DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- MERCY, GRACE, AND BLESSING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS –MERCY, GRACE, AND BLESSING

"So he [David] swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king:  'Return, you and all 

your servants' …. (II Samuel 19:14)

The previous chapters contain the history of the rebellion of David's son. Absolom.  Absolom had been killed and the rebellion withered away.  Now we pick up the story of King David's return to Jerusalem from his exile on the east side of Jordan.  

As he is about to cross the Jordan back into his kingdom, he is met by three men.  His responses to these men give us a graphic picture of the magnificent spirit of David.

The first to meet him was Shimei.  The story of Shimei is found in II Samuel chapter 16. Shimei was a relative of Saul, and carried a grudge against David because he had replaced King Saul many years earlier. As David was fleeing from Jerusalem with his household to the east side of Jordan, Shimei ran along the hillside that parallelled the road throwing rocks at David and shouting obscenities.  Now that David was returning as king to regain his place as King, Shimei came to meet him in repentance.  Some of David's men wanted to kill him, but David extended mercy and saved Shimei from death.

The second person to meet David was Mephibosheth.  Remember that Mephibosheth was a son of Jonathan, Saul's son, who was lame.  David had shown grace to him and brought him into the king's household.  Mephibosheth had not joined David in his exile, but David again showed him great grace and forgiveness.  

The third person was Barzilai, who had supplied David with provision during his exile.  David now blessed him for his kindness.

This is a picture of God's character expressed toward us.  We, like Shimei, have treated Him shamefully but have received His mercy when we came in repentance.  Like Mephibosheth, His grace has been poured out on us even in our missteps.  And His blessings have been bestowed on us who have honored Him. Mercy, grace and blessing.  We serve a wonderful God.

Love, Dad