The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-25


known presidents he had reason to fear
for his life. All that he could thus far
have learned of David had been evidence
to him that David was like other kings.
He had no reason for expecting mercy at
the kings hands. He had the misfor-
tune to be his fathers son. If he had
been born a slave his life would have
been spared. But he was disinherited
led toward the king, all the splendors of
royalty. His own surroundings had in
his infancy been similar; but no pleasur-
able remembrance of his infanny was
now awakened within him. He was, he
felt, being led to sacrifice.
The lame prince. supported by crutch-
es. stands before the king. A picture:
David, the manly. the beautiful, in the
glory Of his maturity, facing lame and
shrinking weakling.
Mephibosheth, pleading for his life,
fails PROSTATE before the king. But he
is speedily raised up. David looks in
tently and long in his face. David's
face becomes benignant as he gazes. A
tide OF memories of Jonathan. whose
soul was knit to his soul, rushes upon
him. The out-cast prince is wonder
struck at the look of affection and yearn-
ing he sees in the royal countenance.
AT last David speaks. One word only
he utters; but all his soul is in his voice.
Surely he opened his arms as he said.
Mephabosheth!
With the rapture of sudden hope the
young man promises submission and
fealty Behold thu servant. He will
| gladly be the kings yassal if he can only
be suffered to live.
David speaks again Fear not, for
aciU shoao thee kindness for Jonathan
ting fathers sake. He tells him that he
shall have restored to him his inheri-
lance rs descendant of the rich Saul.
He declares further that, while he is to
have his own ample household, he shall
be among the favored few who are privi-
legged every day to eat at the kings table.
The astonished cripple, overwhelmed
with gratitude. again fell on bis face be-
fore the king. A life-habit of independ.
ence and self depr eciation is implied by
his over-humble yet graphic confession
What is thy servant that thou should
est look upon such a dead dog as I am
A live dog in the East, where all dogs
are ownerless. was an object of contempt;
dead dog was an unsightly object to
put out Of sight. Jonathan's SOD, by
disesteem of himself, made the kings
grace appear greater.
3. The Inheritance of JOna-
than's. Son is Restored to Him.
vs.. 9-13.
The king Immediately summoned Ziba
before him.
Zibs was still, according to the law, a
bondman to the house of Saul. At the
death of his king be had appropriated to
his own use Saul's entire private estate.
He had, we infer, exercised rich mans
privilege and married several wives; for
he had now fifteen sons living on the
estate of Saul. He had also purchased
for himself twenty slaves.
There had been enough self seeking in
Ziba's course. especially in his neglect of
Jonathan g son. to justify David in de-
creeing, according to the law, that the
whole estate of Saul was Mephibosheth's s.;
that therefore Ziba and his sons and his
servants were slaves of Jonathan's son
But Ziba was not completely disinher
tied. He was slave; but slavery in Is
rael was mild and had, under the law, an
appointed end He was told by the king
that he could still be the steward of the
estate of his master; but he must pay
rent to support his masters house. His
master, meanwhile, he was told, would
have home in the royal palace.
On hearing this decree it must have
been with gratitude that Ziba made his
pledge: According to all that the lord
my king commanded has servant, so
shall thy servant do.
| Jonathan's son, we are told continued
under royal protection. In the day OF
David's trial, twenty-five years later,
when his son Absalom sought his life
and his crown, Ziba accused Mephibos-
beth of favoring Absalom; and David
believed the accusation and took away
his property and gave it to Ziba. But
David was afterward made to so far dis.
believe the accusation that he restored
half of the property to Jonathan's son.
The char acter of Mephibosheth is in
no point strong. We must believe him
innocent of disloyalty to David; we may
esteem him as in essential things guile.
less. But we are not left in doubt that
the principal thing, virtually the only
thing, which specially commended him
to David's companionship and favor, was
that he was his fathers son.
The infant son of Mephibosheth lived
and survived his father; he continued
Saul's family in Israel until the breaking
up of nearly all the families in the cap
tivity of Israel about three hundred
years afterward.
Whatever else we may be COM
DaIlad IN think of David in HE af+ar