Today we see 2 different responses to acts of kindness.
1) David remembers the promise he made to Jonathan regarding their descendants. (1 Samuel 20) David asks if anyone is alive from the house of Saul “…that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Ziba tells David about Mephibosheth who was lame in his feet and hiding out in Lo Debar. So they bring Mephibosheth to David and David says, “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”. Mephibosheth responds, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” Jesus will later teach of the Great Banquet. “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14) David’s kindness is a picture of what is to come one day! “…Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God!” (Luke 14:15)
2) David goes on to show kindness to Hanum, the new king of Ammon, bc of the kindness his father showed David. Hanum is suspicious of David’s kindness and humiliates his men which leads to war.
This just proves that you have no control over how someone will respond to your kindness. Be kind anyway. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
Ok. Well we got to read all about kind David today but tomorrow David totally blows it. 😧 Keep reading to see how a man after God’s own heart recovers after a major failure.
(2 Samuel 8:15-18, 1 Chronicles 18:14-17, 1 Chronicles 6:16-30, 50-53, 31-48, 2 Samuel 9:1-10:19, 1 Chronicles 19:1-19)
Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 