Promise Keepers: Daily Thoughts from 2 Samuel (2 Samuel 9)

There are many who believe that the promise George H. W. Bush made, “No new taxes,” and then subsequently broke, was a large part of his undoing when he ran for a second term as president of the United States. Someone has chronicled 34 promises that President Trump broke his first day in office. It remains to be seen whether this affects his ability to get elected for a second term.

David is now in a position to fulfill his promises and he eagerly pursues it.

And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet. (2 Samuel 9, ESV)

A leader keeps his or her promises, even to his or her own hurt. It may seem that it would not hurt David to keep his promise to Jonathan, his dear friend.  He had promised that he would show kindness to Jonathan’s household. But any heir of Saul was a potential threat to David’s throne. Some kings who gained power eliminated all such threats. But David had a covenant with Jonathan. David was a threat to Jonathan’s inheritance of the throne, but Jonathan knew God had put David in this position long before his father Saul had died, and he protected the life of David. Now David protected Jonathan’s heirs and Mephibosheth was all that was left to the house of Jonathan. David made Ziba, Saul’s land manager, responsible to Mephibosheth, bringing all the profit of his lands to Mephibosheth. And David made Mephibosheth a part of his court, eating at his table with him in perpetuity.

You will make promises as you are ascending in God’s plan for your leadership and you must keep them. This demonstrates that it is God you are trusting in to be a good and effective leader, not your own abilities or wisdom.