David’s grace

David provides for his enemy’s descendent

2 Samuel 9.1-13

Reference: v. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Explore: David discovers an ancestor of Saul and wants to provide for all his needs. Now, let’s put this in perspective: David was seeking any ancestor of Saul, whether he was to be Jonathan’s so or not. I must say, David had an incredible love for Jonathan and an incredible capacity to forgive. It is beyond my comprehension that he would actually seek out an ancestor of Saul to show kindness to them to honour his friendship with Jonathan. He had been at war with Saul’s army for many years and while he had finally become king over all of Israel, it would have been understandable for David to still hold a grudge.

Application: No matter which way I look at it, I know that I would not be as gracious as David. To be honest, I can look in my own life at this very moment and see evidence that I have not been as gracious with some even simpler situations. David’s loyalty to God flowed through to his respect for Saul, as God’s anointed king, all the way to his provision for Mephibosheth, Saul’s disabled grandson. How should our loyalty to God flow through us to everyone we meet today?

Prayer: Lord, you were the perfect example of giving graciously, even to a world of people who do not deserve it. May I share that grace with people in my life today. Amen.

2 Samuel