2 Samuel 9:1-13 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?… I. THE UNSELFISH KINDNESS OF DAVID. To send across the Jordan to Lo-debar to find a young man whom he perhaps had never seen, the grandson of Saul, who had so often sought to slay him, and whose house was a rival one in the kingdom — a young man crippled in both feet, with no prospect of being useful to the king — to alienate from the crown the forfeited estates of the house of Saul and restore them to cripple Mephibosheth — affords beautiful evidence of the unselfish kindness of David's generous heart. David's wonderful exaltation from the sheepfold to the kingdom had a natural tendency to repress or stifle the kindlier impulses of his heart. How many are there who in times of prosperity utterly forget the friends of former and adverse days! To seek out the lame, the halt, the blind, the poor, the wretched, to minister unto others, not to be ministered unto, is the beauty and the glory of the Christian life. III. DAVID'S KINDNESS to the son was not only unselfish, it WAS ALSO ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT WITH HIS FATHER. Twenty-two years before, David, fearing the wrath of Saul, made a covenant of friendship with Prince Jonathan, and then fled from the court. That covenant was a holy thing; it sacredly bound both David and Jonathan in life, and even after death: "Thou shalt not only while I yet live show me the kindness of the Lord, but thou shalt not cut off thy kindness frown my house for ever." All covenants, agreements, bargains, constitutions, except those sinful in themselves, should be most faithfully observed by all the parties who enact or ratify them. One of the characteristics of the man who shall abide in the tabernacle of the Lord and dwell in His holy hill is that he sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not. Fidelity to covenant engagements, whether in daily labour, the mechanic's shop, the marts of business, the learned professions, whether in pulpit or pew, is one of the very highest virtues of mankind. Be true to your word at the loss of property or even of life itself. III. DAVID'S KINDNESS was not only unselfish and according to covenant; it WAS THE KINDNESS OF GOD. "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God unto him?" Referring to the covenant, we find that Jonathan made David swear that he would show the kindness of the Lord to him and his house. Even the tender mercies of man are cruel. True and unselfish kindness of man to man must have its origin in God — kindness that flows into the human soul from God, and is akin to the kindness of His great and loving heart. Show me not man's kindness, but the kindness of God. We hear much in these days of the enthusiasm of humanity, and the brotherhood of man; but whence comes this enthusiasm, and who first taught this brotherhood of man? The so-called "natural religions" never inspired in man any love for humanity, and the Christless teachers of the race never proclaimed the brotherhood of man. it is simple historic verity to assert that apart from Christ and His religion there has never been any true and lasting humanitarianism on the earth. David had felt in his own soul something of the great and wondrous kindness of God, and this kindness he will show to Jonathan's crippled son. IV. THE KINDNESS SHOWN WAS FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER kindness to the son for the father's sake. How many since David have shown kindness to the children of the old and tried friends of former days for the parents' sake? Years ago you had a dear friend who stood by you in the darkest hour of your sorest trial, and now he is no more; but his children remain, and how deeply concerned are you in their welfare and happiness? how ready are you to aid them in every possible way, to share in their joys and sympathise in their sorrows, and by word and deed to show the kindness of God to the children for the father's sake? The child of an old friend is far nearer to us all than the child of the stranger. If the unseen spiritual history of souls could be laid bare to mortal gaze, it would be seen that thousands and tens of thousands of the most active and useful Christians of every age of the Church were saved in virtue of covenanted mercy and pious ancestors. Of many it may be said, as of Timothy, "The unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice." God has shown His marvellous kindness to many wayward and wicked children for the sake of sainted father or mother — saved, in the infinite mercy of God, by His kindness for another's sake. God's covenant of love with the parent abides in all the fulness of Divine blessing for children and children's children, even unto a thousand generations of such as love Him and keep His covenant and commandments. The kindness of God shown by David to Mephibosheth for the sake of another affords a most striking and beautiful illustration of the method whereby God shows His saving kindness to sinners. We are saved through the infinite mercy and kindness of God bestowed on us abundantly solely for the sake of another, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Kindness to one for another's sake is the law of Christian service. When we give meat to the hungry and drink to the thirsty, when we clothe the naked 'and visit the prisoner and minister to the sick, we show the kindness of God unto our brethren for the sake of the Elder Brother, and He recognises the service as rendered unto himself. If in all of our ministries of mercy to the "lame" of body or mind or soul we realised and acted on the principle of thus showing the kindness of God for the sake of our Saviour, how full of joy and blessedness would all our service be! Let each Christian ask himself daily, "Is there yet any one of Adam's lost race to whoa I may show the kindness of God for my Saviour's sake?" (A. W. Pitzer, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? |
    |