2 Samuel 9:1-13

Introduction: Define Grace. What is Grace? It is basically, God doing for us what we don’t deserve.

G- God’s
R- Righteousness
A- At
C- Christ’s
E- Expense

Do you feel unworthy of God’s GRACE? I do! But that’s why I love Him, and want to serve Him because of what He’s done for me; i. e.
** forgiven us
** loved us
** saved us
** provided for us
** changed us
** redeemed us
** filled us

One of the most beautiful examples of God’s GRACE is found in the four (4) biblical actions of King David and one of Saul’s descendants named Mephibosheth.

1. The King (David) REMEMBERED Mephibosheth! (2 Sam 9:1-4)

“1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? 2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.”

{Saul tried to kill David because of jealousy}

• David showed kindness to Saul’s house because of his son Jonathan.

{Lodebar means not a pasture}

2. The King (David) RESCUED Mephibosheth! (2 Sam 9:5-6)

“5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!”

3. The King (David) RESTORED Mephibosheth! (2 Sam 9:7-13)

“7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons. 12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.”

• A nurse dropped Mephibosheth when he was 5 yrs old and he became cripple
• King David Restored Saul’s land (estate) in Gibea to Mephibosheth

4. The King (David) RETURNED for Mephibosheth! (2 Sam 19:24-30)

“24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. 25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? 26And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. 27And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 28For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? 29And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. 30And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.”

That’s GRACE!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese