Unprecedented Kindness

Okay, true confession. I’ve been comparing myself to someone referred to as a man after God’s own heart. Yeah, I know. Dumb move on my part. But, I figured if David could sleep with a married woman then have her husband murdered, surely I could be in the running for the female version of this award.

Reading through I and II Samuel, the drama came to life with battles, love, shame and disdain. I flipped the pages, eager to know what would happen next. Suddenly, paralyzing words leapt from the page:

David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1

Slow down here. Is this the same Saul that made every attempt possible to eliminate David because he was gaining too much popularity? The Saul who not once but twice tried killing David, even when David clearly bypassed the chance to knock off the king and claim the throne for himself? By my standards, Saul made David’s life miserable. He resorted to hiding in caves just to stay alive. And then, once good ol’ Saul is dead and David gets a few minutes to come out of the bedrock and onto a royal throne, he asks what he can do to show kindness to Saul’s family? Are you kidding me? Jonathan, Saul’s son, loved David as himself (I Samuel 18:1) and David undoubtedly felt the same. Jonathan even knew the kingdom would go to David rather than himself and asked David to never “cut off your kindness from my family–not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth” (I Samuel 20:14-15), to which David readily agreed. But let’s put it in perspective here. Saul is dead. So is Jonathan. The only person left in Saul’s lineage is Johnny’s son, Mephibosheth. A guy with a name that’s impossible to pronounce and legs that were impossible to walk on. As Saul’s empire fell, so did “Mephi.” A nurse dropped him in flight, leaving him permanently crippled.

If I made a vow to be nice to someone’s family, then was hunted down by their father for something I didn’t even do, I’d be hard pressed to send a sympathy card when pops passed away. I’d think I’d earn kindest person of the year award if I showed up at the door with a frozen Stouffer’s lasagna. Yet that’s not the type of kindness David showed. Nope. The man laid it on thick. And it was genuine.

I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” (2 Samuel 9:7)

There is kindness and there is kindness. Every day, every meal, “Mephi” hobbled his way into the royal dining room, taking a seat of honor at the king’s table. This was an over-the-top, unheard of display of generosity and benevolence. It definitely wasn’t for Saul’s sake. Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son.  Period.

Dare to imagine with me what might happen if we were to display this type of kindness, not because the recipient is deserving of it, but because of whose child they are.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12