91 David said, “Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He said, “Your servant is he.” 3 The king said, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?”
Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?”
Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth.”
He answered, “Behold, your servant!” 7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You shall eat bread at my table continually.” 8 He did obeisance, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?”
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:1-8
Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:1-8
(Read 2 Samuel 9:1-8)
Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity, frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David's sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them.