April 25 - 2 Samuel 8:15-18 | 1 Chronicles 18:14-17 | 1 Chronicles 6:16-30 | 1 Chronicles 6:50-53 | 1 Chronicles 6:31-48 | 2 Samuel 9:1-10:19 | 1 Chronicles 19:1-19

Good morning everyone,

Today, in our reading, after we give a “shout out” to the officials and musicians, we’ll read of two random acts of kindness by King David that will have two entirely different responses. First, is to Mephibosheth, you remember him, right? He was the son of Jonathan, Saul’s grandson. As a boy he had asthma, so it was that when the palace got news of Jonathan and Saul being killed in battle his nurse, because he could not run, picked him up, holding him in her arms while fleeing for their lives. However, in the effort to save Mephibosheth, the nurse dropped him and he suffered severe injuries leaving him crippled in both legs for life. Now, several years later, David inquires as to whether or not there is any living relative of Saul’s house still in the area. He is told by a servant from Soul’s household of Mephibosheth, and so David sends for him. 

You will remember that David had made a promise to Jonathan, way back when David first had to run for his life from Saul, not to hurt any of his family line but I honestly don’t think he would have needed that promise for Mephibosheth. Though a mighty warrior, David was a very loving and compassionate man with a good heart. He had loved Jonathan deeply and there was no way he would have done anything to hurt his son. David actually embraced the boy, considered him like one of his own sons, restored all land that had belonged to Saul back to Mephibosheth and gave him a standing (no pun intended) invitation to eat with David at his table. Beautiful story.

The second act of kindness we read about today is of David sending out a delegation to give sympathy to Hanun when his father died, they were not received well. They were thought to be suspicious and Hanun had them seized half of their beards cut off, and the back of their clothing cut off above the buttocks. They totally insulted, disrespected and scorned David’s guys which did not bode well for them. 

When David found out about it, he put his main man, Joab, on the task of bringing these guys down for their contemptible behavior. When Hanun realizes the depth of his mistake he hired  several thousand mercenaries to go against David’s men, but in the end, all the money in the world wouldn’t save their lives.

These two stories are a perfect picture of God’s heart and the depth of His love for us. He sent His Son, His only child, Jesus Christ, in a divine, random act of kindness, to die on a cross for our sins, allowing those who accept Him as their Savior, the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven, at the King’s table.  Some will embrace this love, accepting this free gift of salvation and spend eternity worshiping our Lord and Savior. Others will be skeptical, suspicious, distrustful and reject Him. Their eternity will be spent in hell, a place originally designed for Satan, where Revelation 14:11 tells us “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night”. Everyone will spend eternity somewhere, what’s your destination of choice? As for me … I choose Christ!  

Have a really good day, to God be the glory.

God bless you all …