“David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’”—2 Samuel 9:1 (NIV)

On the surface, David’s question seems strange, maybe even dangerous. In that time, it was customary for a new king to wipe out every remaining descendant of the previous regime. It was brutal, but it was expected. Leave no heir behind who could threaten the throne or rally support for a rebellion—not only in your time, but possibly decades or centuries later in the time of your descendants’ reigns. 

Just think Princess Diaries 2 or Black Panther . . . when someone with a rightful claim to the throne emerges, things get complicated fast. So, when David, now king over all Israel, asks if anyone is left of Saul’s household, his generals probably braced for a bloodbath. But David doesn’t ask, “Who’s left of Saul’s line that we must eradicate?” He asks, “Who can I show kindness to?”

David goes completely against the cultural instinct for revenge and self-preservation. He doesn’t seek security through violence—he seeks to honor his covenant with Jonathan. He doesn’t act on political fear, but on loyal love. The Hebrew word used here for “kindness” is chesed—a covenantal, steadfast love . . . the kind of love that doesn’t forget a promise, even when it’s costly. David, a man after God’s own heart, is modeling that heart here.

Jonathan, Saul’s son, was David’s closest friend and biggest supporter—his ride-or-die. And in many ways, Jonathan serves as a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ. He willingly laid aside his own claim to the throne to elevate David. He acted as an advocate and protector, just like the Holy Spirit does for us. Their covenant, recorded in 1 Samuel 20:14–15, included a sacred promise: that David wouldn’t cut off his kindness from Jonathan’s family—even when David was established as king.

Now that time had come, and David wasn’t waiting to stumble into obedience—he was seeking out the opportunity. This wasn’t passive kindness; it was intentional, deliberate, covenant-keeping love. He pursued Mephibosheth—the crippled, forgotten grandson of Saul—not for gain or glory, but for love.

This moment echoes something deeper in David’s heart. In 2 Samuel 7, he asked, “What can I do for God?” Now he asks, “What can I do for others?” And those two questions form a powerful vision for how we, as followers of Jesus, should live. 

Our lives should be marked by response—not obligation or compulsion, but response to the love we’ve received. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). We forgive because we’ve been forgiven. We bless because we’ve been blessed. We show kindness because we’ve received kindness.

Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34 NIV). And that’s what David models here. Not just loving when it’s convenient, but seeking out ways to reflect God’s heart—even to those whom society might label as enemies. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit, to keep covenant with God and love others as He has loved us.

But as per usual, there’s something even deeper at play here. You see, this chapter isn’t just about David and Mephibosheth; it’s a vivid picture of the gospel!

David was king. Jesus is King. 

Saul had made himself and his house David’s enemies and, according to the customs of the time, Mephibosheth should’ve been destroyed. But David sought him out, showed him mercy, restored his inheritance, and gave him a seat at the king’s table—forever. Likewise, we were born into the line of Adam, who through sin rebelled against God and made us enemies of the King. And like Mephibosheth, we’re broken, hiding, unable to save ourselves. But Jesus, the true and better King, doesn’t seek us out to judge us—He seeks us to save us. He left the glory of heaven, took on flesh, and came to dwell with us. He made a way for us not only to be spared, but to be restored—to have our spiritual inheritance returned and to dine at the King’s table for all eternity.

David kept his promise for Jonathan’s sake. Jesus keeps His promise for the Father’s sake—and for ours. So, the question we, who are members of God’s house, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, should ask ourselves today is “Who is left of the house of Adam (those who are not believers, who are still in their sin, who are enemies of God) to whom I can show kindness for Christ’s sake?” 

Will we love like that? Will we seek out opportunities to reflect God’s kindness—not just toward our friends but toward those we’d rather avoid? Will we pursue mercy over self-preservation, blessing over bitterness, covenant over convenience? Because when we do, we’re not just being kind . . . we’re putting the gospel on display.

Pause:
When you think of your own life, how has God pursued you in your brokenness? Where were you when He found you?

Practice:
Who is your “Mephibosheth”? Who might God be calling you to show intentional kindness to this week? It could be someone who hurt you, someone forgotten, or someone difficult. Reach out with the love you’ve received.

Pray:
Jesus, thank You for pursuing me when I was far off. Thank You for showing me kindness when I deserved judgment. Help me to be a person of covenant and mercy—faithful to love others not just when it’s easy, but when it reflects Your heart. Let me live in response to Your love and put Your gospel on display in my relationships. In Your precious and beautiful name, I pray. Amen.