(2) And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. (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. (4) And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. (5) Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. (6) Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! (7) And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
This is an interesting account of David's friendship to Jonathan, in the remembrance of his son. There is great kindness, great generosity, and the noblest way in the conferring it. Not content with taking him into favour, giving him a princely allowance, equipage and servants, he brings him to his table. But, Reader, doth not your heart run away in the contemplation of an infinitely higher prospect of generosity, in which you yourself bear a part? Yes, I am sure you do, if so be you know anything of Jesus, and are yourself the well-known object of his kindness and favour. Need I remind you to look back to the ruined circumstances of your family, in order to bring to your recollection what David's Lord hath done for you. Did not Jesus first seek you out? Did he not himself fetch you out of the house of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, poverty and ruin? and hath he not shown the utmost kindness in redemption; brought you to his table, to his banqueting house, and placed his banner over you, of love? Doth he not, even now, again and again, say to you, Fear not, for I will surely show you kindness; or, to use his own most precious words; Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. Isaiah 43:1. Precious! precious! Jesus! never let me read the kindness of one poor sinner to another, without calling to my remembrance, the love of the Saviour to my own soul; for surely all generosity, all mercy and compassion, falls to the ground as nothing, compared to thine unequalled love to our poor nature!