91 David said, “Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “Your servant is he.” 3 The king said, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?”
Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?”
Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth.”
He answered, “Behold, your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You shall eat bread at my table continually.” 8 He did obeisance, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?”
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given to your master’s son. 10 You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in the fruits, that your master’s son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread always at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then said Ziba to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your shall servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:1-12
Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:1-8
(Read 2 Samuel 9:1-8)
Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity, frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David's sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:9-13
(Read 2 Samuel 9:9-13)
As David was a type of Christ, his Lord and Son, his Root and Offspring, let his kindness to Mephibosheth remind us of the kindness and love of God our Saviour to fallen man, to whom he was under no obligation, as David was to Jonathan. The Son of God seeks this lost and ruined race, who sought not after him. He comes to seek and to save them!