CompleteConcise
The only thing recorded in this chapter is the kindness Davidshowed to Jonathan's seed for his sake. I. The kind enquiry he made after theremains of the house of Saul, and his discovery of Mephibosheth (v. 1-4). II.The kind reception he gave to Mephibosheth, when he was brought to him (v. 5-8).III. The kind provision he made for him and his (v. 9-13).
Here is, I. David's enquiry after the remains of the ruinedhouse of Saul, v. 1. This was a great while after his accession to the throne,for it should seem that Mephibosheth, who was but five years old when Saul died,had now a son born, v. 12. David had too long forgotten his obligations toJonathan, but now, at length, they are brought to his mind. It is good sometimesto bethink ourselves whether there be any promises or engagements that we haveneglected to make good; better do it late than never. The compendium which Paulgives us of the life of David is this (Acts 13:36), that he served hisgeneration according to the will of God, that is, he was a man that made ithis business to do good; witness this instance, where we may observe,
1. That he sought an opportunity to do good. He might perhapshave satisfied his conscience with the performance of his promise to Jonathan ifhe had been only ready, upon request or application made to him by any of hisseed, to help and succour them. But he does more, he enquires of those about himfirst (v. 1), and, when he met with a person that was likely to inform him,asked him particularly, Is there any yet left of the house of Saul, that Imay show him kindness? v. 3. "Is there any, not only to whom I may dojustice (Num. 5:8), but to whom I may show kindness?" Note, Good men shouldseek opportunities of doing good. The liberal deviseth liberal things,Isa. 32:8. For, the most proper objects of our kindness and charity are such aswill not be frequently met with without enquiry. The most necessitous are theleast clamorous.
2. Those he enquired after were the remains of the house ofSaul, to whom he would show kindness for Jonathan's sake: Is there any leftof the house of Saul? Saul had a very numerous family (1 Chr. 8:33), enoughto replenish a country, and was yet so emptied that none of it appeared; but itwas a matter of enquiry, Is there any left? See how the providence of Godcan empty full families; see how the sin of man will do it. Saul's was abloody house, no marvel it was thus reduced, ch. 21:1. But, though God visitedthe iniquity of the father upon the children, David would not. "Is thereany left that I can show kindness to, not for Saul's own sake, but forJonathan's?" (1.) Saul was David's sworn enemy, and yet he would showkindness to his house with all his heart and was forward to do it. He does notsay, "Is there any left of the house of Saul, that I may find some way totake them off, and prevent their giving disturbance to me or my successor?"It was against Abimelech's mind that any one was left of the house of Gideon (Jdg.9:5), and against Athaliah's mind that any one was left of the seed royal,2 Chr. 22:10, 11. Those were usurped governments. David's needed no such vilesupports. He was desirous to show kindness to the house of Saul, not onlybecause he trusted in God and feared not what they could do unto him, butbecause he was of a charitable disposition and forgave what they had done tohim. Note, We must evince the sincerity of our forgiving those that have beenany way unjust or injurious to us by being ready, as we have opportunity, toshow kindness both to them and theirs. We must not only not avenge ourselvesupon them, but we must love them, and do them good (Mt. 5:44), and not bebackward to do any office of love and good-will to those that have done us manyan injury. 1 Pt. 3:9,but, contrari-wise, blessing. This is the way toovercome evil, and to find mercy for ourselves and ours, when we or they needit. (2.) Jonathan was David's sworn friend, and therefore he would showkindness to his house. This teaches us, [1.] To be mindful of our covenant. Thekindness we have promised we must conscientiously perform, though it should notbe claimed. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. [2.]To be mindful of our friendships, our old friendships. Note, Kindness to ourfriends, even to them and theirs, is one of the laws of our holy religion. Hethat has friends must show himself friendly, Prov. 18:24. If Providence hasraised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, yet we must notforget former acquaintance, but rather look upon that as giving us so much thefairer opportunity of being kind to them: then our friends have most need of usand we are in the best capacity to help them. Though there be not a solemnleague of friendship tying us to this constancy of love, yet there is a sacredlaw of friendship no less obliging, that to him that is in misery pity should beshown by his friend, Job 6:14. A brother is born for adversity.Friendship obliges us to take cognizance of the families and surviving relationsof those we have loved, who, when they left us, left behind them their bodies,their names, and their posterity, to be kind to.
3. The kindness he promised to show them he calls the kindnessof God; not only great kindness, but, (1.) Kindness in pursuance of thecovenant that was between him and Jonathan, to which God was a witness. See 1Sa. 20:42. (2.) Kindness after God's example; for we must be merciful as heis. He spares those whom he has advantage against, and so must we. Jonathan'srequest to David was (1 Sa. 20:14, 15), "Show me the kindness of theLord, that I die not, and the same to my seed." The kindness of God issome greater instance of kindness than one can ordinarily expect from men. (3.)It is kindness done after a godly sort, and with an eye to God, and his honourand favour.
II. Information given him concerning Mephibosheth, the son ofJonathan. Ziba was an old retainer to Saul's family, and knew the state of it.He was sent for and examined, and informed the king that Jonathan's son wasliving, but lame (how he came to be so we read before, ch. 4:4), and thathe lived in obscurity, probably among his mother's relations in Lo-debar inGilead, on the other side Jordan, where he was forgotten, as a dead man outof mind, but bore this obscurity the more easily because he could rememberlittle of the honour he fell from.
III. The bringing of him to court. The king sent (Ziba, it islikely) to bring him up to Jerusalem with all convenient speed, v. 5. Thus heeased Machir of his trouble, and perhaps recompensed him for what he had laidout on Mephibosheth's account. This Machir appears to have been a verygenerous free-hearted man, and to have entertained Mephibosheth, not out of anydisaffection to David or his government, but in compassion to the reduced son ofa prince, for afterwards we find him kind to David himself when he fled fromAbsalom. He is named (ch. 17:27) among those that furnished the king with whathe wanted at Mahanaim, though David, when he sent for Mephibosheth from him,little thought that the time would come when he himself would gladly be beholdento him: and perhaps Machir was then the more ready to help David in recompencefor his kindness to Mephibosheth. Therefore we should be forward to give,because we know not but we ourselves may some time be in want, Eccl. 11:2. Andhe that watereth shall be watered also himself, Prov. 11:25. Now,
1. Mephibosheth presented himself to David with all the respectthat was due to his character. Lame as he was, he fell on his face, and didhomage, v. 6. David had thus made his honours to Mephibosheth's father,Jonathan, when he was next to the throne (1 Sa. 20:41, he bowed himself tohim three times), and now Mephibosheth, in like manner, addresses him, whenaffairs are so completely reversed. Those who, when they are in inferiorrelations, show respect, shall, when they come to be advanced, have respectshown to them.
2. David received him with all the kindness that could be. (1.)He spoke to him as one surprised, but pleased to see him. "Mephibosheth!Why, is there such a man living?" He remembered his name, for it isprobable that he was born about the time of the intimacy between him andJonathan. (2.) He bade him not be afraid: Fear not, v. 7. It is probablethat the sight of David put him into some confusion, to free him from which heassures him that he sent for him, not out of any jealousy he had of him, norwith any bad design upon him, but to show him kindness. Great men should nottake a pleasure in the timorous approaches of their inferiors (for the great Goddoes not), but should encourage them. (3.) He gives him, by grant from thecrown, all the land of Saul his father, that is, his paternal estate,which was forfeited by Ishbosheth's rebellion and added to his own revenue.This was a real favour, and more than giving him a kind word. True friendshipwill be generous. (4.) Though he had thus given him a good estate, sufficient tomaintain him, yet for Jonathan's sake (whom perhaps he saw some resemblance ofin Mephibosheth's face), he will take him to be a constant guest at his owntable, where he will not only be comfortably fed, but have company andattendance suitable to his birth and quality. Though Mephibosheth was lame andunsightly, and does not appear to have had any great fitness for business, yet,for his good father's sake, David took him to be one of his family.
3. Mephibosheth accepts this kindness with great humility andself-abasem*nt. He was not one of those that take every favour as a debt, andthink every thing too little that their friends do for them; but, on thecontrary, speaks as one amazed at the grants David made him (v. 8): What isthy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am? How doeshe vilify himself! Though the son of a prince, and the grandson of a king, yethis family being under guilt and wrath, and himself poor and lame, he callshimself a dead dog before David. Note, It is good to have the hearthumble under humbling providences. If, when divine Providence brings ourcondition down, divine grace brings our spirits down with it, we shall be easy.And those who thus humble themselves shall be exalted. How does he magnify David'skindness! It would have been easy to lessen it if he had been so disposed. HadDavid restored him his father's estate? It was but giving him his own. Did hetake him to his table? This was policy, that he might have an eye upon him. ButMephibosheth considered all that David said and did as very kind, and himself asless than the least of all his favours. See 1 Sa. 18:18.
The matter is here settled concerning Mephibosheth. 1. Thisgrant of his father's estate is confirmed to him, and Ziba called to be awitness to it (v. 9); and, it should seem, Saul had a very good estate, for hisfather was a mighty man of substance (1 Sa. 9:1), and he had fields andvineyards to bestow, 1 Sa. 22:7. Be it ever so much, Mephibosheth is now masterof it all. 2. The management of the estate is committed to Ziba, who knew whatit was and how to make the most of it, in whom, having been his father'sservant, he might confide, and who, having a numerous family of sons andservants, had hands sufficient to be employed about it, v. 10. Thus Mephiboshethis made very easy, having a good estate without care, and is in a fair way ofbeing very rich, having much coming in and little occasion to spend, himselfbeing kept at David's table. Yet he must have food to eat besides his ownbread, provisions for his son and servants; and Ziba's sons and servants wouldcome in for their share of his revenue, for which reason perhaps their number ishere mentioned, fifteen sons and twenty servants, who would requirenearly all there was; for as goods are increased those are increased that eatthem, and what good has the owner thereof save the beholding of them with hiseyes? Eccl. 5:11. All that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants toMephibosheth (v. 12), that is, they all lived upon him, and made a prey ofhis estate, under pretence of waiting on him and doing him service. The Jewshave a saying, "He that multiplies servants multiplies thieves." Zibais now pleased, for he loves wealth, and will have abundance. "As theking has commanded, so will thy servant do, v. 11. Let me alone with theestate: and as for Mephibosheth" (they seem to be Ziba's words),"if the king please, he need not trouble the court, he shall eat at mytable, and be as well treated as one of the king's sons." ButDavid will have him at his own table, and Mephibosheth is as well pleased withhis post as Ziba with his. How unfaithful Ziba was to him we shall findafterwards, ch. 16:3. Now because David was a type of Christ, his Lord and son,his root and offspring, let his kindness to Mephibosheth serve to illustrate thekindness and love of God our Saviour towards fallen man, which yet he was underno obligation to, as David was to Jonathan. Man was convicted of rebellionagainst God, and, like Saul's house, under a sentence of rejection from him,was not only brought low and impoverished, but lame and impotent, made so by thefall. The Son of God enquires after this degenerate race, that enquired notafter him, comes to seek and save them. To those of them that humble themselvesbefore him, and commit themselves to him, he restores the forfeited inheritance,he entitles them to a better paradise than that which Adam lost, and takes theminto communion with himself, sets them with his children at his table, andfeasts them with the dainties of heaven. Lord, what is man, that thoushouldst thus magnify him!
