Lesson 16
Yahweh-Jireh – The God Who Provides (Philippians 4:19; Genesis 22:14)
“Share God’s Provision with those Less Fortunate” (2 Samuel 19:28)
Read 2 Samuel 4:4, chapter 9, 16:1-4, 19:24-30, 21:7-9 www.bible.com/bible/59/2sa.21.esv

One of the men who came down from Jerusalem to welcome King David back home was Mephibosheth, the son of David’s best friend Jonathan and grandson of Saul. Mephibosheth was so worried about his king he hadn’t combed his hair or washed his clothes since David escaped from Jerusalem (when Absalom was trying to kill his father to take his place as king).

This is the story of Mephibosheth, and the reason he loved King David so much: When Mephibosheth was only five years old, the report of his father’s and grandfather’s deaths in battle came to his home. His nurse scooped Mephibosheth up in her arms, and was in such a hurry to rush him out of the house to safety she tripped and dropped him. Both of Mephibosheth’s feet were badly injured, and he was never able to walk again.

Many years later, David wished to honor his friend Jonathan’s memory by showing godly kindness to his relatives. The king asked Ziba, who had been Saul’s right-hand man, if anyone was left from Saul’s family. Ziba told David about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who was unable to walk.

King David immediately sent a few of his men to get Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth bowed deeply before the king. David called him by name, and reassured him there was no reason to be afraid. He told him the reason he had brought him to the palace; he wanted to show him godly kindness in memory of his father, David’s best friend Jonathan. He returned all his grandfather Saul’s property to Mephibosheth, and invited him to eat all his meals at David’s table.

Mephibosheth was stunned and didn’t know what to say. He looked down and shuffled his lame feet, finally mumbling, “Why are you paying attention to me? I’m no better than a stray dog!”

David called Ziba to join them, and told Ziba he had given all that belonged to Saul and his family to Mephibosheth. Ziba and his fifteen sons and twenty servants were to work Mephibosheth’s land and the produce would provide for Mephibosheth. Ziba promised David he would carry out his orders. The king told Ziba Mephibosheth would be eating all his meals at the king’s table from now on.

Mephibosheth and his small son Mica ate at the king’s table, just as if they belonged to the royal family. Ziba and his household became Mephibosheth’s servants. The God Who Provides, Yahweh-Jireh, knew Mephibosheth was unable to work and provide for himself because he could not walk. Yahweh-Jireh provided richly for Mephibosheth through His kind and caring servant, King David.

Apply God’s Word to your life:
*In what ways has The God Who Provides, Yahweh-Jireh, provided for you?
*Where do you need God’s provision right now?
 *How have you, and/or can you, show God’s love to those less fortunate, possibly by sharing what God has provided for you with them?