[As a response to God’s Covenant Love] One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home.
2 Samuel 9:1–5, NLT
Dear Ziba,
As I sit here, penning this letter, my heart is filled with a sense of divine purpose and an overwhelming gratitude for the covenant love that God has shown me. It is a love so profound, so unconditional, that it has forever altered the course of my life and my reign as king. I find myself compelled, not by duty but by love, to extend this same covenant kindness to others. It is in this spirit that I write to you today.
You served in the house of Saul, and you knew Jonathan, my dearest friend, a man who was like a brother to me. Jonathan and I had a covenant, bound by love and sealed in the presence of God. Though Jonathan is no longer with us, the covenant we made endures, just as the covenant God made with me endures. It is a love that goes beyond the grave, a love that seeks to bless and honor even when the other party is no longer present.
I have heard that there is a son of Jonathan still living, a young man named Mephibosheth, who is crippled in both feet [1]. I wish to show God’s kindness to him, for Jonathan’s sake and for the sake of the covenant love that binds us. I intend to restore to him all the land that belonged to his grandfather Saul, and I wish for him to dine at my table, as one of my own sons. This is not mere charity, Ziba; this is “Chesed” [2], the covenant love that reflects the very heart of God.
I am entrusting you with the task of bringing him here to the palace and managing Mephibosheth’s land. You and your sons and servants will farm the land for him, but Mephibosheth will always eat at my table. I want him to know that he is not forgotten, that he is valued, and that he is loved. This is how we honor our covenants; this is how we reflect the love of God [3]. If I have already shown kindness to you and your household, should you show kindness to your former master’s son too?
Please make the necessary arrangements for Mephibosheth with Makir [4] and let this be a testament to all Israel that covenant love is not just a concept but a way of life, a divine mandate that we are all called to fulfill.
In the covenant love of God,
David
Share with your friends “In what ways can you extend God’s ‘covenant love’ in your own relationships?”
[1] 2 Samuel 4:4 recorded that Mephibosheth became crippled at 5 when his nurse dropped him while fleeing at the news of his dad’s death
[2] This Hebrew word is similar to the Greek “Agape”. Read here for the fuller explaination its meaning
[3] 1 John 4:20 said, “If we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”
[4] Makir is not mentioned again until 2 Sam 17:17–29 when he supports David during the Absalom’s revolt. Makir, Shobi, and Barzillai provides food and supplies to David in Mahanaim. This suggests that Makir, who may have previously supported Saul (by raising Mephibosheth), now supports David, possibly due to David’s kindness towards Mephibosheth.
God’s covenant of love is an everlasting blessing. Blessings is an act of grace. This type of love is meant to be shared. I can extend this type of love in my own relationships by investing my time, energy, and resources to be a light and a blessing to those around me. I have this opportunity to share this love with different people in my life-my students, colleagues, friends, family, and community. God’s covenant of love renews and restores us so we can pass on the kindness and compassion to those who may need it most.
I can extend God’s covenant love in my own relationships by understanding the love that He’s shown in my life and seeking to extend that to others each day. In my friendships/relationships with others, similar to the devotion about sacrafice, the things that I hold close to me can be sacraficed for others, like time and money. Or simply being open and ready to extend love to someone in need when it does come up.. so flexibility in that sense too.
(from Charles)
We can extend God’s ‘covenant love’ by obeying what Jesus told us to do. More specifically the two greatest commandments that Jesus said, which are to love God with all of our heart, soul and might and second, to love others. We can love others by sharing the Gospel message with those who do not know Jesus and also by serving those around us.
I believe the only way to extend God’s covenant love to others is to personally receive, understand and experience God’s covenant love. As described in Bumble’s notes (Agape), “It’s impossible to define chesed apart from the fullness of God’s character. Chesed’s particular brand of love is supernatural, multifaceted love that can only be realized, practiced, and experienced through God.” God is so kind in that he displayed His love through a tangible person, Jesus Christ himself. When we come to God open handed knowing that there is no other way to Him except through receiving His love by repentance and belief in Christ as my Lord and Savior I am able to love others as He did. It’s the power of the gospel that transforms my heart and the power of the Holy Spirit who allows me to love others like Him.
So, my prayer is this:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:3-8 NIV.
I can extend God’s covenant love in my own relationships by spreading his love and mercy. Spreading the positivity to others who are in need. People we know who are going through tough times remind them that they are loved. Even people who sometimes make me feel negative I will show them the love and mercy they deserve. God has shown me mercy even though I don’t listen to him a lot and he still shows me love. I owe it to him to spread it and be a servant to him. I pray he will give me the strength I need to spread the love
The question isn’t simply how to extend God’s love, but specifically, his “Covenant” love. God’s
covenant love with David was different in that it was a one-sided contract..God’s commitment to carry it out was not based on any actions on David’s part.
Such a love that seeks no reciprocation and is non-conditional can maybe be best demonstrated to those who cannot possibly repay that love.
In all my relationships, I believe that my fatherly love to Niko would most closely mirror God’s covenant love with David. I love Niko unconditionally and without any reciprocation on his part. Because I love him
And he is my son.
I can spread and practice God’s love within my family and among my friends by treating them the way God loves and treats us. Since we have received God’s grace and mercy, it’s important to share it within our own relationships.
God command us to love and forgive even others, even those who wronged us (Matthew 5:44). Forgive so we will be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15).
But there is no prescription against acting in defending our loved ones when evil are done to them.
I often turn the other cheek when the wrong is against me personally. I am willing to take less if others need it more. I don’t mind being disadvantaged when it is just me.
Matthew 5:39 tells us not to retaliate but it is not telling us not to defend ourselves or better yet to avoid the problem in the first place (Proverbs 22:3).
I try my best to be kind and forgive. I pray for even those who have done me wrong to ask God to let them see their errors and to forgive them. I know God sees my earnest effort in this and my reward will come.
I feel like ways to show God’s covenant love is just constantly extending the grace we were extended when Christ died on the cross for us. Seeing the way David treat M is short for that guy’s name relates to how Jesus loved us even though we didn’t deserve it, but he still died for us. Same way that I don’t need to be nice to people but remembering whatGod and extending that love is that way I see how we spread it.
I resonate with this saying: “Covenant love is not just a concept but a way of life, a divine mandate that we are all called to fulfill.” Only when we experience God’s covenant love can we authentically extend that love and kindness to others. When we do, it goes beyond mere charity; it embodies “chesed,” the covenant love reflecting God’s very heart. Believing that everything I have is a result of God’s covenant love for me and my descendants empowers me to generously share with others. It’s not always easy to show kindness and love, especially to those we may not like or who have wronged us. Yet, David’s example teaches us the value of forgiveness and the love and kindness God desires in us. I pray for a heart that mirrors these qualities.