“And David said unto him, 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” (2 Samuel 9:7).
TEXT — 2 Samuel 9:1-13
Message
As the American Civil War concluded, General Grant, the victorious Union Commander, showed great kindness and respect toward the chief general of the Confederates. He allowed General Robert E. Lee to ride freely in and out of the area. Grant gave them food because they were hungry and let them all go home undisturbed. Lee was permanently touched by Grant’s kindness. After the war, Lee became the president of Washington College in Virginia.
On one occasion, one of his fellow instructors began to speak poorly of Grant to Lee (assuming he would receive a sympathetic audience). Lee turned, looked the man straight in the eye, and said, “Sir, if you ever again presume to speak disrespectfully of General Grant in my presence, either you or I will sever his connection with this university”. Because General Lee had received such kindness from Grant, he treasured and protected his good name.
In this story, King David remembered the kindness of his late friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son. Jonathan once gave David his own armor, and protected him against the madness of his father who sought to kill him (1 Samuel 18:4). Now it was time to return that favor. David sent for Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son (who was lame), and made him eat with him at the king’s table. He also restored Saul’s estate to him. One good turn deserves another.
The good we do for our fellow men today is an investment that we or our children will reap tomorrow. That is why we must be careful how we treat people who are weak and powerless today. If we treat them well, they will never forget our deeds. But whether they repay us or not the Scripture enjoins us to do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith. The change we bring about in other people’s lives through our kindness will help convince others to come to Christ and be saved.
Thought for the day
Our Master went about doing good and expects nothing less from us.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
