Who is King David? A man after God’s own heart, part 1
Today I was reading in 2 Samuel 9, and right out the gate the Holy Spirit grabbed my attention. Samuel 9:1 reads
David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
-2 Samuel 9:1
The passage continues as David seeks out anyone living from the house of Saul. Turns out, Jonathan had a son, Mephibosheth. The first thing we learn about Mephibosheth is that he is lame in both feet. In that time when manual labor was the norm, this would render him basically useless. Nevertheless, David has Mephibosheth brought to him. He then summons Ziba, Saul’s steward, gave Mephibosheth everything that had belonged to Saul and his family, orders Ziba to be his steward and his sons (15 to be exact) and servants (20 of those) to take care of the land for him. And as if this isn’t enough, David also says “And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master (Saul), will always eat at my table”.
What? This is incredible!
An overturned King was often killed along with their ENTIRE family. This practice was to prevent future heirs for claiming back the throne, since typically monarchs came through the same family line.
Put yourself in Mephibosheth’s shoes …
Can you imagine? Mephibosheth lived a quite life. Outside Jerusalem where he felt safe. Then, David summons him. And yeah, King David was his dad’s bestie, but still. Mephibosheth must have been scared. It’s not like he could beg to become a servant, he was lame in both feet!
The Bible indicates that Mephibosheth was terrified. 2 Samuel 9:7 says, “Don’t be afraid” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.”
Mephibosheth must have felt he was summoned to death’s very door. And he struggles accepting King David at his word. 2 Samuel 9:8 “Mephibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ “
Who can blame Mephibosheth for his reaction? Lame in both feet so nothing to offer the King. He knows a word from David and he would be killed, no hesitation. But instead David offers him respect and honor. David grants Mephibosheth more than provision. King David gives wealth, protection, and a seat at his own table.
This is WHY David is a man after God’s own heart!
And as I’m reading this passage, I see, this is it. This IS it. This is why David was a man after God’s own heart!
David was human, he sinned. He sinned pretty badly (Bathsheba and Uriah anyone?).
I always thought it was because in every circumstance, no matter how much he messed up, David continued relying on and having a relationship with God. He delighted in the Lord. When he did mess up, he did not let shame or embarrassment keep him away from God. No he repented! And when God didn’t give him his way? He didn’t get angry. He accepted God’s will.
Those behaviors alone make David quite an impressive example. And a man after God’s own heart.
But here I am, reading this passage, and it hits me square in the face. David is a man after God’s own heart, because he reflects God’s heart in his actions. David’s heart is similar to God’s heart!
Mephibosheth had nothing to offer David. NOTHING. He even has a son, who could at some point become a threat to David being the king. But David is not worried about any of that. His faith and hope is in the God who anointed him King of Israel. And with a deep love for Jonathan, and great respect for God’s first anointed King, Saul, David seeks out their family to bless them. To hold them in a place of honor and respect. To provide for them all their days.
Wow.
David is a foreshadowing of the King to come
And it was this revelation from the Holy Spirit that showed me how King David is a foreshadowing of a greater King. God the father, son and holy spirit, three in one. King of all.
God, the King on high knows that I have nothing to offer. NOTHING. He even knows that I was born hating him. And that I am prone to all kinds of sin. I am not faithful to God.
But God isn’t worried about any of that. For the sake of his own Son’s sacrifice, God forgives, and forgives, and calls to me. “Daughter, daughter, come sit at my table every day.” I deserve death, and he gives me life.
After reading this, and absorbing all of this beautifulness. I just pray that God will help me be more like King David, more like Jesus. I too want to be a woman after God’s own heart.
That’s it from me today, friends.
More about the series: ‘Who is King David? And what does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?’
This is a spontaneous, Holy Spirit lead series on David and how he is a man after God’s own heart. If you also pondered how that could be given the many grevious sins that David committed, I invite you to open your heart to the Word of God and follow along with me.
You can find the other parts of the series here:
Part 2, I reflected on how David sinned against God, Bathsheba and Uriah. How God confronted that sin, declared judgement, and how David responded to the judgement.
Part three, I reflect on David’s confession from Psalm 51. Watching David work through his confession, turning to begging for mercy, asking for a restoration in relationship with his God. And finally, turning his faith outward. His experience as a witness and testimony to the Almighty.
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Who is King David? A man after God’s own heart, part 3
In part 2, I shared how the Holy Spirit brought to mind how David responded to God when confronted with his sin. And that this…
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Who is King David? A man after God’s own heart, part 2
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