At the knock on the door all the old fears rushed to the surface. Struggling to hold down his breakfast, Mephibosheth left home to appear before David, the new king. As Saul’s grandson, Mephisosheth lingered as a possible rival to the throne, and rivals to kings rarely fare well.

David flipped the tables at their meeting. Don’t be afraid, David said to Mephibosheth, I will show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan.

David restored Mephibosheth’s fortunes, and invited him to eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life. David knew how to keep a promise.

This story reminds me of a promise given in Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The Lord knows how to keep a promise as well.

Photo by Marcos Mayer

2 Samuel 9 in week twenty of reading the Bible cover to cover