The Globe-republican., 1896-07-30

ant Of friendship B. c.
~ l060, and forward almost
twenty years. to the time
AAP when Nephibosheth's
E4fk@ friend gave aid to David
"a in his time Of trouble and
u seeming ruin B. c. 10e2).
The whole range Of his
tory, SO far as Il relates
to this subject. should be studied. The prac-
teal lesson Is ON the surface. and can be
illustrated In many ways BY modern ex-
amples This section includes chapter and
chapter Is: IA. Also II: rs. which gives
incidents concerning the relation OF David
to Mephibosheth. Historical Setting.-Time.
Unknown. but probably after David's earlier
warn, and In the quieter times before the
second half Of his reign. Perhaps B. c. 1oio.
Place.-Jerusalem and Lo-debar. near Ma
hanaim. In Gilead. east Of the Jordan.
David. about IS years old. Nephibosheth.
about 20 years old.
5. 'Is there not yet any Of the house Of
| SAUL that I may show the kindness Of God
INTO him." David could not have done this
| in the early part Of his reign because his
kingdom was not then firmly established
| that 1t would be safe. But soon as there
| was no danger Of bringing division and dis
cord, David's heart led him to make this
| inquiry. 1.-THE kindness OF Cod is kindness
| like Gods. large and free, and forgiving;
Gods sake, according to Gods example.
That this was a noble example Of doing good
to enemies. according to the precept OF
Proverbs %: Il, %, and Romans Il: 1e-1.
Saul had several times tried to kill David;
he had driven him into exile, and haunted
him from place to place. There was q long
black chapter Of wrongs in the past. The
Unfortunate Prince.-Vs. 3-S. And Ziba
said" Ziba was an old trusted servant OF
Saul. ' no had cared for Mephibosheth in his
| need. He was now a prosperous man with
fifteen sons and twenty servants. and sup
posed that he could inform the king.
Jonathan hath yet son." unknown to
David, because his friends would fear that he
might be regarded a rival. Which Is
lame on his feet When the news came OF
the death Of Jonathan and Saul on Mt. Gill
boa the nurse TOOK Jonathan's little boy.
then FIVE years old, and fed from Jezreel.
In her haste she let him fall. and he became
lame in both feet. That was fifteen years
before this search OF David. that Mephi-
bosheth was about twenty years old when he
came to Darid's court. Thus both by his
physical condition. and by his circumstances
as the last Of conquered dynasty, and by
his poverty. this young man would md 1t
difficult to look forward to a very successful
life.
4. Behold he is in the house Of Machir."
He was a rich man, judging from Samuel
Jonathan, had received the lame son Of the
latter into his house.-Keil. In Lo-debar.
a town not far from Mahanaim. east Of the
Jordan on the Jabbok where Ish-boshesh, his
| uncle, held his court for seven years, while
David was in Hebron. Mephibosheth was
| thus dependent on friends for his support.
5. David sent, and fetched him. not
merely by a summons. but as Joseph sent
wagons from Egypt to Palestine for his
| father.
Z. And David said unto him. Fear not"
1t is quite probable that Mephibosheth was
afraid Of becoming known to David. One day
a messenger arivers at Lo-debar. 1t IS
| messenger from the king. Mephibosh.th Is
alarmed when he finds the king has sent for
him. The messenger was probably charged
not to disclose the kings object, for when
the lame youth appeared before the king.
and Frustrated himself in humble reverence.
some trepidation seems to have been visible
in his manner. as We may gather from the
kind and assuring words Of David addressed
to one in whose countenance he probably
found some traces Of the friend he had loved
SO well.-Kitto.
8. II have given unto thy masters son
all that pertained to SAUL Saul's family
estate. which had fallen to David in right
Of his wife CSum. q: s.. or been forfeited
to the crown by Ish-bosheth's rebellion
(chap. Il: 81, was provided ". II, also chap.
Enlistment suitable to his rank, and Mba
appointed steward to manage 1t. on the con-
dition Of receiving one-half Of the produce
In remuneration Of his labor and expense.
while the other moety was to be paid q rent
to the owner Of the land (chap. -: ~
J. F. B. The estate must have been consid-
cradle much larger than the patrimonial in
heritance Of Saul perhaps increased by con-
fscation during his possession Of royal au-
thority.-MiNan.
10. "Shalt till the land" as he had prob
ably done either for David, or for those Who
had possession. Possibly Ziba was using IT
for himself. Henceforth he was to till the
land for Mephibosheth, and bring in the
fruits, that they masters son may have food
to eat" Though Nephibosheth himself was
to be a gsest at the royal table. he would
require the revenue Of this estate for the
Mephibosheth shall eat bread al
way at my table" This was to do honor. the
greatest honor. to his friends son. It was
also polite to keep him under his eye and
to bring him into loving relationship. For.
however innocent he might be. or however
lncapacitated from becoming king. he might
easily become a nucleus around which the
enemies OF David might gather. There are
two incidents in after years which bear upon
the present story. They occurred during Abb
saloms rebellion. B. C.. 1922 or 1923: seven
teen or eighteen years after the events Of
today's lesson. During this rebellion, Ziba
betrayed his master and falsely accused him
of treachery to David. The king. believing
him, was quite natural under the circum-
stances, took away Mephibosheth's property
and gave 1t to Ziba. Later on. when Mephi-
oosheth seemed to tell him the truth. ex-
planning his position and action, David re-
stored half of 1t. The story is very touch.
ing. (See Sam. 1S: Il; -: A-3Q.
Ton Mnrh Cneu>l