1568. David and Mephibosheth
David and Mephibosheth
"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" (2Sa_9:7).
David is one of the Bible's outstanding types of David's greater Son. The chapter which is before us is one which follows the ascent of David to the throne of Israel.
1. "Saul sought to smite David" (1Sa_19:10).
There were many vicissitudes which befell David in the days of Saul's wrath. With javelin, Saul sought to pin him to the wall, and when David escaped out of his hands, he pursued him to the fastnesses of the mountain.
Saul turned every stone that could be turned in seeking to slay David.
2. "Saul is dead" (2Sa_2:7).
When Saul was dead, and David was victor, David said: "Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!"
Saul was swifter than an eagle and stronger than a lion, yet he perished by the way.
This is the story of Christ's meeting the antichrist and overwhelming him. He who sits in the Heavens will hold him in derision.
3. "And they anointed David king over Israel" (2Sa_5:3).
After the death of Saul, David was made king. Saul had been the choice of the people–David was the choice of God.
The antichrist comes in his own name, and the people receive him; Jesus Christ will come in the Father's name, and God will say, "Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion."
4. "David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul?" (2Sa_9:1).
After David took the kingdom, he immediately inquired after the house of Saul, and he heard that there was one, Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul.
In this chapter, through 2Sa_9:8, we have detailed a wonderful picture of the recalling of the children of Israel and of their joint-reign with Christ.
(1) "That I may shew him kindness * * the kindness of God" (2Sa_9:1-3).
The Lord God will have nothing but kindness toward those who crucified His Son, and followed the antichrist.
(2) "Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet" (2Sa_9:3).
Poor Israel is broken, she is lame, she cannot walk. Israel has suffered sorely at the hands of her enemies.
(3) "He is in Lo-debar" (2Sa_9:4).
"Lo-debar" means the "place of no pasture"–Israel has been driven from her land, a land of pomegranates and olives, of oil and of wine, of milk and of honey, and she is scattered throughout the nations, dwelling at Lodebar.
(4) "King David sent, and fetched him" (2Sa_9:5).
Poor Jacob could not believe that Joseph was alive. But when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to fetch him, his spirit revived and he said that Joseph lived.
Mephibosheth was lame, so David fetched him.
Our Lord Jesus will send the Gentiles and they will fetch the children of Israel in their arms to see the King in Jerusalem.
(5) "Mephibosheth * * fell on his face, and did reverence" (2Sa_9:6).
When Israel returns to Christ, there will be a day of confession, and Israel will reverence and worship the Lord their God.
(6) "I * * will restore thee all the land" (2Sa_9:7).
The Lord Jesus in His Second Coming will fulfil every promise made to the fathers. All the land promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob will be given unto the twelve tribes.
(7) "Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually" (2Sa_9:7, l. c.).
Mephibosheth looked upon himself as a dead dog, and yet he was exalted to the king's presence and to the king's table; so shall the people of Israel in honest contrition, be fully restored to the favor of the Lord; He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people and He will be their God.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR