And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”( II Samuel 9:7)
God calls David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22, I Samuel 13:14.) So when David’s right acts are recorded in Scripture, it gives us a window into what God’s heart is like.
Mephibosheth (hereafter referred to as Mephy) didn’t have much to look forward to in life. He was from a previous royal family that was now seen as a threat to the Davidic line. He had no land, no inheritance, and probably few possessions. Even the place where he is reputed to live Lo Dabar probably means, ‘no field.’ And he was crippled. In a time before Federal Welfare, Mephy had no way to make a living, no way to defend himself or his household, and no way take part in his society.
And suddenly King David starts paying attention to him. Mephy, already at the bottom of his barrel, already without prospect, already without hope has nothing left but fear.
Not often, but I’ve felt that way. Sometimes fear is not a reaction to some impending tragedy, but is the only thing we have left. Maybe job-less, maybe money-less, maybe health-less, but also hopeless.
And nothing left but fear.
But David shines. He gives Mephy a job, money, health-options… but mostly: hope.
He replaces Mephy’s fear with hope.ear not, he says… instead take this real, tangible, emotional, spiritual hope.
Today, the news, our logic, our expectations might be leading you to have nothing left but fear. The economy is crashing. Our prospects look dim. We have lost community, lost security, and are losing the edges of civilization.
But David and God say, “Fear not.”
Behind the scenes, David had already declared what he was going to do for Mephibosheth. He was going to restore him, empower him, and bless him.
And God has declared what He is going to do for us, His people, too. Restore us (even beyond THIS crisis,) empower us (even beyond THIS crisis,) and bless us (even beyond THIS crisis.)
Fellow cripples, outcasts, adrift folk: Fear Not!