2 Samuel 9:3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king… David, settled on the throne and in his new metropolis, recalls to mind the fallen house of Saul, not to destroy them, as was usual with Eastern monarchs, but to show them kindness for Jonathan's sake. In his inquiry after them he uses substantially the same phrase which Jonathan had used (1 Samuel 20:14) when he took an oath of him that he would be kind to himself and his family. "The kindness of the Lord," or "the kindness of God," is an expression descriptive of the highest and best kindness possible to man or angel. It is kindness which - I. FLOWS FROM GOD. This is true of all the kindness which exists amongst men. "Love is of God." All the love of men towards each other streams forth from the fountain of Divine love, and should be thus regarded by those who are the objects of it, he being praised for all. But this is emphatically true of Christian kindness. It originates in, and is a manifestation of, the love of God in Christ. It is produced by the Holy Spirit as given to the disciples of Christ, and by means of the truth respecting him (1 Peter 1:22, 23). It is a product of regeneration. It is God's love dwelling in human hearts and revealing itself in human lives. It is an element of "the Divine nature" of which Christians are "partakers" (2 Peter 1:4). II. IS EXERCISED FROM REGARD TO GOD. 1. It has its root, like all Christian graces, in faith towards God (Galatians 5:6). 2. It springs from gratitude and love to him for all his goodness, especially for his redeeming love (1 John 4:11). 3. It. is practised in obedience to his commandments (l John 4:21). 4. It aims at his approval 5. It imitates him (Luke 6:36; Ephesians 4:32). Hence it - III. IS GOD-LIKE. As it is: 1. Disinterested. "Seeketh not her own" (1 Corinthians 13:5). Kindness which is exercised with a view to personal advantage is not kindness but policy and commercial subtlety. 2. Expansive. Ready to help all who need, as far as power permits. Not restricting itself to the good and worthy, but "kind unto the unthankful and the evil" (Luke 6:35); nor yet to friends, but extending to enemies (Matthew 5:44, 45, 48); nor to one's own sect in religion, but regarding with love all Christian brethren (1 John 5:1; Ephesians 6:24). Yet it is: 3. Discriminating. The Divine love is united with righteousness, and seeks righteous ends. Hence it cannot be the same thing, and displayed in the same manner, towards the righteous and the unrighteous, the obedient and the disobedient; and it mainly seeks to promote righteousness and salvation in all, and varies its methods accordingly. Christian love and kindness will be exercised with similar discrimination as far as is possible to men; and will seek supremely the moral and spiritual benefit of its objects. Indiscriminate benevolence does more harm than good. 4. Unsparing. "He spared not his own Son" (Romans 8:32), and in him the love of God appears as self-sacrificing (1 John 3:16) and bountiful (Ephesians 1:3). Christian love possesses the same qualities of bountifulness (2 Corinthians 8:2, 3, 9-11), self-denial, and self-sacrifice. It "endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7). 5. Constant. The love of God is long suffering, persistent, and eternal (Psalm 103:17; Psalm 136., passim), His children are like him in this respect also (1 Corinthians 13:4, 8, 13). IV. IS NOURISHED BY CONVERSE WITH GOD. The acts and habits of devotion - reading, meditation, prayer, praise - bring us into closer communion with God, secure us more of his Spirit, open our hearts to receive the impress of his character, promote in us all those sentiments and principles towards him which issue in hearty love and kindness towards our brethren. Let us draw nigh continually to him whose name is Love, and we shall find it ever more easy to be loving. - G.W. Parallel Verses KJV: And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. |
    |