A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of November 6-10, 2023
MONDAY
Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
1 Samuel 18:1-5
When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled. Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin, because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 4:1-4
God takes away your shame. The house of Saul had gone down in disgrace. Saul was once graced by God and anointed first King of Israel. He was the people’s choice, not God’s. This will always bring shame. People can either lift you up or pull you down. God always blesses and exalts the humble.
Saul began to fight David, which made him open to the attacks of the enemy Philistines. His death meant that his heirs were now the enemies of David who was the new King. Mephibosheth happens to be Saul’s grandson, Jonathan’s son. Jonathan and David have a covenant of strong friendship, which essentially means that they will defend each other to the death and take care of one another’s offspring (1 Samuel 18:1-5). However, the house of Saul has declared war on the house of David.
How far will God go the bless Mephibosheth?
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Isaiah 58:8-9 ~ Then your light shall break forth like the morning, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, “Here I am.”
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
November 6: 2 Kings 19, Hebrews 1, Hosea 12, Psalms 135-136
November 7: 2 Kings 20, Hebrews 2, Hosea 13, Psalms 137-138
November 8: 2 Kings 21, Hebrews 3, Hosea 14, Psalms 139
November 9: 2 Kings 22, Hebrews 4, Joel 1, Psalms 140-141
November 10: 2 Kings 23, Hebrews 5, Joel 2, Psalms 142
November 11: 2 Kings 24, Hebrews 6, Joel 3, Psalms 143
November 12: 2 Kings 25, Hebrews 7, Amos 1, Psalms 144
TUESDAY
When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled. Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin, because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon. And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain. And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity, when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?” So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.
2 Samuel 4:1-12
Things don’t look good for Mephibosheth. He has an uncle, Ishbosheth, (“man of shame”), who has been killed by members of his own tribe seeking to win favor with King David. When they bring the head of Ishbosheth to King David at Hebron, David, instead of rewarding them, condemns their actions at slaying a righteous man in his bed.
Why is David not happy to find that the son of his enemy Saul is dead? Because love is a greater force than hate. David is a man of integrity, a man who keeps covenant and mercy, just like his God. David is honor bound by his promise to Jonathan many years ago to take care of his household.
How far will God go to bless the descendants of Jonathan and Saul? He will cause protection to come upon them from the hand of their sworn enemies. He will do the same for you and me. God is no respecter of persons. Let your ways please Him. He will even cause your sworn enemies to be at peace with you. He will cause kings to come to your rescue. People in very high places will look out for you.
God will go as far as He needs to go to bless you.
WEDNESDAY
Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “At your service!”
Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”
And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
So the king said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
2 Samuel 9:1-4
Somebody is talking about Mephibosheth, and he is not even aware of it. Did you know that God may be mentioning you to someone right now, and you are not aware of it? Could it be that there is someone who, like David, cannot rest until they have carried out the will of God on your behalf?
Sometimes we are reluctant to speak with certain people because of how they have treated us in the past. Sometimes the mention of a spouse, ex-spouse, relative, ex-acquaintance or boss can cause fear and trembling on the inside of us. We are focusing on the past and how they have treated us. We don’t think the God who keeps covenant and mercy can intervene and bring peace between us and our enemies, but He can.
David is trying to locate Mephibosheth not to kill him, but to keep his covenant with the house of Jonathan, the one appointed of Jehovah to be blessed by David. Mephibosheth has an appointment with a blessing, whether he knows it our not. If you are in covenant with God, you have the same appointment.
THURSDAY
So the king said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”
And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
2 Samuel 9:4-8
David sends for Mephibosheth. I wonder what the ride from Lo Debar to the house of David must have been like for Mephibosheth. I think I can tell by the language he uses to describe himself, even after David speaks the blessing over him.
Mephibosheth refers to himself as a “dead dog.” Remember his name means “dispeller of shame.” He doesn’t sound much like one who will dispel shame right now, but David is called to elevate him into his rightful position.
Is there someone in your life who is called to elevate you? Relationships tend to affect us either for good or bad. God will release people into your life to elevate you. Couples can help or hurt one another depending upon the way they treat one another. Your spouse is called to be a blessing, strength and comfort to you. This is totally possible because you have a covenant with Almighty God. Your pastor is called to elevate you in your knowledge of God. Your boss is called to elevate you in your knowledge of the business in which you are employed. Certain others are called to make your life easier.
If you will trust God, he will bring mighty deliverers into your life. You serve a God who keeps covenant and mercy throughout all generations.
FRIDAY
Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”
“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
2 Samuel 9:8-13
God is at work and not even Mephibosheth’s bad confession can stop this commanded blessing. David disregards Mephibosheth’s words over himself and pronounces the blessing of God upon the house of Jonathan. He tells Mephibosheth that he is doing what he does for Jonathan’s sake.
This is good news. Guess what, Mephibosheth? You have nothing to do with this blessing. You can’t hurt it and you can’t help it. It’s coming to you regardless. David is blessing him for the sake of keeping his word to his father, Jonathan.
Praise God he doesn’t have to earn it or feel guilty for it; all he has to do is accept and receive it. God is so wonderful! The blessing for this young man was always laid up for him. There is an appointed time for the release of blessings for all of us.
Not only was Mephibosheth blessed to have his own property (Lo Debar did not belong to him), but his servants were given the run of his land, and he ate at the king’s table as one of his sons.
This position was given to David by Saul early in their relationship. Seeds sown by our parents sometimes will be a blessing to us, their seed. God never forgets His covenant with us. He will never forsake His beloved.
How far will He go to bless us? Much farther than we can comprehend. He will go as far as the depths of His love will take Him.