Remembering the Unfortunate

Background Scripture: 2 Samuel 9-10
Lesson Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Introduction

David was chosen of God to be the leader of his people. Could it be that as God looked at David’s heart, He understood that he would be kind and compassionate toward the people whom he was called to rule? Perhaps this quality, which David demonstrates so well in dealing with Mephibosheth, was part of the reason that God chose him for such a special responsibility. When God’s people, following the example left by Christ Himself, show compassion to the less fortunate, it pleases the Lord, and these efforts will be blessed in a special way.

Key Verse

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Heb. 13:16).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Not long before the time this lesson takes place, David had been running and hiding from Saul, who was the king of Israel. For quite some time, David must have considered Saul to be a significant threat and a key obstacle to his life moving forward. Presently, the news of Saul’s death was brought to David. How did he feel in his heart when he heard this news? Was he tempted to feel pleasure that at last Saul had been rewarded for his evil life? It does not appear so, for his actions were faultless.

By God’s design, David succeeded Saul in being king, first of Judah and then finally of all Israel. It was expected that David would have hunted down all of Saul’s living sons and grandsons to have them slain. It was customary for newly crowned kings to destroy any rival who might try to cause revolt in the kingdom by claiming the right of succession.

Evidently this is what Saul’s family expected from David also. Mephibosheth was a very young child when Saul died. His nurse fled into hiding with him so that the new king would not be able to kill him. In the process of running away, Mephibosheth was dropped by his nurse, and because of the injuries he sustained in this accident, he was lame on both his feet.

Perhaps some years later, David sought out Mephibosheth. He did not seek to do him harm, however, but to show him kindness. This was an unexpected move from the king, and we can imagine the fear that Mephibosheth had in his heart as he came to stand before David. The circumstances of Mephibosheth’s life were unfortunate. From being the king’s grandson with very bright expectations, he went to being a poor, lame man. Saul’s holdings were, of course, the right of conquest of the new king. Mephibosheth was likely a dependent of someone else. He probably did not even have the ability or resources to make his own living. When he stood before David, Mephibosheth referred to himself as a dead dog. He was saying that, in his own estimation, he was worse than worthless.

David then did a wonderful thing for lowly Mephibosheth. Not only did he restore to him the land that belonged to Saul, but he granted him the right to sit at his table as an equal to his own sons.

Practical Truths for Today

When Jesus was on the earth, He told a scribe that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. To another man who asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus gave the parable of the good Samaritan. In this story, two highly respected individuals passed by the needy one without offering any help at all. Help came from a reviled Samaritan. This man was possibly acquainted with trouble himself. Did something within him identify with the man who was hurting and wounded? What was the reason the others passed by without helping? Were they too proud to stoop to the level of helping one who was not important? If the one who had been hurt beside the road would have been a well-known or famous person, would their reactions have been different?

In our lesson story, David’s humility and kindness is displayed. It would have been extremely nice for him to simply restore Saul’s property to Mephibosheth. David, however, was not satisfied with merely helping the unfortunate one; he invited him to sit at his table. In essence, he was letting Mephibosheth know that he did not look down on him and was happy to associate with him. He saw worthiness in the man who was poor and lame. What a wonderful gift to give to Mephibosheth! Even though it was intangible, it was perhaps the greatest tribute David gave him, even more important than the physical things that were his family’s.

How do we really feel about helping others? We can use this question to understand the condition of our heart. Do we feel that we have been given so much that we are happy to pass it on? Do we feel that we must stoop a long way to help those who are truly unfortunate? Possibly we are tempted to feel that the reason they are having trouble is because of their own slothfulness or because they have not tried as hard as we have. Are we willing to give and to help just as much as is convenient? In Jesus’s day, the Pharisees liked to give alms to be noticed. Likely this attitude and spirit wants to attach itself to us without us realizing it. Jesus, knowing our temptation for self-exaltation, said that when we give to others, we should not let one hand know what the other is doing. Sometimes we feel that we are more unfortunate than others; should we ever feel that way? Is there ever an excuse to not give?

Jesus told his disciples that when we help the unfortunate, God views it as if we are giving to Him. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). How would we give if God was the direct recipient? This verse states that really He is. We should not care what others think; it should be a joy to do what we can. In this context, perhaps we would also be more cheerful when we are helping our neighbor. God is very aware of our giving and of the motives and condition of our heart. Of secret giving, Jesus says, “Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:4).

Questions

1. Is there a way of giving that hinders spiritual or emotional need even though it may solve a physical need?
2. What is our responsibility to helping those who appear to have brought their trouble upon themselves?
3. Matthew 6:3-4 says, “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret.” What does this mean?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).