2 Samuel 9

One son of Jonathan was discovered, Mephibosheth³⁸ (see 2 Samuel 4:4 and comment). To honor his covenant of friendship with Jonathan, David had Mephibosheth brought to Jerusalem where he could live under the king’s protection. In addition, David turned over to him all the land that had belonged to his grandfather Saul (verse 7). Mephibosheth expressed wonder that King David would even notice a dead dog—a “nobody”—likehim(verse8).

9–13 Thus David fulfilled his promise to Jonathan;³⁹ the promise also extended to Mephibosheth’s son Mica (verse 12). In his dealings with Mephibosheth, David had shown God’s kindness (verse 3); that was the kindness Jonathan had asked for (1 Samuel 20:14). David’s kindness toward Mephibosheth followed the pattern of God’s kindness toward us. God reaches out to us who are crippled” by sin and invites us to eat at His table. God deals with us according to GRACE, not according to our merits. That was how God dealt with David (2 Samuel 7:8–9), and so that was how David dealt with Mephibosheth. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).