Today's Passage: 2 Samuel 9-10
We often talk that we should show kindness to other people, and David certainly demonstrates a kind spirit in this passage. But how often do you think about how you should receive kindness? The two stories in chapters 9-10 show us two very different reactions to David's kind spirit.
In Chapter 9, scripture tells us the story of Mephibosheth (one of my favorite names in the Bible). If you remember from Chapter 4, Mephibosheth was the son of Johnathan who was crippled in both feet when he was dropped by his nurse while fleeing with the royal family. He'd been living in hiding, both because of his physical ailments and his fear of being in the family of Saul. David wants to honor Jonathan by blessing someone related to him, and when he hears about Mephibosheth, he is quick to act. Mephibosheth first reacts with great humility..."why would you, a great king with wealth and power, be concerned with someone as insignificant as me?" But despite his disbelief that a king would act with such kindness, he accepts the free gift and lives at the master's table. (at least for a short while...stay tuned for a turn in his humility in 2 Samuel 16).
David continues his generous spirit in Chapter 10, but this time there is a much different reaction. David wants to honor a king which treated him well, so he sends a delegation to his son. The son listens to some very bad advice..."Why would a powerful king want to honor you and your father? There must be another motive behind this...I bet he wants to check out our forces so he can attack later. He wants to use you...he wants to take advantage of you...no one offers something for nothing!" So the king disgraces the delegation and starts a war that he has no chance of winning.
Sometimes we can't believe someone who is so powerful would think to bless someone so lowly. Many people feel this way about God...why would He care about me? Why would someone so amazing even care what happens to me? But the all-powerful King of Kings is looking for people to bless with eternal life at His table. Will we trust and accept this gracious invitation, or will we reject Him because it is too good to be true? Will we give our lives to him or think that all He wants is to control our lives? How will we react to God's kindness?
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