His Kindness Calls Us Closer

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”  —2 Samuel 9:7 CSB

Do you have trouble with kindness? Both extending and receiving?

I know I do. When my soul tank is empty, it’s difficult for me to pump out grace, patience, and kindness when I’m asked for one more favor or have to make one more decision.

Sometimes, we don’t want to receive kindness because we feel we don’t deserve it. Maybe we’ve been exceptionally cruel with our words to someone close to us. Or we’ve been so focused on our work and the tasks at hand we think the little requests that come in from family aren’t worth our time.

Shame and fear can cloud our heads and hearts, but God asks us to come to him with it all because his kindness actually calls us closer.

King David still wanted to show kindness to someone from the house of Saul, so he asked around and found a son of Jonathan, who lived most of his life impaired, unable to carve out of a life of his own. Dependent on others, aware of his disability, and sensitive to the strife within his family. And now that his family had been killed, he lived as an orphan with no standing in society. What did he think would happen? Would David mock him for his appearance and the loss of his family? Throw him out into the street?

In verse 7 we see David tell him not to be afraid, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

Mephebesheph became a recipient of the king’s kindness, and that changed everything.

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Honored to have today’s Bible lesson over at She Reads Truth. Would you join me and receive God’s kindness and grace today?