I have read of a grown-up man who was lame on both his feet and never got better. Yet I think he was very happy, for he was befriended by a great and good king. Can you guess his name? It is at the head of this paper—Mephibosheth. He was the grandson of Saul, David’s enemy; but there was one who came between, named Jonathan, and for his sake David showed him kindness—the kindness of God. As a descendant of Saul, he could expect no mercy, but Jonathan had established claims on David, and pledged him to acknowledge them.
What was the manner of this kindness? Mephibosheth was penniless, a stranger in the house of Machir in Lo-debar, which means “no pasture. From there, David took him, and restored unto him all the land of Saul; but not only this, he brought him into his own house and set him at his own table “as one of the king’s sons.”
And this is a picture of the kindness of God. Yes, of His kindness to every redeemed one. Beggars we are, and helpless. For the Scripture saith
And “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ is our Jonathan. He has established claims, and for His sake God delights to show kindness to poor sinners. Have you an interest in Christ? Then rejoice that in the ages to come God will “show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
ML 12/07/1902