Focus: The Kindness Of God

Text: 2Sam.9:1,3

"And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?… 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."

Two things come out clearly from this Scripture. The first is that David is looking for someone in the house of Saul to show kindness for the sake of Jonathan. First lesson to learn from this is that it is virtuous to return favor. People of character are fond of returning kindness. 

David said, "I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me…" (2Sam.10:2). David is a man of great character. He is always in the habit of returning favors. He does not forget favors done to him by others. He could not pay back to Jonathan for any of the favors he received from him, and that was because he was not in a position to do so. Simply put, he was not opportune. But when things turned around for him and he became king, he remembered his friend Jonathan, and showed his son kindness for his sake. He returned the favor. 

I pray that you remember to return favors. Don't be like Joash the king who "remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it" (2Chron.24:22). Joash failed to return kindness, and on top of that, he went as far as killing the son of the man who showed him kindness. What a shame! What wickedness!

The second lesson is that David showed kindness to a son of Jonathan, by the name of Mephibosheth, who became a cripple at the age of five through an accidental fall. He tragically lost the use of his two legs from a tender age. So he did not appear worthy for the kind of favor he received from David. He did not have the physical appearance that could attract any gesture of kindness from anyone, but he got it in the name of his father. David did not care about Mephibosheth's physical condition or disability. Rather, he cared that Mephibosheth was Jonathan's son. David adopted him as his own son and gave him a place in his royal family and at his royal table. He said to Mephibosheth, "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" (2Sam.9:7). Mephibosheth was enriched by the kindness of David. All properties belonging to Saul and Jonathan were restored to him. In just a moment, he went from being a pauper to becoming a prince, and from the squalor of Lodebar to the palace of David. In just a moment, his story changed from zero to hero, all because of someone's kindness.

Another lesson here is that David showed Mephibosheth kindness for Jonathan's sake. Similarly, God is showing us kindness today because of his own Son, Jesus Christ. 

Every favor we receive from the Father is given to us in the name of Jesus Christ. We even pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. On the merit of Christ we receive unmerited favors from our heavenly Father.

Paul asks, "What do you have that you did not receive?" We are all recipients of divine favors for Christ's sake. Paul says, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph.2:7). God is kind towards us. His kindness has given us joy in the present and hope for the future.

The other thing that comes out clearly from our text is that David is looking for someone to show the kindness of God. David carries in his bosom the kindness of God. The kindness of God is passed from person to person. God does not throw His kindness down from heaven. 

Those who know and possess the love of God extend it to others. We are channels or mediums of divine kindness and love to others.

People need not go to heaven to obtain God's kindness; they need to meet you for it. You are the giver of God's kindness. Those who have it share it. Those who possess God's kindness show and share it to others. Kindness comes from God, but we receive it at men's hands. God uses His own people to show His lovingkindness to those in need of it. Solomon said to God, "Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day" (1Kgs.3:6). The kindness of God can extend from father to son. 

I pray: let the kindness of God run in your family from generation to generation! Divine kindness is generational; it passes from one person to another within the family.

Someone is in need of experiencing the kindness of God through you. Be a vessel of compassion, love and kindness! A certain Mephibosheth is waiting to encounter the kindness of God through you. Don't fail God!

(The message continues)

by Bishop Moses E. Peter