Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

1Verse 1. Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?” 2Verse 2. And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. 3Verse 3. So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.” 4Verse 4. “Where is he?” replied the king. And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” 5Verse 5. So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 6Verse 6. And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied. 7Verse 7. “Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8Verse 8. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?” 9Verse 9. Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10Verse 10. You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Verse 11. And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons. 12Verse 12. And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13Verse 13. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

1Verse 1. Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Verse 2. Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’” 3Verse 3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. 4Verse 4. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5Verse 5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 6Verse 6. Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7Verse 7. Nevertheless , David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8Verse 8. On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David. ” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.” 9Verse 9. So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward. 10Verse 10. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him. 11Verse 11. Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12Verse 12. And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.