Mephibosheth and God’s Unfailing Kindness Explained
- Jack Selcher
- Mar 1
- 3 min read
Summary
Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul, expected judgment from David but received unexpected kindness because of David’s covenant with Jonathan. Restored and welcomed to the king’s table, he became a picture of undeserved grace. His story reflects God’s unfailing kindness toward sinful humanity. When we humble ourselves and trust in God’s promise through His Son, we too receive pardon, belonging, and a permanent place at His table.
The Tragic Beginning of Mephibosheth's Life
Is anyone in your family named Mephibosheth? I didn’t think so. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul of Israel. When he was five years old, his father and King Saul were killed in a war, and his nurse dropped and injured him. He had two maimed feet for the remainder of his life (2 Samuel 4:4).
A Covenant of Unfailing Kindness
Does anyone in your family want to be treated like Mephibosheth? I hope everyone does. Let me explain.
David became king of Israel after Saul’s death. The standard procedure for most kings was to eliminate all rivals for their throne from the previous ruling family. Since Mephibosheth was King Saul’s grandson, he was a potential threat to David. More background information will help. Jonathan, Mephibosheth’s father, was David’s best friend before David became king.
Before Jonathan was killed, he made a covenant with David (1 Samuel 18:3). We don’t know the exact nature of that agreement. Later, Jonathan requested that David show him unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness for the remainder of his life (1 Samuel 20:14). Further, Jonathan asked David to extend that same kindness to his family forever (1 Samuel 20:15).
David’s Faithful Promise Remembered
That brings us to David’s question recorded in 2 Samuel 9. “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). David remembered the promise he made to Jonathan. He didn’t cast it aside for the sake of convenience.
Ziba was a servant of Saul’s household. King David asked him if anyone remained in Saul’s household to whom he could show God’s unfailing kindness (2 Samuel 9:3). That most lofty standard of kindness had been Jonathan’s request. Ziba responded that only Mephibosheth was left. David acted immediately and had Mephibosheth brought to him (2 Samuel 9:5).
Grace Extended to the Undeserving
Mephibosheth knew nothing of David’s promise to provide unfailing kindness to his father’s family forever, let alone whether he would keep it. We can imagine him trembling with fear in David’s presence, wondering whether his last breath neared. It would have been difficult to be optimistic as the lone survivor of the previous king’s family.
King David told him not to be afraid. He promised to show him kindness, to restore to him all of the former King Saul’s land, and to feed him at his own table for the rest of his life (2 Samuel 9:7). The undeserving grandson found himself unexpectedly immersed in the riches of David’s undeserved favor because David kept his promise.
God's Kindness Explained
Why would we want to be treated like Mephibosheth? The relationship between King David and Mephibosheth is like that between a holy God and sinful human beings.
Through our stubborn self-will, we have repeatedly usurped God’s throne, acting as if we were in the royal line as the rightful kings of the Universe. We have no legitimate claim to His unfailing kindness or a millisecond in His awesome presence. We are worse than spiritually lame, with not the slimmest hope of a seat at His table, except for one humble action and one wonderful one.
Humility and Faith in God’s Promise
The first is our move. We must, like Mephibosheth, humble ourselves, acknowledging that we are unworthy to become part of God’s household, with not the slightest inkling that we deserve it.
The wonderful action is that God promises pardon and family privileges when we humble ourselves and believe His certain promise that when we receive His Son and believe in His name, we become His children (John 1:12). Have you done your part and trusted God to do His?