I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake

"So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet" (2 Sam 9:13).

In the time of David when a King was overthrown and replaced by someone outside the royal family the remaining potential heirs would be sought and killed. This was done to eliminate any rival to the throne. But rather than kill any rival to the throne, King David wanted to show kindness to the house of Saul the former deceased King. I believe the reason why he desired to show kindness to the house of Saul was because He too was blessed by the mercy and kindness of God and others. Concerning Solomon and the house of David God said, "But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house...shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever" (2 Sam 7:15-16).

When David wanted to show kindness to the house of Saul, Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan was found and brought before the King. And David restored unto him all the land of Saul his grandfather and gave unto him Saul's former servants to till the land. In addition, David gave him the royal priviledge of eating at the King's table continually. Now David bestowed these blessing unto Mephibosheth not only to show kindness to the house of Saul, but to do it for Jonathan's sake. When Mephibosheth first came to David he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, "Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually" (2 Sam. 9:7).

Jonathan was David's close, intimate and loyal friend. Jonathan love David extravagantly. He loved him so much that when his own father wanted to kill David he stood up for him risking his own life. In 2 Samuel 18:1 we read that "Jonathan loved him as his own soul." David never forgot the love, kindness and mercy of God and his beloved friend Jonathan the prince.

Jesus is the true Prince and lover of our souls. In Revelations John the Apostle wrote, "And from Jesus Christ, who is faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 1:5-6).

If you trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life--if your sins have been washed in the blood of Jesus, God's mercy will never depart from you. And you have been made a king and a priest unto God to sit at his table in heaven forever. If your thankful for God's mercy and kindness to you for Jesus sake, show some mercy and kindness to others. Tell somebody that Jesus loved them enough to shed his blood to wash their sins away. Proclaim that whosoever will turn to him in repentance and faith we be saved. Bless the name of the Lord whose mercy endures forever.