2 SAMUEL 9 – A PICTURE OF GOD’S GRACE
· What is a “grace period”? Why are they helpful? What are the problems with grace periods?
· What are some ways we can be gracious to others?
· How have people been gracious to you lately?
· How has God been gracious to you?
· What would be a good Biblical definition of grace?
· What’s so amazing about God’s grace?
In 2 Kings 9 we see David showing “grace” to his friend Jonathan’s Son, and his enemy Saul’s grandson. The way David treated Mephibosheth is a picture of God showing grace to us.
HE WAS SEPARATED
· It was customary practice in Bible times for kings who had taken over after the demise of another ruling family to eliminate any possible “heirs” to the throne. Relatives, especially sons, of the former king were often killed.
· When David took over the Kingdom there was at least one relative around. He was Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 4:4
· Mephibosheth was hidden in a secluded place called Lo-Debar.
· As he grew up Mephibosheth was probably taught who he was and why he had to hide.
· From what good things was Mephibosheth separated?
· How is a person’s separation from God a more serious issue than Mephibosheth’s separation from society? Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 59:2, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23
· How would you try to persuade someone that he or she is a sinner?
HE WAS SOUGHT – Vss. 1-5
· Vs. 1 – What caused David to make an inquiry concerning Saul’s family? 1 Samuel 20:14-17
· Vss. 2-4 – David made inquiries of Ziba, a former servant of Saul. He got the information that he needed.
· Vs. 5 – David sent for Mephibosheth.
· Mephibosheth was not looking for David. Generally speaking, man does not search for God. Romans 3:10-11
· God sent His son to earth seeking our salvation. Luke 19:10, 1 John 4:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21
· Today God sends his Holy Spirit to earth seeking sinners. John 16:8-11
· This is pictured in the parable of the Lost Coin. Luke 15:8-10
· Also today the Lord Jesus has sent us to reach the lost with the Gospel message. Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8
HE WAS SAVED – Vss. 6-13
· Vs. 6 – What do you think Mephibosheth was thinking when he was brought from his home to face David?
· Vs. 7 – Mephibosheth would receive his grandfather’s property and would sit at the King’s table.
· How does this treatment of Mephibosheth picture God’s grace to us?
· Vs. 8 – Why was Mephibosheth so amazed?
· What did Mephibosheth do to earn this? This reminds us of our own salvation by God’s grace. John 3:16, Titus 3:5
HE WAS A SON – Vss. 7, 13
· Vs. 9-13 – Ziba was given the word. He and his sons were now servants of Mephibosheth. Saul’s property was given to his grandson.
· Mephibosheth would eat at the King’s table as if he were a son.
· God in His grace has made each person who comes to Christ as Savior a son.
· We are sons by birth. John 1:12-13 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
· We have been adopted into the family of God. Romans 8:15-18 (NASB77) – For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
· What is the significance of us being the sons of God?