The one message we must not overlook when we study scripture is that God loves us.  He loves us when we follow after Him and His will and He loves us even when we are rebellious toward Him.  The difference is how He responds to our actions.  Those who rebel and refuse to turn to Him for grace and mercy will have only His justice to face. 

In 2 Samuel, chapter 9, we find an example in David’s life that exemplifies this truth about God.  In being a “man after God’s own heart” we see actions that show how God would react.  When bringing Mephibosheth to live with him, David did four things that God does with us. First, we need to realize the condition Mephibosheth was in.  He was separated from the royal family, possibly even viewed as a threat to David’s throne, since Mephibosheth was in line to succeed Saul as King.  We next see that David seeks him out, asking if there was not someone of the house of Saul that he could show kindness to. David overlooked both the potential threat against God’s throne over Israel and his handicap of being lame in both feet and opened up his home and table to Saul’s grandson.  (See 1 Samuel 24:21-22)

The next thing we see is the salvation issue.  This of course was not the spiritual salvation he needed but the salvation from a miserable life.  Saul’s inheritance (land) was returned to the family, servants were provided to farm and take care of Mephibosheth.  The last aspect deals in “sonship.”  David treated him as his own son.  By putting him at his table for meals regularly, David was saying to him, “You are family; you are as a son to me.”

All these actions of David are demonstrated by God.  He sees us as alienated from Him by our sins, yet He seeks us out.  He has done this by sending His Son to “seek and save that which is lost.”  When we are found and accept His gift to us, we can find salvation, a salvation that makes us all “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26).  This is the love of God that was demonstrated by Jesus going to the cross of Calvary for your sins and mine.  I pray that we all come to understand and appreciate God’s great love for us more and more each day.

Copyright © 2003, Nolan P. Rutter