When we were still a child, we have different heroes like batman, superman, flash gordon, spiderman and many more. When i was a child i like superman. What i like in Superman is that he fly. When he flew it seems that he is above of everything and i like it when the wind touch his skin, it feels like it's very relaxing and cool. As i grew maturely (not older...hehehe) it seems that the like of superman is impossible to be true but i always like to imagine things that are impossible because at the back of my mind when somebody created a thing there is somehow, somewhere a truth behind it. I like to think that supernatural things can happen but i don't know how. Until somebody shared to me the Word of God, all that is written in the Word of God are supernaturals, like the healing of the sick, Daniel in the lion's den, Joseph the dreamer, and the most important is the giving of the son of God to save and forgive the people who believes in this truth “that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” Eternal in the dictionary means no end. What a life without end...awesome!
That's where my relationship with the Lord began. At first, i thought that when you believe in Him there are no more problems but i was wrong. True, problems don't go away but it is a fact. It is always there whichever side of the table you are sitting. The blessing thing when you have a relationship with Jesus and you believe that He is the Lord of you life problems becomes a blessing. You will have a deeper joy inside that you cannot focus on your problems but to the kindness, goodness and Sovereignty of God in the circumstances.
I am writing this now to encourage people especially to one of my friend who has been through a lot lately. Whichever side of the table you are sitting right now be bless and remember that there is always a God who loves you very much. Sometimes in life even the people closest to us cannot help us in our walk. Sometimes they are even the ones who provokes us but hey it's a stepping stone to know more of our God, love them because God loves you more. As it is written, we are indebted to everybody, not with money but with love. He is a Sovereign God. He sees everything, He never sleeps nor slumber. Jesus is always interceding for us. Stand on this truth because it's the only truth that cannot be shaken by any tidal waves (problems for short) in this life and it is only this truth that will remain standing and important in the end. Be encouraged by the life of Jesus and as what Carnegie said in his speech. Never,never,never give up. So i say the same now, Never,never,never give up on doing what is right! Let Jesus be your Superman.
Let me end by writing a part of my favorite songs for God. This song is for all the people reading this and to my friend...this is for you. Let this be a song in your heart for Jesus.
“I will declare my choice to the nation. Shout for joy in the congregation i will worship God, worship God all my days. Those who love the Lord are satisfied, those who trust in Him are justified. I will worship God, worship God all my days. When the nation stumble, the joy of the Lord is strength to my soul. I will not be shaken, I will not be move, I will not be shaken, I will not be shaken....”
“He who began a good work in you. He who began a good work in you. Will be faithful to complete it. He'll be faithful to complete it. He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you. If the trouble you're facing is slowly replacing your hope with despair. For the process is long and your losing your song in the night. You can be sure that the Lord has His hand on you. Safe and secure He will never abandon you. You are His treasure and He finds His pleasure in you...”
Happy Holidays to all! See you all next year! Love you all! Thank you! Praise God!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
FRIENDSHIP
Friends are gift from God. They are our mirrors. Sometimes,friends see something in us that we don't see in us. Some friends encourage, criticize, listens, etcetera because they love, anything done without love is not sincere and without result. There are so many principles, ideas and books written about friendship. One of the great story about friendship is the friendship covenant of Jonathan and David in the bible which lasts until the next generation.
The story started in the time when Saul was the king. Jonathan is the son of king Saul and David(the one who killed Goliath in 1 Samuel 17) is the son of Jesse from Bethlehem.
David and Jonathan's friendship started at the time when Saul was the King.
1 Samuel 18:1 [ David and Jonathan’s Friendship ] David finished talking with Saul. After that, Jonathan and David became close friends.Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself.1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him just as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes. He even gave him his sword, his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 19:1 [ Saul Tries to Kill David ] Saul told his son Jonathan and all of the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much. 1 Samuel 19:2 So Jonathan warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be very careful tomorrow morning. Find a place to hide and stay there." 1 Samuel 19:4-5 Jonathan told his father Saul some good things about David. He said to him, "Please don't do anything to harm David. He hasn't done anything to harm you. And what he's done has helped you a lot. He put his own life in danger when he killed Goliath. The Lord used him to win a great battle for the whole nation of Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. So why would you do anything to harm a man like David? He isn't guilty of doing anything to harm you. Why would you want to kill him without any reason?" 1 Samuel 19:6-11 Saul paid attention to Jonathan. He took an oath and made a promise. He said, "You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that David will not be put to death." So Jonathan sent for David and told him everything he and Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served Saul as he had done before. Once more war broke out. So David went out and fought against the Philistines. He struck them down with so much force that they ran away from him. But an evil spirit that was sent by the Lord came on Saul. It happened as he was sitting in his house and holding his spear. While David was playing the harp, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David got away from him just as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David escaped. Saul sent some men to watch David's house. He told them to kill David the next morning. 1 Samuel 20 [ Jonathan Warns David ] David was in Naioth at Ramah. He ran away from there to where Jonathan was. He asked him, "What have I done? What crime have I committed? I haven't done anything to harm your father. So why is he trying to kill me?" "That will never happen!" Jonathan replied. "You aren't going to die! My father doesn't do anything at all without telling me. So why would he hide that from me? He isn't going to kill you!"But David took an oath. Then he said, "Your father knows very well that you are pleased with me. He has said to himself, 'I don't want Jonathan to know I'm planning to kill David. If he finds out, he'll be very sad.' But I'm very close to being killed. And that's just as sure as the Lord and you are alive." Jonathan said to David, "I'll do anything you want me to do for you." So David said, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. I'm supposed to eat with the king. But let me go and hide in the field. I'll stay there until the evening of the day after tomorrow. Your father might miss me. If he does, then tell him, 'David begged me to let him hurry home to Bethlehem. A yearly sacrifice is being offered there for his whole family group.' Your father might say, 'That's all right.' If he does, it will mean I'm safe. But he might become very angry. If he does, you can be sure he's made up his mind to harm me. "Please be kind to me. You have made a covenant with me in the sight of the Lord. If I'm guilty, kill me yourself! Don't hand me over to your father!" "I would never do that!" Jonathan said. "Suppose I had even the smallest clue that my father had made up his mind to harm you. Then I would tell you." David asked, "Who will tell me if your father answers you in a mean way?" "Come on," Jonathan said. "Let's go out to the field." So they went there together. Then Jonathan spoke to David. He said, "I promise you that I'll find out what my father is planning to do. I'll find out by this time the day after tomorrow. The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness. Suppose my father feels kind toward you. Then I'll send you a message and let you know. But suppose he wants to harm you. And I don't let you know about it. I don't help you get away safely. Then may the Lord punish me greatly. May he be with you, just as he has been with my father. "But always be kind to me, just as the Lord is. Be kind to me as long as I live. Then I won't be killed. And never stop being kind to my family. Don't stop even when the Lord has cut off every one of your enemies from the face of the earth." So Jonathan made a covenant with David and his family. He said, "May the Lord make David's enemies accountable for what they've done." Jonathan had David take an oath again because he loved him. In fact, Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself. Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. You will be missed, because your seat at the table will be empty. Go to the place where you hid when all of this trouble began. Go there the day after tomorrow, when evening is approaching. There's a stone out there called Ezel. Wait by it. "I'll shoot three arrows to one side of the stone. I'll pretend I'm practicing my shooting. Then I'll send a boy out there. I'll tell him, 'Go and find the arrows.' Suppose I say to him, 'The arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.' Then come. That will mean you are safe. You won't be in any danger. And that's just as sure as the Lord is alive. But suppose I tell the boy, 'The arrows are far beyond you.' Then go. That will mean the Lord is sending you away. "And remember what we talked about. Remember that the Lord is a witness between you and me forever." So David hid in the field. When the time for the New Moon Feast came, the king sat down to eat. He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David's place was empty. Saul didn't say anything that day. He said to himself, "Something must have happened to David to make him 'unclean.' That must be why he isn't here." But the next day, David's place was empty again. It was the second day of the month. Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn't been here yesterday or today." Jonathan replied, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. He said, 'Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to eat at your table." Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, "You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse's son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you. You will never be king as long as Jesse's son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!" "Why do you want to put him to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?" But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David. So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly.
The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him. He said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him. The boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen. Then Jonathan shouted to him, "The arrow went far beyond you, didn't it?" He continued, "Hurry up! Run fast! Don't stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. The boy didn't know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew. Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, "Go back to town. Take the weapons with you." After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did. Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the Lord we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The Lord is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
1 Samuel 23:16-17 Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh. He told David that God would make him strong. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul won't lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel. And I will be next in command. Even my father Saul knows this." 1 Samuel 23:18 The two of them made a covenant in the sight of the Lord. Then Jonathan went home. But David remained at Horesh.
2 Samuel 1:4 "What happened?" David asked. "Tell me."He said, "Israel's men ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead."
2 Samuel 1:5
David spoke to the young man who brought him the report. He asked him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" 2 Samuel 1:17-27 [ David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan ] 17 David sang a song of sadness about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He ordered that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is called The Song of the Bow. It is written down in the Book of Jashar.
David sang,
"Israel, your glorious leaders lie dead on your hills.
Your mighty men have fallen.
"Don't announce it in Gath.
Don't tell it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad.
The daughters of men who haven't been circumcised will be joyful.
"Mountains of Gilboa,
may no dew or rain fall on you.
May your fields not produce any offerings of grain.
The shield of the mighty king lies polluted there.
The shield of Saul lies there. It isn't rubbed with oil anymore.
The bow of Jonathan didn't turn back.
The sword of Saul didn't return without being satisfied.
They spilled the blood of their enemies.
They killed mighty men.
"In life Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious.
In death they were not parted.
They were faster than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
"Daughters of Israel, sob over Saul.
He dressed you in the finest clothes.
He decorated your clothes with ornaments of gold.
"Your mighty men have fallen in battle.
Jonathan lies dead on your hills.
My brother Jonathan, I'm filled with sadness because of you.
You were very special to me.
Your love for me was wonderful.
It was more wonderful than the love of women.
"Israel's mighty men have fallen.
Their weapons of war are broken."
2 Samuel 9 [ David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth ] 1 David asked, "Is anyone left from the royal house of Saul? If there is, I want to be kind to him because of Jonathan." Ziba was a servant in Saul's family. David sent for him to come and see him. The king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "I'm ready to serve you," he replied. The king asked, "Isn't anyone left from the royal house of Saul? God has been very kind to me. I would like to be kind to someone in the same way." Ziba answered the king, "A son of Jonathan is still living. Both of his feet were hurt." "Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He's in the town of Lo Debar. He's staying at the house of Makir, the son of Ammiel." So King David had Mephibosheth brought from Makir's house in Lo Debar.
Mephibosheth came to David. He was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul. Mephibosheth bowed down to David to show him respect. David said, "Mephibosheth!" "I'm ready to serve you," he replied. "Don't be afraid," David told him. "You can be sure that I will be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. I'll give back to you all of the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And I'll always provide what you need."
Mephibosheth bowed down to David. He said, "Who am I? Why should you pay attention to me? I'm nothing but a dead dog." Then the king sent for Saul's servant Ziba. He said to him, "I'm giving your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants must farm the land for him. You must bring in the crops. Then he'll be taken care of. I'll always provide what he needs." Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Ziba said to the king, "I'll do anything you command me to do. You are my king and master." So David provided what Mephibosheth needed. He treated him like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All of the members of Ziba's family became servants of Mephibosheth. 13 Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. The king always provided what he needed. Both of his feet were hurt.
2 Samuel 21:7 The king spared Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. David had taken an oath in the sight of the Lord. He had promised to be kind to Jonathan and the family line of his father Saul.
2 Samuel 21:12
David got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. He got them from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. They had taken them in secret from the main street in Beth Shan. That's where the Philistines had hung their bodies up on the city wall. They had done it after they struck Saul down on Mount Gilboa.
Great story! David was really a friend to Jonathan. Thatwhy God called David, a man after God's own heart. God wants people to have the same heart as David, a heart that truly loves God and is a God pleaser. David could not have done those things if it wasn't for God's love. Let's do and set our minds to what God wants us to do. To love God with all our HEART, MIND and SOUL and to love others as ourselves. First, to ourselves and then to others.
The story started in the time when Saul was the king. Jonathan is the son of king Saul and David(the one who killed Goliath in 1 Samuel 17) is the son of Jesse from Bethlehem.
David and Jonathan's friendship started at the time when Saul was the King.
1 Samuel 18:1 [ David and Jonathan’s Friendship ] David finished talking with Saul. After that, Jonathan and David became close friends.Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself.1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him just as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes. He even gave him his sword, his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 19:1 [ Saul Tries to Kill David ] Saul told his son Jonathan and all of the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much. 1 Samuel 19:2 So Jonathan warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be very careful tomorrow morning. Find a place to hide and stay there." 1 Samuel 19:4-5 Jonathan told his father Saul some good things about David. He said to him, "Please don't do anything to harm David. He hasn't done anything to harm you. And what he's done has helped you a lot. He put his own life in danger when he killed Goliath. The Lord used him to win a great battle for the whole nation of Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. So why would you do anything to harm a man like David? He isn't guilty of doing anything to harm you. Why would you want to kill him without any reason?" 1 Samuel 19:6-11 Saul paid attention to Jonathan. He took an oath and made a promise. He said, "You can be sure that the Lord lives. And you can be just as sure that David will not be put to death." So Jonathan sent for David and told him everything he and Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul. David served Saul as he had done before. Once more war broke out. So David went out and fought against the Philistines. He struck them down with so much force that they ran away from him. But an evil spirit that was sent by the Lord came on Saul. It happened as he was sitting in his house and holding his spear. While David was playing the harp, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David got away from him just as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David escaped. Saul sent some men to watch David's house. He told them to kill David the next morning. 1 Samuel 20 [ Jonathan Warns David ] David was in Naioth at Ramah. He ran away from there to where Jonathan was. He asked him, "What have I done? What crime have I committed? I haven't done anything to harm your father. So why is he trying to kill me?" "That will never happen!" Jonathan replied. "You aren't going to die! My father doesn't do anything at all without telling me. So why would he hide that from me? He isn't going to kill you!"But David took an oath. Then he said, "Your father knows very well that you are pleased with me. He has said to himself, 'I don't want Jonathan to know I'm planning to kill David. If he finds out, he'll be very sad.' But I'm very close to being killed. And that's just as sure as the Lord and you are alive." Jonathan said to David, "I'll do anything you want me to do for you." So David said, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. I'm supposed to eat with the king. But let me go and hide in the field. I'll stay there until the evening of the day after tomorrow. Your father might miss me. If he does, then tell him, 'David begged me to let him hurry home to Bethlehem. A yearly sacrifice is being offered there for his whole family group.' Your father might say, 'That's all right.' If he does, it will mean I'm safe. But he might become very angry. If he does, you can be sure he's made up his mind to harm me. "Please be kind to me. You have made a covenant with me in the sight of the Lord. If I'm guilty, kill me yourself! Don't hand me over to your father!" "I would never do that!" Jonathan said. "Suppose I had even the smallest clue that my father had made up his mind to harm you. Then I would tell you." David asked, "Who will tell me if your father answers you in a mean way?" "Come on," Jonathan said. "Let's go out to the field." So they went there together. Then Jonathan spoke to David. He said, "I promise you that I'll find out what my father is planning to do. I'll find out by this time the day after tomorrow. The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness. Suppose my father feels kind toward you. Then I'll send you a message and let you know. But suppose he wants to harm you. And I don't let you know about it. I don't help you get away safely. Then may the Lord punish me greatly. May he be with you, just as he has been with my father. "But always be kind to me, just as the Lord is. Be kind to me as long as I live. Then I won't be killed. And never stop being kind to my family. Don't stop even when the Lord has cut off every one of your enemies from the face of the earth." So Jonathan made a covenant with David and his family. He said, "May the Lord make David's enemies accountable for what they've done." Jonathan had David take an oath again because he loved him. In fact, Jonathan loved David just as he loved himself. Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the time for the New Moon Feast. You will be missed, because your seat at the table will be empty. Go to the place where you hid when all of this trouble began. Go there the day after tomorrow, when evening is approaching. There's a stone out there called Ezel. Wait by it. "I'll shoot three arrows to one side of the stone. I'll pretend I'm practicing my shooting. Then I'll send a boy out there. I'll tell him, 'Go and find the arrows.' Suppose I say to him, 'The arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.' Then come. That will mean you are safe. You won't be in any danger. And that's just as sure as the Lord is alive. But suppose I tell the boy, 'The arrows are far beyond you.' Then go. That will mean the Lord is sending you away. "And remember what we talked about. Remember that the Lord is a witness between you and me forever." So David hid in the field. When the time for the New Moon Feast came, the king sat down to eat. He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David's place was empty. Saul didn't say anything that day. He said to himself, "Something must have happened to David to make him 'unclean.' That must be why he isn't here." But the next day, David's place was empty again. It was the second day of the month. Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn't been here yesterday or today." Jonathan replied, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. He said, 'Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to eat at your table." Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, "You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse's son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you. You will never be king as long as Jesse's son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!" "Why do you want to put him to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?" But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David. So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly.
The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him. He said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him. The boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen. Then Jonathan shouted to him, "The arrow went far beyond you, didn't it?" He continued, "Hurry up! Run fast! Don't stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. The boy didn't know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew. Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, "Go back to town. Take the weapons with you." After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did. Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the Lord we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The Lord is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
1 Samuel 23:16-17 Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh. He told David that God would make him strong. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul won't lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel. And I will be next in command. Even my father Saul knows this." 1 Samuel 23:18 The two of them made a covenant in the sight of the Lord. Then Jonathan went home. But David remained at Horesh.
2 Samuel 1:4 "What happened?" David asked. "Tell me."He said, "Israel's men ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead."
2 Samuel 1:5
David spoke to the young man who brought him the report. He asked him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" 2 Samuel 1:17-27 [ David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan ] 17 David sang a song of sadness about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He ordered that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is called The Song of the Bow. It is written down in the Book of Jashar.
David sang,
"Israel, your glorious leaders lie dead on your hills.
Your mighty men have fallen.
"Don't announce it in Gath.
Don't tell it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad.
The daughters of men who haven't been circumcised will be joyful.
"Mountains of Gilboa,
may no dew or rain fall on you.
May your fields not produce any offerings of grain.
The shield of the mighty king lies polluted there.
The shield of Saul lies there. It isn't rubbed with oil anymore.
The bow of Jonathan didn't turn back.
The sword of Saul didn't return without being satisfied.
They spilled the blood of their enemies.
They killed mighty men.
"In life Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious.
In death they were not parted.
They were faster than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
"Daughters of Israel, sob over Saul.
He dressed you in the finest clothes.
He decorated your clothes with ornaments of gold.
"Your mighty men have fallen in battle.
Jonathan lies dead on your hills.
My brother Jonathan, I'm filled with sadness because of you.
You were very special to me.
Your love for me was wonderful.
It was more wonderful than the love of women.
"Israel's mighty men have fallen.
Their weapons of war are broken."
2 Samuel 9 [ David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth ] 1 David asked, "Is anyone left from the royal house of Saul? If there is, I want to be kind to him because of Jonathan." Ziba was a servant in Saul's family. David sent for him to come and see him. The king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "I'm ready to serve you," he replied. The king asked, "Isn't anyone left from the royal house of Saul? God has been very kind to me. I would like to be kind to someone in the same way." Ziba answered the king, "A son of Jonathan is still living. Both of his feet were hurt." "Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He's in the town of Lo Debar. He's staying at the house of Makir, the son of Ammiel." So King David had Mephibosheth brought from Makir's house in Lo Debar.
Mephibosheth came to David. He was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul. Mephibosheth bowed down to David to show him respect. David said, "Mephibosheth!" "I'm ready to serve you," he replied. "Don't be afraid," David told him. "You can be sure that I will be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. I'll give back to you all of the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And I'll always provide what you need."
Mephibosheth bowed down to David. He said, "Who am I? Why should you pay attention to me? I'm nothing but a dead dog." Then the king sent for Saul's servant Ziba. He said to him, "I'm giving your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants must farm the land for him. You must bring in the crops. Then he'll be taken care of. I'll always provide what he needs." Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Ziba said to the king, "I'll do anything you command me to do. You are my king and master." So David provided what Mephibosheth needed. He treated him like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All of the members of Ziba's family became servants of Mephibosheth. 13 Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. The king always provided what he needed. Both of his feet were hurt.
2 Samuel 21:7 The king spared Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. David had taken an oath in the sight of the Lord. He had promised to be kind to Jonathan and the family line of his father Saul.
2 Samuel 21:12
David got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. He got them from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. They had taken them in secret from the main street in Beth Shan. That's where the Philistines had hung their bodies up on the city wall. They had done it after they struck Saul down on Mount Gilboa.
Great story! David was really a friend to Jonathan. Thatwhy God called David, a man after God's own heart. God wants people to have the same heart as David, a heart that truly loves God and is a God pleaser. David could not have done those things if it wasn't for God's love. Let's do and set our minds to what God wants us to do. To love God with all our HEART, MIND and SOUL and to love others as ourselves. First, to ourselves and then to others.
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