Today’s word comes from 2 Samuel 9.  You can read it here.

David was friends with Jonathan when Saul was King of Israel.  Jonathan died before David became King, and David wanted to honor Jonathan by honoring somone in his family.  That is why David asks Ziba about Mephibosheth and brings Mephibosheth to Jerusalem.

But I want to focus on everyone’s attitudes in this story.  David’s focus was that Mephibosheth was a descendent of Jonathan and honoring him.  Ziba brings up in verse 3 that he is lame in both feet, as if that would matter somehow.  In verse 4, however, David doesn’t even acknowledge what Ziba said.  Instead, David just asks where Mephibosheth is and says to bring him to Jerusalem.  Even Mephibosheth asks in verse 8 why David would be interested in him, but David stays focused on what he wants to do.  In a final irony, David has Ziba’s family take care of Mephibosheth and his land.

As you read this story, ask yourself what attitude you have toward yourself and toward others.  Are you like David, who focuses on the kindness he wants to do for someone regardless of who they are?  Or are you like Ziba, who has a hard time seeing someone for who they really are?  Or maybe you are in Mephibosheth’s position — because of something that has happened to you, you don’t understand why others will want to show kindness to you?  What attitude should you have?

--Jason G