Read 2 Samuel 9

Kindness

David made a commitment to his friend Jonathan that he would show kindness to his family. Many years after the death of Jonathan, David made good on that promise by seeking out those of the family of Saul who had survived. The son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, was found. Mephibosheth had been lame since the age of five; he grew up and married and had a son of his own.

David assured Mephibosheth that he was not looking for vengeance against Saul’s house. “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually” (2 Samuel 9:7).

Mephibosheth showed his gratitude toward David in humility, acknowledging his unworthiness of such an honor. “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” (2 Samuel 9:8). David fulfilled his vow to Jonathan and did all that he said he would do for Mephibosheth. “‘As for Mephibosheth,’ said the king, ‘he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons’” (2 Samuel 9:11).

Brother James Burton Coffman relates David’s kindness to the son of Jonathan to God’s kindness for all humanity. “Sinners all, we mortals, like Mephibosheth, have been wounded, crippled, because of the ‘fall’ of our progenitors in Eden. Like David did for Mephibosheth, God has honored and blessed us with the promise of eternal life, inviting us to feast at His table in the kingdom perpetually. Also, God does this, not because of any merit or righteousness on our part, but ‘for Jesus’ sake.’”

Do we appreciate God’s mercy as we should? Separated from Him because of our iniquity, and yet despite our rebellion and rejection, He leaves the door open for us to return. He does not want to execute judgment upon us; He wants to forgive us and fellowship with us. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Let us accept His gracious offer and submit to Him in humility, and let us extend mercy to those around us just as He has extended mercy to us!

Read 2 Samuel 7:1-5

Authority from the Lord

Israel was at peace. David wanted to build a house for God. The prophet Nathan, knowing that the king had found favor in God’s sight, said, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you” (2 Samuel 7:3). Nathan’s mistake is that he did not ask God if that is what He wanted David to do.

Many times, we have the best of intentions, but we do not seek God’s will before setting out to accomplish our plans. We may think that God would certainly approve – but without first consulting His Word, how can we know?

Jesus warned that there would be some on the Day of Judgment that had good intentions but lacked the authority for their actions. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Were they intentionally sinning against God? No! They thought they were doing good things! But Jesus calls their practices lawless. Why? Because they had no authority to do the things they claimed to do “in Your name.”

We see throughout the Scriptures examples of people who attempted to serve God in ways that He did not command or authorize. Nadab and Abihu are a prime example of this. They used “profane fire…which He had not commanded them” (Leviticus 10:1). The New International Version translates this, “unauthorized fire…contrary to his command.”

Are you practicing anything that is unauthorized? Profane? Contrary to God’s commands? Consider the actions you participate in during worship. Are there elements of that worship for which authority cannot be found in the New Testament?

Do not presume to know what is acceptable to God. Look for answers in His revelation – His communication with man. Don’t make the same mistake Nathan made.

Read 2 Samuel 7

The Humility of David

God had blessed David so richly, giving him authority over all Israel and granting peace with his enemies. Not only that, David recognized the great material blessings God had provided for him, namely “a house of cedar” (2 Samuel 7:2). Even as he recognized this blessing, David pointed out a disparity between his residence and the dwelling place of the ark of the covenant, which “dwells inside tent curtains” (2 Samuel 7:2). Thus, the king wanted to correct what he saw as a slight against God’s presence.

The prophet Nathan encouraged the king to proceed, but God put a stop to his plan. “Will you build a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle” (2 Sam. 7:5-6). God made known to David that He did not need the king to do anything for Him. God is omnipotent and omnipresent; He can provide for Himself as He sees fit, and no dwelling place constructed by man can contain Him.

Instead, God told the king, “Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever….And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:11-13, 16).

The Messianic overtones in this promise are crystal clear. After David’s death, God said He would “set up your seed after you.” Jesus was born through the line of David. “I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name.” This is a prediction of the church; it was no afterthought! It was purposed from the very beginning of creation!

David’s reaction to this promise was one of humility. “Who am I , O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?” (2 Samuel 7:18). David recognized that he did not deserve anything the Lord had promised him. He was a humble servant. “And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28). Let us have the humility of David when God graciously blesses us!