Notes:

Last Week – (1) Informed by Hope, (2) Mastery over Feelings, (3) Changed hearts, not outward appearance

Point 1: Right Perspective, Right Love

1. ILLUSTRATION: A Sunday School teacher had just concluded her lesson and wanted to make sure she had made her point. She said, “Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?” There was a short pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up. “Sin,” he said.
2. Mephibosheth recognized he didn’t deserve the life he was given, so if it was all taken away, he would still be ahead with his life.
3. True gratitude is not casual—it becomes visible in our actions. Are we merely polite in our worship (like Simon), or profoundly thankful (like the woman and Mephibosheth)?
   1. Mephibosheth’s loyalty did not waver during David’s absence. The woman’s devotion wasn’t deterred by social scorn. Our devotion must remain firm, especially when cultural or personal circumstances are challenging.
4. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the last surviving heir to the dynasty of Saul. 2 Samuel 9told how David showed unique kindness to Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 16:1-4 described how Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met David with supplies as he left Jerusalem. Ziba said that Mephibosheth had abandoned David and hoped to gain from the conflict between David and Absalom.              
   1. Proverbs 18:13 – “The one who gives an answer before he listens – that is his folly and his shame.”
   2. Proverbs 18:17 – “The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.”
   3. John 7:51 (Nicodemus to fellow Pharisees regarding arresting Jesus) – “’Our law doesn’t condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?’”
   4. Do we give people the benefit of the doubt? Do we listen to both sides? Are we too quick to condemn?
5. ILLUSTRATION: In 2014, Rolling Stone published an article titled “A Rape on Campus,” detailing a University of Virginia student’s shocking account of sexual assault. The story initially generated massive public outcry and led to swift reactions against UVA’s Greek life. However, subsequent investigations revealed significant factual inaccuracies and contradictions in the accuser’s claims. Rolling Stone ultimately retracted the article and faced multiple defamation lawsuits. This case powerfully shows how a single, unverified account—when taken at face value—can spark widespread outrage and cause real damage before the full truth comes to light.
6. Listen to people, because that may provide opportunities for them to listen to you too.
   1. James 1:19 – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

Point 2: Right Reasons, Right Motivation

1. Mephibosheth had the right perspective which gave me tremendous love for David. That love gave him the right reasons for following David. This situation could have been better at listening to both sides.
2. ILLUSTRATION: President Lincoln had an early political rival named Edwin Stanton. He called Lincoln the original gorilla. When Lincoln was elected President he chose Stanton to be his secretary of war because he believed he was the best man for the job. At Lincoln’s funeral Stanton said, “There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen.” President Lincoln had learned not to take insults personally.
3. Barzillai was a man of great resources – and he wisely used those resources to support the servant of God and the cause of God. In Luke 12:21, Jesus spoke of the foolish man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Barzillai was wise enough to use his resources to lay up treasure in heaven and he wasrich toward God.
   1. Barzillai did not do this for the sake of reward. He gave out of a right heart, not from the motive of self-exaltation.
   2. We too need to give for the right reasons. Not about sowing the seeds so WE can reap the harvest, but sowing seeds so that there CAN be a harvest.
4. It is generally understood that this was Barzillai’s son; and this is probable from 1 Kings 2:7, where, when David was dying, he said, Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai.

Point 3: Right Reasons, Right Motivation

1. When we begin to think we’re owed something by God because of the righteous things we’ve done, we lose proper perspective on God’s rich mercy.
   1. The members of Judah and Israel that did abandon David during the rebellion are now claiming who has more right to the King.
   2. Titus 3:5 – “He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
2. Israel and Judah were fighting over who was more loyal to David and who should get to honor him.
   1. What do you think David actually wants? Obedience that doesn’t result in rebellion to begin with!
      1. Isaiah 1:11-20
   2. ILLUSTRATION: There was a king who had suffered much from his rebellious subjects. But one day they surrendered their arms, threw themselves at his feet, and begged for mercy. He pardoned them all. One of his friends said to him, “Did you not say that every rebel should die?” “Yes,” replied the king, “but I see no rebels here.”
3. The ten northern tribes felt unappreciated by the tribe of Judah. This competitive attitude between Judah and the ten northern tribes set the stage for civil war in David’s day and the eventual division of the nation into two.