Why did David spare Mephibosheth according to 2 Samuel 21:7? Setting the Scene • A three–year famine strikes Israel (2 Samuel 21:1). • The LORD reveals the cause: Saul’s bloodguilt for slaughtering the Gibeonites. • David asks the Gibeonites what will satisfy justice. They request seven male descendants of Saul for execution (21:4–6). The Specific Verse 2 Samuel 21:7: “But the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath David and Jonathan the son of Saul had sworn before the LORD.” The Covenant That Saved Mephibosheth • Years earlier Jonathan and David “made a covenant” (1 Samuel 18:3–4). • Jonathan bound David by oath “before the LORD” to show steadfast love to Jonathan’s family forever (1 Samuel 20:12–17, 42). • That covenant was renewed after Jonathan’s death when David said, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). • David discovered crippled Mephibosheth, brought him to Jerusalem, and promised, “I will surely show you kindness… and you will always eat at my table” (2 Samuel 9:7). Why David Spared Him • The oath was sworn “before the LORD,” making it sacred, irreversible, and higher than any political pressure (Numbers 30:2; Psalm 15:4). • Covenant faithfulness (ḥesed) was central to David’s understanding of godly leadership; breaking it would dishonor the LORD’s name (2 Samuel 9:3; 1 Kings 2:7). • Justice for Saul’s sin required restitution, yet God’s law also honored binding oaths (Deuteronomy 23:21–23). David balances both by surrendering other descendants but not the one protected by covenant. Key Takeaways • God expects His people to honor covenants even when costly (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5). • Personal loyalty can coexist with national justice; faithfulness never contradicts true righteousness. • David’s integrity mirrors the LORD’s own steadfast love—He keeps covenant “to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). |
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