Crystallization-Study of 1 and 2 Samuel
Message Ten
David, Mephibosheth, and the Kindness of God
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
2 Sam. 9:3、7 And the king said, Is there yet anyone at all of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? …And David said to [Mephibosheth], Do not be afraid, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father; and I will restore to you all the land of your father Saul, and you will eat food at my table continually.
Rom. 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that God’s kindness is leading you to repentance?
Word of Appetizer
Why and how Second Samuel 9:1-13 is a record of David’s showing kindness to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan?
David felt obliged to show kindness, for the sake of Jonathan, to any remaining descendant of the house of Saul; David told Mephibosheth that he would show kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan his father. King David preserved his life, restored to him all his inheritance, and invited him to feast with him at the same table.
Spiritual Burden
Spiritually speaking, we all are like Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul (2 Sam. 4:4), who was crippled in his feet. Like Mephibosheth, we can dine at the King’s table even though we are still crippled; after we have been saved, we should forget about our “crippled feet” and sit at the table of our King, Jesus Christ, to enjoy Him. We need to turn away from self-introspection and look away unto the Lord. When we look only at the riches and the grace that God has spread before us, we will be peaceful, and our hearts will be satisfied.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
Second Samuel 9:1-13 is a record of David’s showing kindness to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan.
Mephibosheth had no ground to receive grace, yet he received it; the same is true with regard to us and God.
Spiritually speaking, we all are like Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul (2 Sam. 4:4), who was crippled in his feet.
David’s kindness to Mephibosheth signifies the kindness of God.
The Experience of Life
Our God and Father has shown us love, mercy, and kindness; it is by this that He saves us. It is the kindness and the love of our Savior God that saved us and made us different from others.
Like Mephibosheth, we can dine at the King’s table even though we are still crippled; whenever we look at ourselves, we discover that we are lame, and we become discouraged; we should look only at the riches on the Lord’s table and enjoy them.
Practice and Application
We need to turn away from self-introspection and look away unto the Lord. When we look only at the riches and the grace that God has spread before us, we will be peaceful, and our hearts will be satisfied.
Love is kind (1 Cor. 13:4), and we need to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ also forgave us.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 David’s showing kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9:3, 7)
(Please illustrate that how David showed kindness to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan.)
T2 Mephibosheth had no ground to receive grace, yet he received it (2 Sam. 9:1-6)
(Please illustrate that the same is true with regard to us and God.)
Day 2
T1 Lo-debar, the place where Mephibosheth lived, is a Hebrew word that means “a place without grass, without pasture”(2 Sam. 9:4)
(Please illustrate that the world today is a “Lo[1]debar”.)
T2 Mephibosheth did not seek after David, but David sent men to fetch Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9:5; Luke 19:10)
(Please illustrate that we did not seek after God, but God sent His Son to seek us and bring us back to His presence.)
Day 3
T1 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” and Mary turned to Him and said, “Raboni” (John 20:16)
(Please illustrate that when someone calls another by name only, there must be considerable meaning behind it.)
T2 The deepest kind of love cannot be expressed in words (2 Sam. 9:6; Luke 15:18-19)
(What is the similarity between Mephibosheth said to David, “Your servant is here”, and the younger son said to his father, “Make me like one of your hired servants”?)
Day 4
T1 We all are like Mephibosheth who was crippled in his feet (2 Sam. 9:13; Heb. 12:2)
(Please illustrate that after we have been saved, we should forget about our “crippled feet, we should look only at the riches on the Lord’s table and enjoy them.)
T2 Coming to God just as you are (2 Sam. 9:13; Eph. 2:8-9)
(Please illustrate that we are saved and we are kept by grace, not by works.)
Day 5
T1 David’s kindness to Mephibosheth signifies the kindness of God (2 Sam. 9:3; Rom. 2:4; Eph. 2:7; Titus 3:4-5)
(What does “kindness” mean?)
T2 God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4)
(Please illustrate that God’s kindness causes Him to forbear us and be long-suffering toward us, waiting for us to repent.)
Day 6
T1 God’s kindness toward us is according to His love and because of His mercy (Titus 3:4-5; Eph. 2:7)
(Please illustrate the relationship between mercy, love, grace, and kindness.)
T2 Love is kind (1 Cor. 13:4; Eph. 4:32)
(Please illustrate that we need to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ also forgave us.)
