Loyalty – Kindness

(“because of your father”)

“Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!”

David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.” (2 Samuel 9:5 – 7)

P/S:

Jonathan = the first prince of Israel & was supposed to be Israel’s second king by lineage but gladly gave way and protected David to become king instead after God wanted that (obedience to God & loyalty to his friend, David).

David = A man after God’s own heart chosen to be king of Israel by God Himself. King David showed great kindness to the only surviving son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth who was lame at both feet (loyalty & kindness). King David is undoubtedly Israel’s greatest king ever.

Best of friends they were in life like brothers, (“David & Jonathan”) as David remarks emotionally on the day Jonathan fell in battle on the mountains of Gilboa (“the song of the bow” – 2 Samuel 1:18):

“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.

“How have the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”

(2 Samuel 1:26 – 27)

Indeed, David lamented:

“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.

“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

“How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places.”

(2 Samuel 1:22 – 25)

Is David a warrior himself for his comments to be seriously taken or just a puppet king who watches from afar when his army is at war?

Read this:

“As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7)

Did David avenge the death of his friend Jonathan against the Philistines? Yes, eventually in time:

“As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”

So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeond to Gezer.” (2 Samuel 5:24 – 25)

P/S:
Between them (David & Jonathan), it didn’t matter who would be “king of Israel”. They let the LORD decide and just obeyed it (true friendship).