Dogs and family

July 21, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

I really like stories of redemption. There is one from David’s life that has my attention. It stars in 2 Samuel 9:1, “And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” [ESV] It is plausible to translate the word “kindness” as “faithful love.” If we project that forward, the New Testament word would be “grace.” It is unmerited.

 

David has beaten “the house of Saul” and claimed the throne of Israel. He could have hunted the rest of the family down and killed them. He could have ignored them. David chose to actively pursue a healing course of action. The recipient of David’s kindness is one who is crippled in both feet. He is the expendable one of the family. His name is Mephibosheth. I think it is interesting that Zilba does not give up any of the other family members. If we track the rest of the story Zilba is snake. But, that’s for another day.

 

David begins his relationship with Mephibosheth with these words, “And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” [2 Samuel 9:7 ESV] Notice David starts with “do not fear.” Which is exactly where God tends to start with us. As the song claims, fear is a liar. Mephibosheth must have been terrified. Was David getting around to ending the house of Saul? Nope.

 

Notice David is showing kindness because of Jonathan. So it is with us. Our grace is not based on our merit. David had a covenant with Jonathan, it motivated him to pursue an active faithfulness toward Jonathan’s descendants. Jesus blood establishes a covenant that extends God’s kindness (grace) toward us. The cool part is God actively pursues us to fulfill that covenant.

 

Mephibosheth’s reaction is exactly what mine is when I consider God’s kindness (grace) towards me. “Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” [2 Samuel 9:8 NLT] Dogs were an unclean animal. They were considered useless, a double curse. Mephibosheth was shocked that David would take him into his home.

 

Three’s two lessons to learn here. David was compelled to fulfill his covenant to Jonathan. He actively pursued that fulfillment. God does that for (to) us. This has a binding commitment for us. How God reaches out to others to show kindness is through us. We need to actively pursue the fulfillment of God’s extending of kindness (grace) for those who do not yet know it.

 

Admitting to being and object of contempt, something defiling and unclean, must have been bitter for Mephibosheth. Yet, from Heaven’s perspective, that is all we are. Let me amend that… we are loved by God. Through Jesus blood, there is a covenant. Imagine the transformation!

 

Before accepting Jesus blood as the only means of our salvation, we are little more than dead dogs. After being made alive in Christ, we have been adopted.  Consider: “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” [Galatians 4:4 – 5 NLT]

 

If that doesn’t excite and humble you, check this out: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” [Romans 8:14 – 17 ESV]

 

I don’t really have a religion. I have a family.