II Samuel 9 1 7 1 David asked

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to “whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake? ”

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba? ” “Your servant, ” he replied.

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness? ” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet. ”

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 4“Where is he? ” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. ” 5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “Your servant, ” he replied.

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 7“Don’t be afraid, ” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table. ”

#4 Facing Your Giants: “Tough Promises”

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 1 Then David said, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? ” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba? ” And he said, “I am your servant. ” 3 The king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God? ”

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet. ” 4 So the king said to him, “Where is he? ” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. ” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul,

II Samuel 9: 1 -7 came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth. ” And he said, “Here is your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly. ”

“What kind of dinosaur upends his whole life to keep his promise to a dying man? ”

Keeping promises creates heroes. Are you a promisekeeper?

I. David was a promise-keeping king I Samuel 20: 14 -15 14“If I am still alive, will you not show me the loving-kindness of the LORD, that I may not die? 15“You shall not cut off your loving-kindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth. ”

Jonathan died, but David’s promise did not… to David, a covenant is no small matter.

When you list the giants that David faced, be sure the word “promise” survives the cut. • The wife of a depressed husband knows the challenges of a promise. • The husband of a cheating wife asks the same thing. • Parents of prodigals & runaways & handicapped & disabled & even of healthy toddlers have wondered how to keep a promise.

Enter Mephibosheth II Samuel 9: 3 The king said, “Is there not yet anyone 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 crippled in both feet. ”

Lo Debar

Lo Debar – “without pasture” • Mephibosheth hid there… –Victimized –Ostracized –Disabled –Uncultured

The kid who has no legs to stand on has everything to live for. • The King is kind –not because the boy is deserving –but because the promise is enduring.

II. God sets the standard for covenantkeeping. Deuteronomy 7: 9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving-kindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments”

God makes and never breaks His promises. • “Covenant” – “beriyth” means “a solemn agreement with binding force” – Noah – every rainbow is a reminder. – Abraham can tell you about promises. – Hosea’s “love story” with Gomer.

Hosea 3: 1&2 1 Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. ” 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley.

Need a picture of a promise-keeping God? • Hosea buying back his wife. • Look at the smoldering pot passing between animals. • Check out the rainbow. • Look at Mephibosheth. • Look in the mirror.

Look in the mirror… • Born as a child of the King? • Hobbled because of the stumble of Adam & Eve? • Wandered along the dry

Then the palace messenger came…

Then the palace messenger came… Who was it?

The Message The King has a place for you at His table!