David wanted to show kindness to a member of Saul’s family for the sake of his friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son.
He wanted to show “the kindness of God”.
The kindness of God doesn’t go to the most deserving, best looking, or the one who can give something advantageous in return.
6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 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.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
Israel had been satisfied under the judgment of Samuel but Samuel’s sons were disappointing. They didn’t follow after God but accepted bribes and perverted justice (8:3).
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
So, Samuel asked God, and God said yes (with a warning), and then God said He would show Samuel who it would be.
After this, Saul goes out looking for some lost donkeys…
We’ve lived out in the country for three years now and we’ve had an assortment of animals come and go. We’ve had goats and pigs and cows and dogs and chickens. All of which we were not able to keep in a fence. Therefore, my family is experienced in searching for lost animals. I can’t imagine one of my sons going out to look for a stray chicken and coming back crowned as king.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Proverbs 27:1
Of course, Saul wasn’t boasting. He was taken aback. He was just a boy from the wee tribe of Benjamin (9:21).
Yet He was God’s chosen king. And God “gave him another heart” (10:9).
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
Proverbs 21:1
Israel got what they wanted: a king! Yet, not everyone was happy. Some still despised him…again what’s new?!
I think we can take comfort in these verses in more than one way. First and foremost, God is in control(omnipotence). Second, God knows what’s going to happen before we do (omniscience). Third, God is with us and will help us hold our peace even when things don’t look peaceful(omnipresence).
Journal: Write a prayer to God and thank Him for being our everlasting King!
Move: This is from Pinterest, but I just want to say it’s silly to call this an “Inner Thigh Workout”. It’s a good hip, glute, thigh workout, and it will work your inner thigh, but it deserves a better title.
Free and Fearless 