1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 2 Samuel 8:1-3 ESV
When we study David’s life we see that he had a few great friends, the best of which is Jonathan. Jonathan was a prince, son of King Saul who hated David (1 Samuel 18). In an earlier story, we see where Jonathan actually saved David’s life by warning him of his father’s intent to kill him (1 Samuel 20).
So David goes on the run and stays on the run for years. Eventually, David gets his opportunity to be who God called him to be – the King of Israel. By the time this happens, his friend Jonathan has died.
Now, I love this story because it on that shows us what honor looks like. Years have gone by. Saul’s family had been horrible to David and had led the people of Israel very poorly and now David is righting the kingdom – but he also pauses to right his friends legacy. Even in the muddiness of pain, betrayal, slander, and abuse – David holds on to what is righteous and remembers the faithfulness of his friend and restores Jonathans family.
This is what HONOR looks like.
Honor holds on to the good and releases the bad.
Honor remembers kindness and repays it.
Honor brings generational blessings.
Honor changes lives. It sure changed Mephibosheth’s life.
13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
Let’s be a people of honor.