God Can Restore What Is Lost
For the whole story, read 2 Samuel 9:1-13 or listen to podcast episode 001. This is the blog version of episode 002.
A number of years ago, my husband, Harold was on staff at a church. A man we had recently met asked to meet with him but gave no reason for the meeting. Since people rarely meet with church staff to tell them what a great job they’re doing, Harold expected the man had a problem and needed help.
When Harold came home that night, I listened in awe as my husband relayed the events of the day. During their meeting, the man said he was purchasing a new car. His old car wasn’t worth much as a trade-in, so he was giving us his car.
At that point in the conversation, Harold didn’t know anything about the car, but his vehicle had recently died, so any vehicle would be better than sharing mine. Imagine his surprise when he saw a sport-package Honda with less than 100,000 miles.
I had heard about people who were gifted a car, but I never imagined I’d be one of them!
God, through this man, had extravagantly met our need for transportation.
With some kids in college and me homeschooling the others, the only thing we had to offer was gratefulness to the kind man and praise to our God who miraculously provided what we needed.
Today, we’re focusing on another story of God’s provision through a generous man. The previous blog and podcast told the story of King David’s extravagant offer to Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.
A Quick Review
David and King Saul’s son, Jonathan, become friends after David kills Goliath the Philistine (1 Samuel 18:1). We don’t know their exact ages, but scholars say Jonathan was ten or more years older.
Fast forward about 20 years. King Saul, his son Jonathan, and Saul's other sons have died, and David is king of all Israel. He spends nearly a decade focusing on securing his throne, and now David wants to honor his promise to Jonathan that he would be kind to his family (1 Samuel 20:14-15).
King David tracks down Jonathan’s son, and Mephibosheth is brought to the palace (2 Samuel 9:5). According to cultural standards of the time, all family members of a previous king were usually put to death.
Mephibosheth, lame in both feet, likely expects that his life is in danger. But this is what he hears instead:
"Don't be afraid," David replied.
"I will be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan.
I will give you back all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always be welcome at my table."
2 Samuel 9:7 (GNT)
This is an incredibly generous offer from a reigning king to the relative of a deposed king. To best understand the significance, we'll look at this verse through Middle Eastern eyes.
The Gift of Land
The Hebrew word for land, sadeh [H7704], can be translated as field or land, but in this case, it means the estate of a king. To the Israelites, also known as Hebrews or Jews, land is precious and deeply connected to God.
Land provides the Hebrews with the basic necessities of life—shelter, food, and clothing. It is a space to stake a tent, mud to make clay bricks, or even a cave to live in.
Fields provide the opportunity to grow crops such as wheat, barley, grapes, and olives, depending on the location. Fields also allowed the owner to raise cattle, sheep, and goats, which were necessary for food, clothing, and for sacrifices to worship God.
Sacrifices of bulls, flour, olive oil, and wine were made every morning and every evening, and also during feasts and celebrations (Numbers 28-29).
Owning land was independence to provide life’s basic necessities and the elements to worship God without having to rely on someone else. For years, Mephibosheth has depended on Makir in LoDebar, but now he will have the opportunity to provide for himself and his family.
Beyond the practical significance of the land, it held great spiritual significance.
1. Land was created by God.
Genesis tells the story of how God creates in a specific order—light on Day 1, then sky on Day 2 to hold the sun (created on Day 4) that was needed by the plants (created on Day 3), that would be eaten by birds and fish (created on Day 5) or animals and man (created on Day 6).
The Garden of Eden was perfection, filled with unique species of plants and animals for the delight of one man and, eventually, one woman (Genesis 2). The garden was also the backdrop for intimate moments when God walked with them (Genesis 3:8).
The Israelites believed because God is holy, the land He created is also holy.
2. Land is a covenant promise from God.
In Genesis 12, God invites Abram to go to a land that God will show him. (Later, God changes his name to Abraham.) Abram obeys.
When he arrives in what is a portion of the Promised Land, he discovers that the land is already occupied. But he holds onto God’s promise to him and his offspring.
Two generations stay in the Promised Land as guests, but a drought forces Jacob and his family to move to Egypt, where they are reunited with Joseph--but that’s another story! The promise is passed down to each generation as a treasured inheritance.
After 400 years of slavery, 40 years in the wilderness, and generations holding on to the promise given to Abram, Joshua leads the people into the Promised Land. God Himself specifically divides and assigns the land to each tribe (Joshua 18:1-7).
Land is a gift from God, a promise kept.
3. Land belongs to God.
The book of Leviticus, given to the Israelites while they were in the wilderness, is God’s instruction manual for them after they enter the Promised Land (Joshua 13:1-7; Joshua 18:1-10).
Keeping land in the family is so important to God that He creates a holy celebration called the Year of Jubilee. Every 50 years, all debts were forgiven, all slaves were set free, and all land reverted back to the ownership of the original tribe. (Leviticus 25:23-28)
In Leviticus 25:3, God reminds the people that land can’t be permanently sold because it belongs Him. He allows the Israelites to live there as sojourners—temporary residents and foreigners who have no inherited rights.
It reminds me of Hebrews 13:14 that says, in the Joy Moore Version, this world is not our home. We look forward to a future home in heaven. Everything on this planet belongs to God, and He generously allows us to use it while we are passing through on the way to our eternal home.
4. Land is identity.
Without land, the owner’s name would be withdrawn from his family and no longer be recorded with his tribe in the census. (Numbers 27:4)
Without land, Mephibosheth is a forgotten man, but his son and all future family members will also be forgotten and not included in the records of the nation of Israel.
Without land, orphan Mephibosheth, once 2nd in line to the throne, has no inheritance to pass to his son.
When King David offers Saul's land to Mephibosheth, he restores his inheritance. The land restores what Mephibosheth had lost: God’s gift of land to his tribe, his identity in the community, and an inheritance that he can pass on to his son.
The next time you’re reading the Bible, and you come across a section about land, I hope you’ll remember that Israelites believed that land is holy and belongs to God alone. It is a covenant promise that offers identity and blessing for future generations.
An Invitation to The King’s Table
Studying the verse in the original Hebrew shows us the order of the words Mephibosheth heard. The Hebrew order is most similar to the Berean Study Bible:
“…and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
2 Samuel 9:7 (BSB)
I have included the original Hebrew words with numbers and definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for your personal study. The English translation of the Hebrew words is in bold.
“and you shall eat [akal/H398] bread [lechem/H3899] . . . ,” which can specifically mean bread or food in general.
At this point, Mephibosheth might have thought, “Bread sounds good. It was a long trip, and I’m hungry. I’d be grateful for something to eat on the trip back.” But King David continues:
“…and you shall eat bread at my table, [shulchan/H7979] . . . ,” which means not just any table, but the table where the king eats.
Shocked by David’s words, Mephibosheth probably thought, “Me? Eating at the king’s table? I’m not worthy! I’m nobody. My family no longer rules this nation. I have nothing of value to offer the king. I don’t deserve to sit at the king’s table.”
At this point, maybe Mephibosheth thinks he’s going to have one meal with David before he returns home. But David’s next word changes everything.
“and you shall eat bread at my table continually [tamid/H8548],” which indicates consistent repetition. Not just one meal, but every meal. Continually. Perpetually. FOREVER.
The king’s table means more than lots of food; it represents provision, abundance, excellence, delight, and safety.
1. The King’s table is provision.
The sky’s the limit at a king’s table. Likely there is an unlimited supply of the best food locally and abroad. What might have been on that table? We have a little bit of an idea.
In 2 Samuel 16, King David is on the run, but Mephibosheth’s servant, Ziba, provides him with, “200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine..” (2 Sam. 16:1 NLT).
And in 2 Samuel 17, Makir, the man who hosted Mephibosheth before his palace days, brings “wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and all those who were with him.” (2 Sam. 17:28b-29a NLT). If that’s what the king eats while he’s in hiding and on the run, meals in the palace must be amazing!
As I studied these connections to Ziba and Makir, I saw God at work. King David has no way of knowing that through his generosity to Mephibosheth, God connects him to two men who later provide for him abundantly when he was on the run and in need.
God doesn’t waste anything in our stories.
2. The king’s table is connection.
Before he is 8, Mephibosheth loses his father, his grandfather, and three uncles. But one uncle remains--King David, who had married Mephibosheth’s Aunt Michal, the daughter of King Saul.
The shift of power had made them enemies, but against culture and maybe even reason, David chooses to restore family connections.
With his physical limitations, Mephibosheth isn’t a threat to David’s throne; however, Mephibosheth’s young son could be a future threat to David’s sons and possibly his legacy. It is a risk David is willing to take to keep his promise to Jonathan.
Connecting to family also means access to family history. My father died days after my third birthday, and I have only a handful of memories of him. When I talk with family members or others who knew my father, I love to hear stories of the kind of man he was. I believe Mephibosheth felt the same way and valued King David’s stories about his father.
On a person note, I’m so glad that sent a wonderful man to marry my mother and adopt me. He has been the best father.
For years, Mephibosheth lives in Lo Debar, in the middle of nowhere, with a kind and generous man unrelated to him. Instantly, King David offers Mephibosheth a community of family.
Psalm 68:5-6 says that God is a father to the fatherless, he defends widows, and He puts the isolated, lonely ones in houses, or families.
It’s God’s desire that we are connected
and live in relationship.
3. The King’s table brings restoration.
God, through King David, restores to Mephibosheth what he had lost.
As a disabled orphan with no land and no way to provide for himself, David restores to Mephibosheth provision that is his—he doesn’t have to depend on anyone else for his food. It may not be his house and food from his property, but Mephibosheth will always have food to eat.
Born into the king’s family, Mephibosheth had the right to eat at the king’s table for the first five years of his life. Now, he has a seat at the table, but this time in a palace more extravagant than his grandfather’s royal fortress.
God didn’t restore to Mephibosheth the throne that would’ve been his, because God’s plan was that David would be king and that Jesus would be born of David’s lineage.
Restoration isn’t always identical,
but it is always filled with life and hope.
God’s Invitation to Us
The God who restored what Mephibosheth lost is the same God who makes us a similar offer:
I love you and I want you to be part of my family.
“Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called ‘children of God’—and that is not just what we are called, but what we are.” I will restore the lost and damaged things in your life.” I John 3:1 (Phillips)
I will provide for you
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (BSB)
be close to you,
“Come close to God and He will come close to you.” James 4:8a (NASB)
and I will give you an inheritance in heaven.
“Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Galatians 4:7 (NLT)
Because of sin, we lost so much.
But through the death of Jesus,
what was lost has been restored.
We have an invitation to
sit at the King’s table FOREVER.
If you haven’t yet accepted God’s offer of love to you, click here to find out more or email your questions to joy@insightandunderstanding.com.
Think about it . . .
What provision has God given you? Whether or not it feels like abundance, thank Him for what you have.
Is there a family connection you need to restore?
Is there someone you know who is isolated or lonely? How can you connect with them this week?
What do you feel like you have lost that hasn’t yet been restored? Ask God to restore it.
Explore more . . .
Also in this series about Mephisbosheth’s story:
“When You’re Invited to Trade Shame for Grace” | blog | podcast
Archaeological Evidence that King David Is Real
Eretz, the Hebrew Word for Land
Jesus Invited Everyone to Sit at His Table
Sources:
How Old Was David When He Fought Goliath | 1 | 2
The Relationship Between David and Jonathan
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