THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

In 2 Samuel 16 David meets Ziba, the servant of Saul, as he is away from Jerusalem and fighting to save the throne from his son Absalom. Ziba, who was connected to Mephibosheth, began to paint a picture that deceives David concerning Mephibosheth, speaking lies about Mephibosheth to make him out to be one who is working to overthrow David’s throne and establish Saul’s throne through him. David then tells Ziba that all that belongs to Mephibosheth now will become his. David is probably very upset and wondering why he did all those things for Mephibosheth out of the kindness of his heart. Some commentaries speak of David at this period of his life, as being weak, compared to what he was before all the struggles for the kingdom started.

God gives Mephibosheth an opportunity to prove himself. If we walk in forgiveness, we ourselves must administer the power of forgiveness. In 2 Samuel 19 you read how David comes back to Jerusalem he meets Mephibosheth starting in verse 24: “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 came back in peace. So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king that the king said to him ‘Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?’ And he answered, ‘My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king, because your servant is lame. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?’ So the king said to him, ‘Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the land.’ Then Mephibosheth said to the king, ‘Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.’”

Mephibosheth did not wash his lame feet and he did not change his clothes. That means that he was in deep mourning that David was not in Jerusalem. He was totally loyal to David because he loved David and because David showed him the power of forgiveness. Jesus said the same about the woman in the gospels where He said that one who is forgiven much, loves much, and one who is forgiven little, loves little. That is not talking about the amount of sin, but it means how deep we accept the forgiveness, and how much we can administer that forgiveness. Forgiveness will bring love.

As David sat at the table, he became one with those at his table. He experienced forgiveness and he administered forgiveness. I don’t know what his connection was to Mephibosheth, but he did have a connection to Jonathan and extended kindness for his sake through forgiveness.

Some of us will never bring forth new love because we will not forgive. We cannot wait to love until we forgive. Jesus forgave me and that is why I love him. When people forgive, it demonstrates their love, but forgiveness means that we have to humble ourselves. If we are not humble, we will be like the servant of Saul who deceived David.

Mephibosheth said he was ready to saddle the donkeys and his servant pretended that the supplies belonged to him. When David spoke and said that he and Ziba should divide the land, he declined, and said to give all to Ziba. He did not try to take it away from Ziba. He did not try to seek revenge. He did not even desire to have it. This showed a great understanding of forgiveness on the part of Mephibosheth. He was satisfied that David was coming back to his house in peace.

Forgiveness in the power of the covenant of God will bring satisfaction. The satisfaction does not come from taking revenge. As Mephibosheth received forgiveness from David, he was able to administer forgiveness to Ziba to release him to walk in the land, which belonged to him. That land became the servant’s.

Mephibosheth did as the meaning of his name declared. He destroyed the shame; he cut it off.

In His Love,
      Sigi

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