2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18 / May 8 (Day 129)

David says in 2 Samuel 9:1, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

This word translated “kindness” in this verse is a Hebrew word with one of the richest meanings. The Hebrew word is, “chêsêd” and implies much more than emotion. Let me give an example; the word is translated as “mercy” in Deuteronomy 7:9.

It says "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

So, Deuteronomy 7:9 says chesed is something He “keeps.” Chesed has to do with covenant and not emotions that can change. Remember how David and Jonathan had made a covenant (See 1 Sam. 18:3-4), and how David swore to Jonathan and his decedents. Jonathan said to David in 1 Samuel 20:14-15 “You shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."  So we see that because of love, David made a commitment to always show chesed to the family of Jonathan.

What David does for Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 is a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us. His love caused him to make a covenant for us! Though we were “lame” and an outcast, the one who “keeps covenant and mercy” brought us to His table