Text: Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (2 Sam.9:1).
Introduction:
There was no love lost between David and Saul. It was a long battle that dragged until Saul killed himself on Mount Gilboa. Saul was so vindictive that he was not ready to let go of his pursuit of David's life , "and David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the wilderness of Ziph, Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand." (1 Sam.23:14). This was one of the most traumatic experiences David had to live by. However, he was able to scale through, as at other times. Nothing short of these serial victories is expected from a 'man after God's heart.'
Eventually, Saul died with his three sons, at once, same day. On his own part, David on a number of occasions, had cheap opportunities to kill Saul, yet he chose not to touch the LORD's anointed, he said, "...I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed" (1 Sam.24:10). He understood clearly well, it was not in his place to pass a death sentence on Saul. It was even an irony of fate that the Amalekite that came to give David a false report that he was responsible for Saul's death, paid with his own life, at the instance of David's instruction.
The young Amalekite assumed it was going to be a good news, worthy of celebration, in the ears of David that 'he' killed David's 'supposedly' enemy. (Lesson learnt here is, what tales are we bearing? ). In his mind, he probably had the impression that David would reward him handsomely, anyhow he would. Alas, he was more than disappointed. He just bargained for death, and nothing more. In the background of this animosity between these two warring parties, was a steadily growing unalloyed love between David and Jonathan, Saul's son. Jonathan was divided in between both parties, (Saul, his father and David) at a point, but eventually shifted his complete loyalty to David, knowing fully well that his father, Saul, was just unnecessarily indisposed to David.
Covenant:
Covenant is an agreement between two or more parties with the clause that whoever broke his part of the deal would face its consequences. To be certain their friendship was based on sincerity, both Jonathan and David chose this option, "so Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, let the LORD require it at the hand of David's enemies." (1 Sam.20: 16). From that moment, the covenant was set in motion, hanging in the air, waiting for the specified time and location to manifest. Hence, the need to be mindful of what covenant we enter into, and how much care to take in keeping to the terms of such. Covenants could be good or bad, and as a result we need to be extra careful before we go into any covenant, if need be at all.
Mephibosheth:
This was the grandson of Saul, the main person at the center of this submission, a prince, who by this time was living in Lo-debar. Lo-debar was a slum which means a place of no pasture. No vegetation. Nothing thrives or flourishes in Lo-debar. Nothing good comes out of Lo-debar, either. The condition of this prince is well captured figuratively, in Ecc.10:7, "I have seen servants on horses, while princes walk on ground like servants." The condition that landed him in Lo-debar was one beyond his control. Consequently, he was not only displaced, but became a squatter, struggling for survival in the most unimaginable place that did not befit someone of his royal status.
I say emphatically that it is not only disgusting for a prince to live below a dignifying royal status, it is an aberration! A brief synopsis of his life showed that he was five years old when the news of his father's death came from Jezreel. In an attempt to save his life, he fell from the hand of the kind-hearted nurse that carried him to escape, "...and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame" (2 Sam.4:4). He had been abandoned and forgotten in Lo-debar, ever since, until the day fortune smiled on him...
Ziba:
It was another irony of fate that while Mephibosheth was living a life of despondency, in a strange land, so to say, he was oblivious that he had a treasure usurped by another fellow man, an inside- servant at that. That was Ziba. Ziba was enjoying and living large on the wealth and fortunes bequeathed to him, (Mephibosheth), by royalty. Ziba was an insider in Jonathan's family, he knew where Mephibosheth was living. He knew his unpalatable living condition, yet he was never moved a bit to come to his aid in anyway. He equally knew where the family fortunes were located. He obviously knew the worth of such fortunes as well. He had so much integrated into the Saul / Jonathan family that knew even the liquid cash the family had. We are talking about a servant, here! He had "just" fifteen sons and twenty servants, and had stayed long well enough with the Saul / Jonathan family to know virtually what even the blood relations did not know, "...now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants" (2 Sam. 9:10). Servanthood could not be more profitable, lucrative, and enjoyable as it was with Ziba! Almost to an enviable status.
Friends, the question is, who is / are that insider(s) sitting on our wealth, right, and treasure? We'll recollect how Saul, the first king of Israel had no idea a 'seer' was in Israel until he was informed by his father's servant, on a day he was walking into his destiny. (This speaks to those parents who train and raise their children through the use of servants, maids, and house helps.) Such parents are not helping their children in anyway. It has dire consequences that backfire on the long run. Our children, must, as a matter of necessity, be involved in our domestic affairs and the day-to-day running of the business empire, if any. They are not aliens and must not be pamperd for nothing. Today might be rosy, believe me, the unseen challenging days are ahead. What would be their buffer at that time, if by now all they are trained be dependent of domestic staff? Soft landing for our wards is not always a favorable trade- off, on the longrun.
The prince was in this hopeless situation when suddenly, by a sheer twist of fate, and divine orchestration, a voice spoke. It was a voice, though unexpected, yet, would redeem the prince from his state of hopelesness. A voice that went into the archives of his lineage to remember the good deeds of his late father, Jonathan, to now trigger a favorable action, from David. A voice that was familiar with, and knew his roots. What type of a father, mother or person are we? Could a voice ever speak in favor of our wards at any point in time? Do we have any good deeds in our archives that could be a sure defence for our children in times of trial? Ask Isaac...the impeccable records his father, Abraham, had before God, gave him an easy passage in times of trials and travails, up till when he got to Rehoboth, "...do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." (Gen. 26: 24). And by extension, the post-Rehoboth visit of king Abimelech of Gerar, a sworn persecutor of Isaac, extending an olive branch to Isaac speaks volume to the fact that foundations play a major role in our existence in life. For the prince in our context, a divine voice that could not be silenced, had echoed at this time and a change- a well deserved change, with packaged relocation benefits, was in the offing! He was coming out of obscurity to limelight and to a restoration of his lost glory and rights. I pray that type of voice would speak in our favor today. Amen!
David Was The Voice:
He inquired, "is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake"? (2 Sam.9:1). "A friend in need is a friend indeed" , so goes a saying. Even in death, David remained a committed friend to Jonathan and the covenant they both cut, in the lifetime of Jonathan. God placed it in the heart of David to remember his sworn allegiance to his late friend , Jonathan. He saw that as a payback period for the remnant of his friend's family, of which Mephibosheth was the chief beneficiary. And there was no stopping for David. This singular question was the trigger to turn things around for the only survivor in his lineage. And almost immediately positions and status were swapped between Ziba and the original heir of the ursurped wealth. Even in his incapacitated status, everything that rightly and legitimately belonged to him was restored to full capacity, to enjoy his newly elevated status. And in an instant, he became alien to Lo-debar his place of utter relegation.
In addition to that, he got additional layer of extra renumeration and free services, to his new and elevated status. With a royal fiat that was irreversible and incontestable , David informed Ziba, the 'interim prince' , of the latest development that will bring about a change of baton. David said, "you therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master's son may have food to eat" (2 Sam.9:10). It was more than a turn-around for Mephibosheth. It was a massive breakthrough considering the fact that Ziba, with his fifteen biological sons and twenty servants, would now be under the reinstated prince! with a standing order that he must not lack anything. From that moment onwards, Mephibosheth began to live the royalty he was created and destined to live.
Kindness:
Embedded in this narrative between David and the house of Jonathan, that looks like a mere prose, is a key word that we cannot gloss over. It is "kindness." It was the kindness of God that located Mephiboseth that turned against Ziba and his sons and servants. While this kindness repositioned Mephibosheth for his original status, the same became a backlash for Ziba. He, together with his team, was going to live a life of servitude for only God knows when. Beloved, this speaks to us that in our compendium of prayers, prayer of kindness should be a matter of priority. I pray the LORD will show His kindness to us all and our families. Amen!
Sidebar:
 It is not only disgusting for a prince to live below a dignifying royal status, it is an aberration!
Do we have any good deeds in our archives that could be a sure defense for our children in times of trial?
Our children, as a matter of necessity must be involved in our domestic affairs and the day-to-day running of our business empire, if any.
In our compendium of prayers, prayer of kindness should be a matter of priority.
Conclusion:
We serve a God that is faithful, so faithful that He is more than 'fair' when it comes to having interest in the affairs of our lives, especially if we are faithful to Him and our fellow beings, and to His work. He never forgets. And He rewards, too, as occasions call for it. The singular faithfulness, and good deeds of Jonathan to David, against his father, Saul, who was estranged to David, was the main reason God spoke through David to remember the house of Saul for good. The good deeds of Jonathan apparently dwarfed whatever evil Saul did to David, that eventually, his son, lame in the feet, became the lone beneficiary of whatever good his father did in his life time. The same would have been the case if the consequences were to come in the 'negative'. Let's read in between the lines again to get the fact straight, 'Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left in the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (2 Sam.9:1). Could this be us if roles were to change? Our princehood shall not end up in Lo-debar ! May God help us! Amen.
SALVATION PRAYER:
Peradventure you want to accept the LORD as your Savior, please, pray thus: LORD JESUS, I repent, confess, and forsake all my sins and surrender my life to You. From this day, I accept You as my LORD and Savior. Wash me clean and accept me as Your child. Amen.
PRAYERS:
LORD, help me that I shall NOT end up in Lo-debar
LORD, please unseat whoever (Ziba & co), they are, sitting on my treasure, rights, and promotions.
LORD, please go to my family archives and for whatever good my father did, let a voice speak in favor of my household, going forward. Amen!
© April 2025 (The Landmark Year)
Being The 43rd Edition Of Monthly Bulletin From The Desk Of
Olusegun A Emosu (The Blessed, The Chosen & The Favored)
B.A (Hons), M.A (Ilorin), MBA (Arizona)
The Redeemed Christian Church Of God,
Rehoboth Parish,
2244 Panola Rd, Suite 2, (3 D Complex),
Lithonia GA 30058
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It's our 26th wedding anniversary on April 17th. We give God the glory.
