2 Samuel 9:1-13
1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth,a the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.
12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
REFLECTIONS. When princes are in adversity they can be familiar with their faithful friends; but on being elevated to the throne, and thronged with the cares of government, they are apt to leave them neglected and almost forgotten. David's virtues were however of a superior character. The moment he had returned from a succession of victories, and while crowded with the congratulations of a faithful people, he enquired whether any remained of the house of Saul. He remembered the covenant he had made with Jonathan and with Saul, and that God was the witness of every compact.
David also was mindful of his covenant, though it would be deemed null and void by all his court, because of the seven years' resistance and damage occasioned to the kingdom by the opposition of Ishbosheth and Abner. What magnanimity what generosity what benevolence in the Lord's anointed!
David gave Mephibosheth all the lands of Saul, and his house, not only when they had been fairly forfeited by the long and injurious revolt; but when David had a numerous race of princes to provide for, as well as victorious relatives and generals, who would require establishments correspondent to the services they had rendered the king. Happy were Israel in the virtues of their sovereign. Every man who had contracted a disadvantageous covenant with his neighbour, and every guardian of the orphan might learn of him how to conduct himself with equity and honour.
While David treated Mephibosheth as a prince and a son, he was kind also to Ziba, a faithful servant in the house of Saul, and invested him with a rental of the fruits, and the management of all the estates. This man must have been either an alien, or a Hebrew servant, who would not at the expiration of seven years leave his master's house; for he was not made free on the death of Saul. Thus David did for Mephibosheth more than he did for his own sons. On reading this high example of virtue, such as became the best of kings, we cannot but be reminded how faithful and disinterested we ought to be in friendship, and kind to the neglected orphans of those to whom we once owed esteem and love. Yea more; we cannot but be reminded how Christ has loved us, and promised us the kingdom, though we have rebelled against him, and are utterly unworthy of his regard. We eat bread at the king's table, enjoy the glory of his victories, and the protection of his arm. Happy Mephibosheth: thy father Jonathan still lives in the kindness of David, who inherits all the virtues of thy illustrious sire.