This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
2Samuel
1 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?
2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
3 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.
4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo'debar.
This chapter is a picture of salvation by our KING JESUS.
David remembered his promises to Jonathan (1Samuel 20:14-16). He wanted to know if there were any of the descendents of Saul and Jonathan that he might help.
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo'debar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
David, with fond memories of Jonathan, called for Mephibosheth to be brought to him.
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.
12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
Now David called Ziba and gave him some direct orders. ALL of Saul's land was restored and given over to Mephibosheth. Ziba and his sons and servants were to work the land and bring the production of it to Mephibosheth. David publicly and solemnly charged Ziba with this responsibility.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem from that day forward, and was given continual care by David. But he remained lame, unable to care for himself.
Please continue with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 9
A man called Ziba, who was a servant of Saul was found. He told David that Jonathan had a son, but that he was lame. Jonathon's son, Mephibosheth, lived in Lodebar.
Take note that "Lo'debar" means "no pasture." Because this man was lame, and because he was Saul's grandson, he lived in fear with NOTHING. He lived with someone else (Machir -verse 4), and was a this man's mercy.
All human beings are like Mephibosheth when they live without Jesus. They are wandering sheep without a pasture or a shepherd. They are at the mercy of the world, and in need of a Savior to come and put them in His pasture.
This is the way Jesus reaches out to lost people today. He sends his church to bring in the lame and the blind who are wandering.
David quickly told Mephibosheth to "fear not." What a man was this man David! He was true to his king and would not destroy him when there had been opportunity and reason. He was true to his promises and would very quickly tell this son of Jonathan to "fear not." David is indeed a "picture" of our Lord, Jesus here.
He came as a lowly shepherd though He was King of all. He came to give mercy and kindness to those who are bent and destroyed by sin.
The church of Jesus today is charged with the responsibility of caring for those whom Jesus brings into the "sheepfold."
Mephibosheth was to remain with David, in his house, and would be treated as if he were David's own son (verse 11)!
David was faithful in not killing Jonathan's son, and he was faithful to his promise to not "cut off" (or kill) the descendents of Saul (1Samuel 20:15).
What great compassion! Again, David is a picture of our Lord, Jesus, Who came into this world, and by GRACE "adopts" us into the family of God (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5).
My friends, we Christians live in the church today under the gracious care of our Master. But we are STILL LAME! We are unable to care for ourselves. We need the constant care of our Master, Jesus.