SUNDAY 18 September, 2016
Spared by an Oath
…And the king said, “I will give them.” But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. - 2 Samuel 21:6-7
Saul foolishly broke an oath before the Lord but David, fearing God, kept his oath before Him. Mephibosheth, who had already received much mercy and grace, had enjoyed the blessings of eating at the kings table. He was counted as a son of David’s for Jonathan’s sake (2 Samuel 9:1-13). David and Jonathan made an oath:
…but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lordhas cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “Let the Lordrequire it at the hand of David’s enemies” (1 Samuel 20:15-16).
Saul’s murderous anger towards David caused him to flee. But before he left he spoke again with Jonathan. As they parted the solemn oath was reiterated between them:
Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lordbe between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever (1 Samuel 20:42).
David had a covenant of faithfulness––he kept his word and his integrity; Mephibosheth would be spared from death. Imagine, we too are spared from eternal death because God keeps His oath to spare us from judgment (Hebrew 9:15). Be thankful that Jesus stands between us and judgment.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
~1 John 2:1~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!