David asked, “Is there anyone still left in the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1
In the years of Saul’s jealousy and persecution of David, David had an advocate and protector, Jonathan. Jonathan was Saul’s son, heir to the throne, but knowing God had another plan he accepted it and loved David. They made a covenant, 1 Samuel 20:16 and after David established his house in Jerusalem, he endeavored to honor his friend.
On the day of Saul and Jonathan’s death, Jonathan’s five year old son, Mephibosheth, was whisked away to safety by his nurse, as it would have been customary for the new king to completely annihilate the previous king’s household to prevent any uprisings. While fleeing, the ‘would have been’ prince suffered an injury that permanently crippled both his feet. Mephibosheth and his servants took refuge in Lo Debar. The name means “no pasture.” It was a low, dry, barren place no one would want to populate..
Mephibosheth was a grown man when word came for him to present himself to the king. It is certain that he understood this summons to mean death, but instead, David made him equal to own sons, with all the rights and riches he would have enjoyed had his father become a king. He was changed from desert, poverty and to a child of the king!
King David had every right to wipe Saul’s existence for all generations, off the face of the earth, and yet, he chose not to, because of a promise made to his friend. This is called Mercy. THEN! David invited Mephibosheth to his table as one of the family, never to live in fear again. He became a new creature. This is Grace.
It is a beautiful thing when men set aside their entitlements, real or assumed, to live and respond like Jesus. In this season in which we celebrate Immanuel, our God who left the divine wonder of Heaven to live among us, then die so that we could live, peace among ALL men should be our objective.
Blessings,
Gretchen