This week’s text and sermon did not turn out to be what I planned. Originally I was going to reuse what I thought was a very fine first-person narrative sermon from over twenty years ago, David ruminating on the severe costs of his sin with Bathsheba. But as I pulled it out and began to ruminate about it myself I realized that its message may be difficult or impossible to hear in the current climate. The simple biblical facts that David committed sexual violence (and murder) and despite it all retained his position as king may be too hard to hear for today’s victims right now, or, worse, it may imply that such acts in the life of a “chosen” leader may simply be brushed aside. I don’t think II Samuel 10 and 11 imply that at all, but it all quickly gets way too complex.
So I switched gears and turned to a fascinating minor character in David’s story. Admittedly, David’s relationship with Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, in II Samuel 9 puts the new king in a much better light than the rape and murder of the next two chapters. But the account of Mephibosheth is often overlooked and can call us to acts of gracious kindness like God’s own (verse 3).
Rembrandt’s painting shows us David receiving and embracing the young man who, because of an accident when an infant (II Samuel 4:4), was crippled in both feet. It is not clear if he was able to walk or not. The plight of those with disabilities in the ancient world was difficult. In a family of wealth and power like Saul’s they might survive but would hardly do well or receive much respect.
In discussion on preceding reading from Judges, Ruth and I Samuel, one of our church members noted how seriously oaths, vows and other promises were regarded in ancient times. We see that played out here as in II Samuel 9:1 David remembers his oath to Jonathan to show kindness to his family (I Samuel 20:14) and presumably also his oath to Saul in the same regard (I Samuel 24:21-22).
Yet more than an oath seems to be in play here as David uses the word “kindness,” hesed Hebrew, three times in the narrative (verses 1, 3, 7). That kindness takes the form of an exhaustive restoration of all Saul’s personal land to Mephibosheth and a place at David’s own table. In other words, it goes above and beyond mere regard and protection of a man who might be regarded as a rival to the throne.
Hesed is the word often chosen to express in Hebrew the loving-kindness of God Himself. And in David’s mercy toward one others might regard as an enemy, we see a picture of God’s mercy toward us. In Jesus Christ we are pardoned, our lives are restored, and we are welcomed to His Table. Despite all his flaws, we catch a glimpse here of why David was called “a man after God’s own heart.”