SERMON SUBJECT: FOR GOD’S SAKE SHOW KINDNESS

SERMON TEXT: “The king asked, ‘Is there no one still left in the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness”(2 Samuel 9:3)

SERMON THESIS: God is the source of kindness.

INTRODUCTION: How does kindness, the fifth fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22),  reveal itself through the life of a believer toward others?  One of the best examples that we have in Scripture of this truth is found in the Old Testament Book of 2 Samuel.  Four principles emerge from the study of 2 Samuel, chapter 9, as seen in the kindness of David toward Jonathan’s son, Mephiposheth.  As seen in this passage of Scripture, “Kindness shown toward others is rooted in God’s own graciousness.”  These four principles, as I see it, are as follows . . .

First Principle...

I.  KINDNESS SEEKS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS ITSELF.

     The Bible says, “The king asked, “Is there still no one left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?’”(v. 3).

     In answer to David’s question, there was someone left and his name was Mephibosheth.    He was the son of Jonathan, David’s dearly departed friend.  Further inquiry revealed that he was “ . . . crippled in both feet.”

            1.  Kindness is never prejudice -  Kindness does not ask, “Are they our kind?” Bringing the crippled  man  into  his house,  David  said  to  him . . .

“And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly” (2 Samuel 9:7).

            2.  Kindness shows liberality - Note the phrase, “I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul . . .”(v. 7)

            3. Kindness is not short on long-time commitment.  David said to the young man, “ . . . you will always eat at my table”(v. 7)

Kindness seeks opportunities to express itself, because in the words of Paul, “Love is kind”

(I Cor. 13:4).  Do you and I seek opportunities to express kindness toward others - especially to those who are less fortunate?

 Second Principle...

II.  KINDNESS IS SHOWN TOWARD A NEEDY ONE FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEONE ELSE.

“David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’”(v. 1).

To show the kind of relationship that David and Jonathan shared, we must go back to I Samuel. . .

“Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1).

“And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life” (1 Samuel 20:17).

        David could not reciprocate to his friend in kind since Jonathan was dead, so he did the next best thing.  He showed kindness to his crippled son and he did it “for Jonathan’s sake”(v. 1).

We show kindness toward God when we show kindness to someone in need. Did not Jesus say...

“And the King will answer and say to them ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:40).

David could not show kindness directly to Jonathan, but he could show kindness to his needy son.

When we show kindness to someone in need, we do it for God’s sake and we will not go unrewarded.

“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41).

Third principle...

III.  KINDNESS IS NOT SLOW IN TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO MEET A NEED.

        “Don’t be afraid, David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.  I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table”(v. 7).

            1.  David acted in kindness toward another based on the information he had attained. In response to the king’s question, “Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet’”(v. 36)

            2.  David took the initiative to do what he could do for his late friend.  The writer of Proverbs said . . .

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor,’Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you” (Proverbs 3:27-28).

            David had it in his power to help Mephiposheth and he took the initiative to do it.

            One thing that all of us have the power to do is to show kindness to someone in need.

Fourth principle...

IV.  KINDNESS FINDS ITS SOURCE IN A LOVING GOD.  In I John 4:8, we find these three little words, “God is love.”  In the larger context of this passage I John 4:7-21, according to one writer, “This passage may be the strongest passage in the Bible concerning the love of God.  The basic message is simple: God is love.” 

        The Greek word used here for love is “agape.”  It means “ . . . a self-giving love that seeks the best interests of its object and is not selfish or self seeking.”  The Greek word“Agape” finds its counterpart in the Hebrew word “Kindness,” translated in our text as “hesedh,” Hesedh is love based on a covenant relationship like that of Jonathan and David.

       Since, then, kindness finds its source in God’s love, the kindness that flows through us is initiated by love (I John 4:7-21).  Therefore . . .

       1.  His grace flows through us toward others.  It was God’s grace that flowed through David toward Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.  Mephibosheth was saved by David as a result of a covenant relationship he had made with Jonathan based on love.  One writer said,“Mephibosheth was in literal fact saved because of the covenant relationship existing between David and Jonathan.”

            Now for a greater truth . . . the kindness shown to Mephiposheth, by David, who is, in fact, a type of Christ, serves to illustrate the kindness and love of God, our Savior, that has been shown to each of us.  One writer said, “We are saved in Christ by the kindness of God, the blood of the everlasting covenant.”  Please note, however, David was under no obligation to show kindness to Mephiposheth, nor was God under any obligation to show kindness toward us in salvation.  It is simply a matter of grace.  That is to say, God’s unmerited favor toward us.  Like Mephiposheth, we were crippled spiritually, but God, like David, adopted us into His family and invited us to dine at His table.  The Bible says, concerning, Mephiposheth, “So Mephiposheth ate at David’s table like (simile) one of the king’s son”(v. 11). 

            There is a beautiful old hymn that goes like this, “Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed.  He invites His chose people come and dine.  He who feed the multitude and turned the water into wine . . . He invites His chosen people - come and dine.”  We like, Mephiposheth, in heaven, “will always eat at His table”(v.10).

       2.  His grace motivates us to be gracious to others.

            Since “God is the source of all goodness and kindness and love,” it is His love that motivates us to be gracious and kind to others. 

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died...” (2 Cor. 5:14).

            Has God’s love motivated you to be kind to someone lately?  It was the writer of Proverbs who wrote . . .

“He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed” (Proverbs 19:17).

“What is desirable in a man is his kindness...” (Proverbs 19:22a).

     Paul said in Galatians . . .

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...” (Gal. 5:22-22b).

  Thus the question, “Is there no one still left___________________ (you fill in the blank) to whom I can show God’s kindness?”(v. 3).

            Our challenge in light of this message is this . . . FOR GOD’S SAKE SHOW KINDNESS!!!!!!!!!

CONCLUSION: The kindness of David toward Mephiposheth, was a foreshadowing of the kindness of God revealed in His only begotten Son, Jesus. In the words of that great old hymn, He Lifted Me, I end this message with this verse, “In loving kindness Jesus came My soul in mercy to reclaim. And from the depths of sin and shame Thro’ grace He lifted me. From sinking sand He lifted me, With tender hand He lifted me, From shades of night to plains of light, O praise His name, he lifted me.”  In loving kindness will you lift up someone today?   As David was prepared to show the kindness of God for Jonathan’s sake.  Will you show kindness toward someone for God’s sake?