2 Samuel 16:3-4 (NKJV) “Then the king said, ‘And where is your master’s son?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ’ So the king said to Ziba, ‘Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.’ And Ziba said, ‘I humbly bow before you, that I may find favour in your sight, my lord, O king!’”
When King David was crowned as the King of Israel, he deviated from the common practice of killing off all the descendants of his predecessor to safeguard against the possibility of future coups or treason. On the contrary, he went in search of King Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, and showed him favour by sending a chariot to bring him from Lo Debar to the palace. David restored to Mephibosheth all the land that once belonged to his grandfather King Saul and gave him the privilege of dining at his table. He extended grace to Mephibosheth because of his covenant with Jonathan.
In contrast, Mephibosheth’s actions were a disappointment to David during Absalom’s treasonous uprising against his father David. King David had the right to expect that Mephibosheth would honor the covenant which his father Jonathan had made with David and face the crisis together with him, as covenantal undertakings were considered unbreakable and to be honoured through the generations. However, when David left Jerusalem with his entourage to escape from Absalom, Mephibosheth did not leave Jerusalem with David; Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba claimed it was because Mephibosheth wanted to seize the opportunity to restore his grandfather King Saul’s kingdom. During a time of widespread revolt and uncertain loyalties, King David could have fretted over Mephibosheth’s perceived ingratitude and his failure to fulfil his covenant obligations. Instead, he chose to keep his peace.
2 Samuel 19:24 (NKJV) “Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.”
Mephibosheth was in an unkempt state and deserted by his servant Ziba when King David returned victorious after defeating Absalom. Without corroborating with Ziba to confirm if Mephibosheth had been falsely slandered, King David extended grace to both Mephibosheth and his servant Ziba, who had earlier fled opportunistically with Mephibosheth’s goods. He showed what it meant to honor a covenant and kept his peace because his faith and confidence were in the Lord, rather than in man.
David was a trailblazer of his time. We can also be trailblazers of our time by being different. David stayed composed, focused, and resilient in the midst of adversity and the evil plotting of wicked men. You and I need to do the same, especially in regard to walking closely with God. We are to delight ourselves in the Lord, commitour ways to Him, trust in Him, and He shall bring to pass His good plans for us.
Sermon Series: Trailblazer
以善胜恶
撒母耳记下16:3-4 “王问说、你主人的儿子在哪里呢。洗巴回答王说、他仍在耶路撒冷．因他说、以色列人今日必将我父的国归还我。王对洗巴说、凡属米非波设的都归你了。洗巴说、我叩拜我主我王．愿我在你眼前蒙恩。“
当大卫王加冕为以色列王时，他没有按照惯例杀死前代所有王的后裔以防未来可能的政变或叛国。相反，他去寻找扫罗王的孙子、约拿单的儿子米非波设，派马车将他从罗底巴带到王宫，以示恩宠。大卫将曾经属于他祖父扫罗王的所有土地归还给米非波设，并赐给他在其餐桌上用餐的特权。他依照与约拿单所立的约而向米非波设施恩。
相比之下，在押沙龙反叛父亲大卫期间，米非波设的行为令大卫失望。大卫王理所当然指望米非波设会遵守其父约拿单与自己所立的约，并与他一起面对危机，因为盟约的承诺被认为牢不可破，世代遵守。然而，当大卫带着随从离开耶路撒冷逃离押沙龙时，米非波设并没有和大卫一起离开耶路撒冷；米非波设的仆人洗巴声称这是因为米非波设要趁机恢复他祖父扫罗王的王国。在叛军四起人心叵测之时，大卫王本可以为米非波设的忘恩负义和未能履行他的盟约义务而焦虑。但是相反，大卫选择保持他内心的平静。
当大卫王打败押沙龙后胜利归来时，米非波设被他的仆人洗巴抛弃，蓬头垢面。大卫王没有找洗巴证实米非波设是否被诬陷，而是向米非波设和他的仆人洗巴施以恩典，即使洗巴早先曾带着米非波设的财物逃跑了。他展示了何谓遵守盟约，保持平和，因为他的信念和信心是在于主，而非人。
大卫是他那个时代的开路先锋。我们也可以另辟蹊径成为我们这个时代的开路先锋。置身在逆境和坏人的邪恶阴谋中，大卫始终保持冷静、专注和坚韧。你我也要如此，尤其是在与上帝紧密同行方面。我们要以在主里为乐，将我们的路交付给主，相信主，主就会实现祂对我们的诸多美好计划。
讲章系列：开路先锋
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