Clothing Ourselves with Kindness

There are some clothes I'm sure we'd rather put on and some we'd rather not. Even when we do try on certain items we like it is not guaranteed that they are going to fit well. Something which the Bible advises followers of Jesus Christ to clothe themselves with is Kindness:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3v12)

Kindness is part of the Christian's spiritual clothing which fits well and is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit that should be evident in their life:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5v22)

There is an episode recorded in the life of Israel's King David which demonstrates kindness in action and draws parallels with God's kindness to us in Jesus Christ. The remarkable thing about it is that the beneficiary of David's kindness is the grandson of someone who had tried many times to harm or kill David. David's example of kindness in such circumstances has lessons for all of us. After David subdues the nations around him you might expect him to sit back in complacency. However, we see him pursue an unexpected course:

Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness...(2 Samuel 9v1)

Saul had died by this stage but he was the king who lost his way and made it his mission whilst alive to try and kill David or remove him from the picture. The reader of his story notes at least 24 incidents where he exhibits anger or jealousy about David or insecurity about the perceived threat of David to his kingdom or tries to get him killed or seriously injured (see 1 Samuel 18v8-12, 15, 17b, 25, 28-9; 1 Sam 19v1, 9-11, 20-3; 1 Sam 20v30-1; 1 Sam 23v8, 14-15,  25; 1 Sam 24v1-2; 1 Sam 26v1-3). Now seriously, would you want anything to  do with the family of someone who had it in for you like that? I believe that means David's response here warrants special attention. Let us look at what his kindness can teach us:

- HE ACTIVELY LOOKS TO DEMONSTRATE KINDNESS. There are those who harbour thoughts of retaliation after being wronged and those who look for opportunities to show kindness; David is the latter. He is looking around for a relative of Saul to help, asking questions, doing some investigating. He is being proactive about finding an opportunity for kindness and not waiting for one to fall into his lap. His efforts pay off - a servant of Saul is located and brought before David. The servant highlights the situation of Saul's disabled grandson Mephibosheth in a town east of the Jordan river (see 2 Sam 9v2-5). David is happy to wait for Mephibosheth (we'll refer to him as Meph) to be brought.

Showing kindness is worth the wait. David has time to reconsider as he waits but is not for turning in the kindness he wants to display.

- THE RECIPIENT MOVES FROM FEAR TO SECURITY. Meph. comes to David in fear and bows down to him (v6). Picture a mistreated dog cowering in fear and waiting to be hit again by its master and you're getting the idea behind Meph's tentative approach. David offers reassurance that there is no reason here to remain afraid (v7). People around us may have suffered all kinds of mistreatment. They do not easily anticipate being shown kindness. An act of kindness lifts them from a place of fear to one of security. 

- IDENTITY IS RECOVERED. Meph's learned self-identity is made clear: 

What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me? (v8)

Meph's self-esteem is at rock-bottom. He feels as good as dead (or might as well be). Demonstrating kindness bestows on those who need it a more healthy self-identity than the distorted one which may have been learned through mistreatment. Kindness leads them to a new sense of self-worth.

- KINDNESS RESTORES & ELEVATES. Meph. has lost identity, position, sense of value. His physical disability would have discounted him still further among society at the time. David restores to him the family lands and decrees he will from now on sit and eat at the king's table (v7), which means he will be like one of the kings sons (v11). This restoration and elevation could not have been envisioned by the grandson of David's enemy.The legacy of the dead and disgraced King Saul is being turned on its head by the alleged enemy. This is what kindness does; it turns a situation on its head. 

- KINDNESS = PROVISION. David gives instructions that the land restored to Meph. would be farmed for him and that the crops produced would provide for him (see v10). There are many who suffer lack in this world. As God positions us to help others Kindness is the clothing we should be wearing to channel much needed help and provision.   

- THE END OF HOSTILITY. David's kindness puts an end to hostilities between his house and that of Saul. 

Parallel between David's kindness and God's:

David isn't concerned only to demonstrate a measure of human kindness; he elaborates on the inspiration behind his passion for kindness:

Is there no-one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show GOD'S kindness? (v3 emphasis mine)

David knew the kindness of God first hand through all those years on the run from Saul. We can only have a heart to show kindness as we are changed by our own experience of God's immeasurable kindness shown to us in Jesus Christ. David's kindness to Meph. points forward to God's kindness:

Meph. no longer made to feel like a dead dog but made to feel alive again. We have been made alive (spiritually) in Christ (Ephesians 2v5).

Meph. was not to be bowed down anymore but raised up and seated at the King's table. We have been raised up with Christ and seated with him in heavenly realms (Eph 2v6).

Meph. welcomed to the King's inner circle. We are no longer excluded from citizenship in Israel, no longer without hope and without God in this world. Now we have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ (Eph 2v12-13).

Any lingering hostility Mephibosheth imagined to exist between him and David (because of Saul) was broken down by David's kindness. Our sin (wrongdoing) built a wall of hostility between ourselves and God. This has been removed because of Christ's sacrifice. We now have peace with God (see Eph 2v14).

Meph. given access to the king and can approach his presence with freedom and confidence. Through Christ we have access to the presence of God the King of Kings and can approach with freedom and confidence (ref Eph 3v12).

Meph. treated like one of the King's sons and like an honorary member of the King's household. In Christ a spirit of fear is replaced with a spirit of sonship. We are God's (adopted) children. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8v15-17). We are members of God's household (Eph 2v19).

We can find those Mephibosheths around us if we are willing to look and be demonstrators of God's kindness made known to us in Christ. 'Supreme beneficiaries' need to become 'Supreme Demonstrators'. Let this be evident in our daily lives. 


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