2 Samuel 9:3

_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. No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-8 Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity, frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David's sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them....

Verse 2 Samuel 9:3. _THAT I MAY SHOW THE KINDNESS OF GOD UNTO HIM?_] That is, the _utmost_, the _highest degrees of kindness_; as the _hail of God_, is very great hail, the _mountains of God_, exceeding high mountains: besides, this kindness was according to the _covenant of_ _God_ made between him and the family of Jonathan....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 9:1 IS THERE YET ANY THAT IS LEFT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL? As Mephibosheth was five years old at his father's death (2 Samuel 4:4), but now had a son (2 Samuel 9:12), a sufficient time must have elapsed for him to grow up and marry; so that probably the events of this chapter occurred seventeen or eighteen years after the battle of Gilboa. As David was king at Hebron for seven years and a half, he had been king now of all Israel for about nine years. But during this long period he had been engaged in a weary struggle, which had left him little repose, and during which it might have been dangerous to draw the house of Saul out of obscurity. But he was at

AND THE KING SAID, [IS] THERE NOT YET ANY OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL; that is, remaining or living: THAT I MAY SHOW THE KINDNESS OF GOD UNTO HIM? great kindness, some large favour or benefit; for the word God added to things, as to trees, mountains, c. serves to set forth the excellency of them and this kindness is in imitation of God, or such as he had sworn in the presence of God to show; and that is expressed in the same language, 1 Samuel 20:14; AND ZIBA SAID UNTO THE KING, JONATHAN HATH YET A SON; a son still living; [WHICH IS] LAME ON [HIS] FEET; on both his feet, as the Targum; of which occasion, 2 Samuel 4:4....

6. DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH CHAPTER 9 _ 1. Mephibosheth brought to David (2 Samuel 9:1)_ 2. Grace and mercy shown to him (2 Samuel 9:7) The story of Mephibosheth is the first thing mentioned after the government of David had been fully established. Typically it reveals the gospel in a beautiful way, and dispensationally the kindness of God which will be manifested in the coming kingdom. Mephibosheth is a type of the sinner and the condition which he is in. He was helpless, being lame of both feet. How he became lame is found in 2 Samuel 4:4. He fell and became lame, a helpless cripple. It reminds us of the fall of man and the helpless condition into which sin has put man. Therefore he could not c

2 SAMUEL 9. DAVID SHOWS FAVOUR TO MERI-BAAL (J). David, asking as to survivors of the house of Saul, hears of Meri-baal (2 Samuel 4:4 *); he bestows upon him Saul's private estates, and gives him the status of a royal prince at his court....

ANY. a man. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14. GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4. lame. Compare 2 Samuel 4:4....

_the kindness of God_ A reference to Jonathan's words in 1 Samuel 20:14. "The kindness of God" means kindness or mercy such as God shews to men, unfailing, unsought, unlimited. Cp. Luke 6:36. _lame on his feet_ See ch. 2 Samuel 4:4. _Machir the son of Ammiel_ A man of wealth and position, to judge from the welcome which he gave David in his flight from Absalom (ch. 2 Samuel 17:27-29). He may have taken charge of Mephibosheth at Jonathan's death. It may be inferred from his name that he belonged to the tribe of Manasseh (N

THAT I MAY SHEW THE KINDNESS OF GOD UNTO HIM— That is, "That I may treat him with a benignity resembling that of Almighty God;" who continues his kindness even to the descendants of those who love him....