November 18-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:1-3, David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
Observe what it is saying.
David has become king. King Saul is dead. Jonathan, Saul’s son and David’s close friend, is dead. One of David’s first acts as king was to investigate who might be left in Saul’s family so that he could show an act of kindness. Even though Saul wanted David dead, David’s love for Jonathan ran so deep he was willing to forgive so he could bless his family. David revealed the heart of Jesus before Jesus came. With all of his flaws and faults, David’s legacy was known to be “a man after the heart of God.” The core traits of forgiveness and kindness reflected here show David’s heart was deeply centered in the Lord.
Relate it to your life.
When we offer forgiveness and kindness to others, we know we are chasing God’s heart.
Do something.
“Father, give me the strength and courage to show the same to those who have hurt me. Amen.”
November 19-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:4-5, “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
Observe what it is saying.
David asked Ziba, the former servant of King Saul, if there were any of Saul’s descendants left that he might show kindness out of respect for Jonathan. Ziba told him there about Jonathan’s son who became lame as a young boy when the family had to flee out of fear of being killed with the rest of the family. In fact, they fled so far that they ended up in Lo Debar. It’s like the name sounds, in the middle of nowhere. It’s the place you would go if you were under the witness protection program. You were not supposed to be found in this remote place. Can you imagine the fear he felt when the king’s men showed up at his doorstep? Did they tell him everything was good or did they leave him in suspense of what the king wanted? This reminds us when we’re in the most desolate place, God hasn’t forgotten us.
Relate it to your life.
God knows where I am and what I am going through right now.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for caring to know all about me and my whereabouts at all times. Amen.”
November 20-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:6-7, When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “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.”
Observe what it is saying.
We learn the name of Jonathan’s son who David wanted to honor: Mephibosheth. His name means “from the mouth of Shame [a derogatory name for Baal].” This man from the middle of nowhere even has a name that’s uninspiring. Yet, King David knew and called him by name! It reminds us that though we may be hidden and have an uninspiring life, the King of all kings knows and calls each of us by name. We are not hidden from God. I love that Mephibosheth responded, “At your service.” Even though he was lame, he still had a heart of service. David quickly reassured him that the reason he was there was to show him kindness because of his father. He hit the jackpot. He would inherit King Saul’s land and be seated among King David’s royalty at his table. What an amazing picture of grace that God offers each of us. It wasn’t based on anything Mephibosheth did but who he was, even as broken man hidden in obscurity.
Relate it to your life.
Grace isn’t based on our goodness or performance but on God’s overwhelming love for us.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for this beautiful picture of Your amazing grace. Amen.”
November 21-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:8, Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
Observe what it is saying.
King David had just told Mephibosheth that he was inheriting the land of his grandfather Saul and would always have a seat at the king’s table. Coming from total obscurity in his lame condition, he was in total disbelief. He could not conceive that something so generous would be done for him. He saw himself nothing more than a dead dog. Meaning, he viewed himself as having absolutely no value. He felt totally unworthy. He is beyond befuddled by what would cause the king to go out of his way to search for him in order to offer him such grace. This is exactly what God does for us. We may not feel our life has value, but the King of kings offers us a seat at His table and gives us an inheritance beyond comprehension.
Relate it to your life.
God extends His abundant grace to me, regardless, of how worthless I feel about myself.
Do something.
“Father, I praise and thank You for showing such overwhelming generosity to me through Jesus. Amen.”
November 22-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:9-10, Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
Observe what it is saying.
King David revealed more of his extreme generosity. Not only would Mephibosheth inherit King Saul’s land, he was given thirty-six persons to work the fields to provide food and income. Being crippled, Mephibosheth couldn’t lift a finger to help himself. He was totally dependent on the help and resources of others. In going against common practice, where kings would often eliminate the families of previous kings so no coup could be staged, David went the Jesus way and graciously provided him all things. We find throughout this chapter, a beautiful picture of how God gives us all things through His Son, Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
I need to understand that generosity is not the exception, but the chosen way of the kingdom of God.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for Your unending generosity. May I show Your graciousness to others. Amen.”
November 23-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:11-13, Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
Observe what it is saying.
Ziba and his family agreed to care for Mephibosheth as King David had asked. We discover that Mephibosheth had a son but no mention of a wife. In these verses, we are told twice that Mephibosheth ate at King David’s table. This act of grace is mentioned four times in this short chapter because it was such a remarkable display of love. He was treated as one of the king’s sons. Everyone at the table was treated equally and considered family of the king. To highlight this most gracious act, we are told again that he was a lame man. His physical condition didn’t matter to David but welcomed and gifted him as anyone had ever been. This gracious act reminds us how God views all who are broken in this world.
Relate it to your life.
God’s grace is freely offered to all regardless of position, physical condition, or performance.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for Your matchless grace. Give me the courage to offer such grace to others. Amen.”
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:1-3, David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
Observe what it is saying.
David has become king. King Saul is dead. Jonathan, Saul’s son and David’s close friend, is dead. One of David’s first acts as king was to investigate who might be left in Saul’s family so that he could show an act of kindness. Even though Saul wanted David dead, David’s love for Jonathan ran so deep he was willing to forgive so he could bless his family. David revealed the heart of Jesus before Jesus came. With all of his flaws and faults, David’s legacy was known to be “a man after the heart of God.” The core traits of forgiveness and kindness reflected here show David’s heart was deeply centered in the Lord.
Relate it to your life.
When we offer forgiveness and kindness to others, we know we are chasing God’s heart.
Do something.
“Father, give me the strength and courage to show the same to those who have hurt me. Amen.”
November 19-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:4-5, “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
Observe what it is saying.
David asked Ziba, the former servant of King Saul, if there were any of Saul’s descendants left that he might show kindness out of respect for Jonathan. Ziba told him there about Jonathan’s son who became lame as a young boy when the family had to flee out of fear of being killed with the rest of the family. In fact, they fled so far that they ended up in Lo Debar. It’s like the name sounds, in the middle of nowhere. It’s the place you would go if you were under the witness protection program. You were not supposed to be found in this remote place. Can you imagine the fear he felt when the king’s men showed up at his doorstep? Did they tell him everything was good or did they leave him in suspense of what the king wanted? This reminds us when we’re in the most desolate place, God hasn’t forgotten us.
Relate it to your life.
God knows where I am and what I am going through right now.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for caring to know all about me and my whereabouts at all times. Amen.”
November 20-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:6-7, When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “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.”
Observe what it is saying.
We learn the name of Jonathan’s son who David wanted to honor: Mephibosheth. His name means “from the mouth of Shame [a derogatory name for Baal].” This man from the middle of nowhere even has a name that’s uninspiring. Yet, King David knew and called him by name! It reminds us that though we may be hidden and have an uninspiring life, the King of all kings knows and calls each of us by name. We are not hidden from God. I love that Mephibosheth responded, “At your service.” Even though he was lame, he still had a heart of service. David quickly reassured him that the reason he was there was to show him kindness because of his father. He hit the jackpot. He would inherit King Saul’s land and be seated among King David’s royalty at his table. What an amazing picture of grace that God offers each of us. It wasn’t based on anything Mephibosheth did but who he was, even as broken man hidden in obscurity.
Relate it to your life.
Grace isn’t based on our goodness or performance but on God’s overwhelming love for us.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for this beautiful picture of Your amazing grace. Amen.”
November 21-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:8, Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”
Observe what it is saying.
King David had just told Mephibosheth that he was inheriting the land of his grandfather Saul and would always have a seat at the king’s table. Coming from total obscurity in his lame condition, he was in total disbelief. He could not conceive that something so generous would be done for him. He saw himself nothing more than a dead dog. Meaning, he viewed himself as having absolutely no value. He felt totally unworthy. He is beyond befuddled by what would cause the king to go out of his way to search for him in order to offer him such grace. This is exactly what God does for us. We may not feel our life has value, but the King of kings offers us a seat at His table and gives us an inheritance beyond comprehension.
Relate it to your life.
God extends His abundant grace to me, regardless, of how worthless I feel about myself.
Do something.
“Father, I praise and thank You for showing such overwhelming generosity to me through Jesus. Amen.”
November 22-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:9-10, Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
Observe what it is saying.
King David revealed more of his extreme generosity. Not only would Mephibosheth inherit King Saul’s land, he was given thirty-six persons to work the fields to provide food and income. Being crippled, Mephibosheth couldn’t lift a finger to help himself. He was totally dependent on the help and resources of others. In going against common practice, where kings would often eliminate the families of previous kings so no coup could be staged, David went the Jesus way and graciously provided him all things. We find throughout this chapter, a beautiful picture of how God gives us all things through His Son, Jesus.
Relate it to your life.
I need to understand that generosity is not the exception, but the chosen way of the kingdom of God.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for Your unending generosity. May I show Your graciousness to others. Amen.”
November 23-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Samuel 9:11-13, Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
Observe what it is saying.
Ziba and his family agreed to care for Mephibosheth as King David had asked. We discover that Mephibosheth had a son but no mention of a wife. In these verses, we are told twice that Mephibosheth ate at King David’s table. This act of grace is mentioned four times in this short chapter because it was such a remarkable display of love. He was treated as one of the king’s sons. Everyone at the table was treated equally and considered family of the king. To highlight this most gracious act, we are told again that he was a lame man. His physical condition didn’t matter to David but welcomed and gifted him as anyone had ever been. This gracious act reminds us how God views all who are broken in this world.
Relate it to your life.
God’s grace is freely offered to all regardless of position, physical condition, or performance.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for Your matchless grace. Give me the courage to offer such grace to others. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals