2 Samuel 9:1-13
Every time that David looked at his hand, he saw a large scar that covered his palm. This scar did not occur in the battlefield or as a result of an accident, but it was a self-inflicted wound. Years earlier, David had entered into a voluntary covenant partnership with his best friend Jonathan, and every glance at the scar reminded him of his end of the deal.
The ritual of cutting covenant involved the slaughter of several sacrificial animals, the pouring of their blood onto the ground and the passing of the two covenant parties between those pieces. The parties would also cut their hands and then clasp the hands together, causing a slight mixing of their blood together. This act was followed by a covenant meal in which both parties ate together and spoke of their terms of covenant.
Whatever had been agreed to in the covenant was binding for life. If one party was to break their end of the covenant, by passing through the dead pieces of animal they were symbolically saying, “May this happen to me”. Only the death of both parties could annul a covenant, not just the passing of one. As long as you lived, you saw the scar and you were reminded of your pact.
Following the death of Jonathan, David enquired if there were any remaining of the house of Saul (Jonathan’s father) that he may show kindness to “for Jonathan’s sake” (2 Samuel 9:1). There was one man, Mephibosheth; son of Saul who had went into hiding since David had ascended to the throne. Mephibosheth was “lame on his feet” (9:3), which meant that he could walk but not very well. This was due to an accident that occurred on the day that his father was killed in battle. At the age of 5, he was dropped by his nurse while trying to escape from the king’s palace. Fearing that David would slaughter all that were left of the house of Saul, she caused irreparable damage to the young boy. She did not know of the covenant between Jonathan and David. Much damage has been caused to our next generation in the church due to parents and pastors not understanding the covenant that has been cut between Jesus and His Father.
Just as David, (a type of God), showed kindness to Mephibosheth, (a type of you and I), for Jonathan’s sake (a type of Jesus), God does all that He does for you and I because of the death of His Son. We are forgiven because of the Covenant that Jesus entered into with His Father. God honors it, “for Christ’s sake” (Ephesians 4:32).
When David brought Mephibosheth into his house he told him that he was to eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life and that the king would always protect him. The way for David to honor his covenant with Jonathan was to provide for Mephibosheth with no pre-conditions. The way for Mephibosheth to honor David was to simply feed. His feet would be under David’s table forevermore, and he would not have to look at his crippled legs.
When we accept Christ by faith, we are honoring what He did at the cross. When God accepts us in our crippled state, He too is honoring what Jesus did at the cross. Jesus bears the nail scars in His hands as a constant reminder of Covenant to His Father. When the enemy comes to accuse you and me, our advocate need only hold up His hand to the Judge, who sees the scar and remembers the Covenant. Thank God for the blood!
Every time that David looked at his hand, he saw a large scar that covered his palm. This scar did not occur in the battlefield or as a result of an accident, but it was a self-inflicted wound. Years earlier, David had entered into a voluntary covenant partnership with his best friend Jonathan, and every glance at the scar reminded him of his end of the deal.
The ritual of cutting covenant involved the slaughter of several sacrificial animals, the pouring of their blood onto the ground and the passing of the two covenant parties between those pieces. The parties would also cut their hands and then clasp the hands together, causing a slight mixing of their blood together. This act was followed by a covenant meal in which both parties ate together and spoke of their terms of covenant.
Whatever had been agreed to in the covenant was binding for life. If one party was to break their end of the covenant, by passing through the dead pieces of animal they were symbolically saying, “May this happen to me”. Only the death of both parties could annul a covenant, not just the passing of one. As long as you lived, you saw the scar and you were reminded of your pact.
Following the death of Jonathan, David enquired if there were any remaining of the house of Saul (Jonathan’s father) that he may show kindness to “for Jonathan’s sake” (2 Samuel 9:1). There was one man, Mephibosheth; son of Saul who had went into hiding since David had ascended to the throne. Mephibosheth was “lame on his feet” (9:3), which meant that he could walk but not very well. This was due to an accident that occurred on the day that his father was killed in battle. At the age of 5, he was dropped by his nurse while trying to escape from the king’s palace. Fearing that David would slaughter all that were left of the house of Saul, she caused irreparable damage to the young boy. She did not know of the covenant between Jonathan and David. Much damage has been caused to our next generation in the church due to parents and pastors not understanding the covenant that has been cut between Jesus and His Father.
Just as David, (a type of God), showed kindness to Mephibosheth, (a type of you and I), for Jonathan’s sake (a type of Jesus), God does all that He does for you and I because of the death of His Son. We are forgiven because of the Covenant that Jesus entered into with His Father. God honors it, “for Christ’s sake” (Ephesians 4:32).
When David brought Mephibosheth into his house he told him that he was to eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life and that the king would always protect him. The way for David to honor his covenant with Jonathan was to provide for Mephibosheth with no pre-conditions. The way for Mephibosheth to honor David was to simply feed. His feet would be under David’s table forevermore, and he would not have to look at his crippled legs.
When we accept Christ by faith, we are honoring what He did at the cross. When God accepts us in our crippled state, He too is honoring what Jesus did at the cross. Jesus bears the nail scars in His hands as a constant reminder of Covenant to His Father. When the enemy comes to accuse you and me, our advocate need only hold up His hand to the Judge, who sees the scar and remembers the Covenant. Thank God for the blood!
