David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth

One day King David asked if anyone from Saul’s family was still living. He wanted to show kindness for Jonathan’s sake. A servant from Saul’s house named Ziba was brought to him. David asked again whether anyone remained from Saul’s family, so that he could show the kindness of God.

Ziba told David that Jonathan still had a son who was lame in his feet. David asked where he was. Ziba said that he was in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar. So King David sent for him and brought him from there.

The man was Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low in respect. David spoke his name, and Mephibosheth answered as a servant. David told him not to be afraid. He said he would show him kindness because of Jonathan, restore Saul’s land to him, and give him a place at the king’s table always.

Mephibosheth bowed down and spoke with deep humility. Then David called Ziba and announced that everything belonging to Saul and his house was being given to Mephibosheth. David commanded Ziba, his sons, and his servants to work the land and gather its produce for Mephibosheth.

David also said that Mephibosheth would always eat at the king’s table. Ziba agreed to do all that the king commanded. So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. He had a young son named Mica, lived in Jerusalem, and kept eating at the king’s table. The passage also tells us that he was lame in both his feet. How did David’s kindness change Mephibosheth’s life?