2 Samuel 9: Jesus Saves the Broken and Undeserving

2 Samuel 9 is a great chapter about how David showed kindness toward someone who didn't deserve it. The story goes like this: David was looking to show kindness to someone of the house of Saul for the sake of Jonathan (Saul's son) of whom he had been great friends with (and who was killed in battle). David eventually finds a man named Mephibosheth, who was a son of Jonathan. Mephibosheth was lame and could not walk (2 Sam. 4:4), yet David did not care. He sought to bless him with kindness and even gave him the priviledge to eat at his table as if he was a prince. Although Mephibosheth considered himself a "dead dog" in relation to David, David brought him up to be a co-heir of his kingdom.

But what does this have to do with us? It's kind of a wacky story, is it not? Perhaps an application might be made to show how this is a good example of kindness. Although we ought to always be kind, I think there is a bigger application here as this story gives us a perfect picture of Jesus. Can you see it? If not, let me show you.

In 2 Samuel 9, David is the Jesus figure. David, just like Jesus, went out and sought to show kindness to the broken and undeserving. Mephiboshet was nothing but a "dead dog" who literally could not walk, yet David brought him undeserved kindness. Likewise, we are nothing but dead men in our sins (see Ephesians 2:1-3) who cannot walk in the way of righteousness, yet Jesus brought us uttermost kindness when he saved us and called us to himself. Furthermore, David made Mephibosheth a prince and co-heir in his kingdom, though he was not deserving to be there. Likewise, Jesus does the same with us. Romans 8:17 tells us that when Jesus saves us, we become co-heirs with him and therefore fellow inheritors of God's kingdom. In the end, God saves the broken and the undeserving, and sets them in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).

So, have you realized that Jesus is a God who saves the broken and undeserving? Are your feet lame and unable to walk? Do you feel like you don't deserve the Lord's salvation? Perfect, because those people are exactly the one whom the Lord saves. Amen!