Let Go Let God: Trusting His Kindness

What was it that God loved about David’s heart?   He relied on God fully, requiring His presence, calling out to Him when in trouble.   He was certainly courageous.  And, whatever he set out to do he gave himself fully to it.  But there was something else about David that God loved, his heart was tender, he loved deeply, even those considered the least of these.

The despised and rejected of society, not having inherent value or worth, at the time of David’s kingdom: the crippled, women, and children, for whom David showed kindness and compassion.

For example,

The king said, Is there not still someone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the [unfailing, unsought, unlimited] mercy and kindness of God? Ziba replied, Jonathan has yet a son who is lame in his feet. [I Sam. 20:14-17.] And Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, Mephibosheth! And he answered, Behold your servant! David said to him, Fear not, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father [grandfather], and you shall eat at my table always. And [the cripple] bowed himself and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, I have given your master’s son [grandson] all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. And you shall till the land for him, you, your sons, and your servants, and you shall bring in the produce, that your master’s heir may have food to eat; but Mephibosheth, your master’s son [grandson], shall eat always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, Your servant will do according to all my Lord the king commands. So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.  2 Samuel 9:3, 6-11 AMPC

Mephibosheth referred to himself as a dead dog.  He was a cripple, and probably considered an enemy of the state as he was the only remaining, living heir of Saul’s dynasty.

Yet, David wanted to show God’s unfailing, unsought, unlimited] mercy and kindness to Mephibosheth.  So, he gave him Saul’s inheritance and promised him a seat at his table forever.

We also see David’s tender heart when his first son with Bathsheba becomes ill.  In his distress for the little one he throws his full reliance on God with prayer and fasting for the life of the child — again one of the least in the kingdom.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted and went in and lay all night [repeatedly] on the floor.  2 Samuel 12:16

When the child died, David accepted God’s sovereignty over the matter but then turned to another of the least of these, a woman, his wife, Bathsheba, and comforted her.

David comforted Bathsheba his wife and went to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and she called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved [the child];  2 Samuel 12:24 AMPC

You see, David, came from experience as a least of these, humble at birth, the youngest son, and humble in occupation, a dirty shepherd, looked down upon by society at large.   God and God alone raised him up to king because of his heart for God, a heart that would never forget that God’s kingdom is an upside down kingdom, where everyday is opposite day.

And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. [Prov. 19:17.]  Matthew 25:40 AMPC

For,

But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and many who [now] are last will be first [then].  Matthew 19:30 AMPC

Great is our God and great is His loving kindness!

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord. He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers all their doings. Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name. Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.  Psalm 33:5, 15, 18, 21-22 AMPC