Day 113 – 2 Samuel 9:1-5

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 9:1-5

"And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

(2 Samuel 9:1)

David asks a very different question, "Is there yet any that is left?" That question tells on David's heart. He is looking for someone to bless. He continues by saying, "that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake." This reaches back to the covenant between David and Jonathan.

"And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever..."

(1 Samuel 20:14-15)

"And 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."

(2 Samuel 9:2)

Ziba had been a servant of Saul's house, so he would know who remained from that broken family.

"And 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."

(2 Samuel 9:3)

David asks again, but the wording goes from Jonathan's sake to "that I may shew the kindness of God unto him." This is David wanting to show God like kindness. The first description I see is, not his name, not his character, not his age, but his condition. He is lame. He is weak. He is not a threat. He is not useful to David's throne. In the eyes of men, he may have looked like a burden. But David did not ask, "Is there anyone strong?" He asked, "Is there yet any?" A heart after God does not measure mercy by how much a person can give back.

"And 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."

(2 Samuel 9:4)

David's next question is direct, "Where is he?" David does not say, "That is sad." He does not say, "Someone should check on him." He wants his location. The son of Ammiel, in Lodebar is not living in his own royal estate. He is in another man's house. My commentary notes that Lodebar was likely east of Jordan, near Mahanaim. Lodebar becomes a picture of distance, obscurity, and need.

"Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar."

(2 Samuel 9:5)

"Then king David sent." and "fetched him" from Lodebar. That phrase is tender. The son of Ammiel does not find his way to David. David sends and brings him. This is a wonderful picture of grace. David's kindness was undeserved, unearned, and unrepayable, and it flowed from the promise he had made to Jonathan. He was not fetched because he was strong. He was not fetched because he could help David. He was not fetched because he had earned a place. He was fetched for Jonathan's sake.

That points my heart toward the grace of God. The sinner is not brought near because he is worthy in himself. He is brought near because of Christ. We have access to God's mercy because of the Lord Jesus Christ.