A PROMISE HONORED
By Patricia Jackson
McDowell County
When I was a six-year-old girl, two couples from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, stopped by our home. They wanted to see a field of cotton stalks with cotton bolls. They planned to take them back home to show other farmers. As they returned home, they promised to send me back a gift for helping them.
Each day I ran to the mailbox, looking for my promised gift. Weeks passed, October and Halloween came, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the hoped-for gift never came. My mom explained that many people make promises, but very few keep them.
In 2 Samuel, Chapter 9, we read a promise between David and King Saul’s son Jonathan. Jonathan asked David to show kindness to him, not only while he lived but to his house forever. Jonathan was to be second in command in David’s future reign, and David was to protect Jonathan’s family (I Samuel 20: 14–16 and verse 42). Jonathan loved David as he loved his own self.
After Jonathan, his father King Saul, and two brothers died in battle; King David inquired if there was any left of Saul’s house. He desired to keep his promise to Jonathan. Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, lived in a secret location, knowing he might be a threat to David’s throne. It was a tradition to kill all relatives of the previous King.
David reassured Mephibosheth that he had nothing to fear and that he would restore to him all the land of King Saul and his father, Jonathan. David honored Mephibosheth by telling him he and his son Micah were to eat at his table continually. King David extended kindness to Jonathan for the sake of his father, Jonathan.
In Luke 22:30, Jesus told his disciples, “they may eat and drink at His table in heaven.” It is based on a promise covenant; accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Our Savior. If we honor our covenant with Jesus, we will eat with our Lord and Savior, Jesus. God will extend his kindness to us for the sake of His son Jesus.
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Patricia Jackson is the Assistant Teacher for the Ladies Class at Redeemed Free Will Baptist Church, Glenwood, NC. She is a grant writer for non-profits, a published author and retired Nursing Home Administrator. She lives in Rutherford County with her husband. Contact information: email address: wyo2go@bellsouth.net.
You can read more good Christian news from Patricia HERE.
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