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Eric Van Beek

For Jonathan's Sake

2 Samuel 9
Eric Van Beek • June, 14 2026 • Video & Audio
68 Sermons
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Eric Van Beek
Eric Van Beek • June, 14 2026
68 sermons
The sermon centers on David's gracious restoration of Mephibosheth, Saul's crippled grandson, not out of merit but solely for Jonathan's sake, illustrating God's unmerited favor toward sinners. Through the lens of David's 15-year suffering and faithful waiting, the narrative reveals that true grace is not earned, but pursued—mirroring how God seeks and saves sinners not for their worth, but for the sake of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. The story underscores that salvation rests entirely on Christ's righteousness, not human effort or morality, and that believers, like Mephibosheth, are welcomed to God's table not by their own merit, but by the covenantal love of the King's son. This divine initiative—where the king seeks the outcast, restores the broken, and grants inheritance—points to the gospel's core truth: redemption is rooted in Christ's person and work, not in human performance. The sermon concludes with a profound call to rest in the eternal security of salvation, which depends not on shifting human conditions, but on the unchanging, perfect love of God for His Son.

In Eric Van Beek's sermon "For Jonathan's Sake," the primary theological topic addressed is the concept of grace as illustrated through the account of David’s restoration of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. The sermon argues that Mephibosheth's acceptance into David's household reflects God's unmerited favor towards sinners, emphasizing that this grace is rooted in covenantal love rather than human merit. Key Scripture references include 2 Samuel 9, which demonstrates David's gracious act of restoring Mephibosheth due to his covenant with Jonathan, paralleling how God, out of love for Christ, seeks to save the broken and offer them inheritance in His kingdom. The significance of this sermon lies in its assertion that salvation is grounded solely in Christ's righteousness, reinforcing key Reformed doctrines such as total depravity and divine grace, and encouraging believers to find security and assurance in God's unchanging love.

Key Quotes

“True grace is not earned, but pursued—mirroring how God seeks and saves sinners not for their worth.”

“Salvation rests entirely on Christ's righteousness, not human effort or morality.”

“Believers are welcomed to God's table not by their own merit, but by the covenantal love of the King's son.”

“Redemption is rooted in Christ's person and work, not in human performance.”

What does the Bible say about God's grace?

The Bible portrays God's grace as unmerited favor bestowed upon sinners, illustrated through David's kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake.

God's grace is a central theme throughout Scripture, representing His unmerited favor extended to humanity despite their sinful condition. This is beautifully illustrated in 2 Samuel 9, where King David seeks out Mephibosheth, the grandson of his enemy Saul, to show him kindness for the sake of his beloved friend Jonathan. This act of grace is not based on Mephibosheth's worthiness or actions, but solely on Jonathan's relationship with David, symbolizing how God's grace is bestowed upon us for the sake of Christ. Our acceptance is not based on our righteousness but on the righteousness of Jesus, who intercedes for us. Just as David pursued Mephibosheth, God pursues us with grace, seeking to restore and redeem.

2 Samuel 9

How do we know God's forgiveness is real?

God's forgiveness is evidenced through His grace which is extended for Christ's sake, not based on our own merit.

The reality of God's forgiveness is grounded in the character of God and the work of Christ. In the story of Mephibosheth, we see that David's act of grace is not due to Mephibosheth's actions or status but is entirely predicated on his connection to Jonathan, whom David loved. Similarly, God's forgiveness is not based on our goodness but is granted for the sake of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. Scripture reinforces this theme, indicating that our acceptance before God hinges solely on the merit of Christ's sacrifice. Romans 5:8 states that God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, emphasizing that our worthiness comes from Christ and not from ourselves.

Romans 5:8, 2 Samuel 9

Why is reconciliation with God important for Christians?

Reconciliation restores our relationship with God, allowing us to live in harmony with Him and receive His blessings.

Reconciliation with God is of paramount importance for Christians because it restores what was lost due to sin. The story of David and Mephibosheth represents this divine reconciliation, as David welcomed Mephibosheth, who was once an enemy due to his lineage, to his table as a son. Through Christ's sacrifice, we are reconciled to God, allowing us to be partakers of His grace and goodness. This reconciliation fulfills our primary purpose, which is to live in fellowship with our Creator. Ephesians 1:7 affirms that in Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Thus, this reconciliation opens channels for believers to receive blessings, direction, and a true sense of belonging within God's family.

Ephesians 1:7, 2 Samuel 9

How does God's grace relate to salvation?

God's grace is the means by which we are saved, as it grants us undeserved favor and access to eternal life through faith in Christ.

The relationship between God's grace and salvation is foundational to Christian theology. According to Ephesians 2:8-9, it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. This means that our salvation is not earned but is a free gift that God freely gives to those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. In the narrative of Mephibosheth, we see grace extended despite his unworthiness, and this is a direct parallel to how God offers salvation to sinners. We are, like Mephibosheth, incapable of earning our place at the King's table due to our spiritual condition, yet through the sacrificial love of Christ, we can come boldly and claim our inheritance as God's children. Therefore, God's grace is not just an abstract concept; it is the very essence of how we come to salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Samuel 9

Why should Christians show grace to others?

Christians should show grace to others as an extension of the grace they have received from God through Christ.

The principle of showing grace to others as Christians stems from our understanding and experience of God's grace in our own lives. In the story of Mephibosheth, David exemplifies the kind of grace that Christians are called to extend—kindness to those who may not deserve it. This act is a reflection of the grace we have received from God. As Colossians 3:13 instructs, we are to forgive one another as the Lord forgave us. The grace we have experienced should compel us to treat others with the same love and mercy, regardless of their past or present actions. By demonstrating grace, we not only honor God but also embody the transformative impact of the gospel in our relationships. Our lives testify to the truth of God's grace when we live as gracious individuals, extending mercy and kindness to others as God has done for us.

Colossians 3:13, 2 Samuel 9

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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to 2 Samuel. And we will read chapter 9. Without realizing it or trying, I'm kind of on a David kick. And it's been great. I absolutely have enjoyed it so much and grateful for it. David is so often such a wonderful picture of our Lord. And other times, he's a great picture sinners who need salvation, chosen but yet sinful. Today we're gonna read about his, the event where he had an interaction with Mephibosheth, who's actually Saul's grandson, or Jonathan's son. And the title of today's scripture is called For Jonathan's Sake. So let's read chapter nine in 2 Samuel.

David asked, is there anyone still left in the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake? Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, are you Ziba, your servant, he replied. The king asked, is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness? Ziba answered the king, there is still the son of Jonathan, a son of Jonathan. He is crippled in both feet. Where is he, King David asked. Ziba answered, he is at the house of Mechir, son of Amiel in Lodabar. So King David had him brought from Lodabar, from the house of Mechir, son of Amiel.

When Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, Mephibosheth, your servant, he replied, don't be afraid. David said to him, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan.

I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather, Saul, and you will always eat at my table. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, what is your servant that you should notice a dead dog like me? Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring him the crops so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will also eat at my table. Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Ziba said to the king, your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do. So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Micah and all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king's table and he was crippled in both feet.

So this is an unusual scene for a lot of reasons, and we're gonna kinda step back in history a little bit to understand that. At this point, David is firmly king of Israel, and it's relatively new. His kingdom is secure. The battles have largely subdued at this point. And David asks a surprising question.

Is there anyone left of the family of Saul to whom I can show mercy or grace for Jonathan's sake? And the answer comes back, there is this one named Mephibosheth, Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan, the grandson of Saul. David sends for him, the king's servants find him, they bring him in, Mephibosheth, that's gonna get me all day. Mephibosheth arrives And he bows immediately.

Now if you think about worldly perspective here, he is the last and final remaining family member of Saul, the man who had been hunting and trying to kill David for the last 15 years. And you just got called by David. I imagine he's pretty scared. I would be terrified.

Anybody, I mean, throughout history, when you win a battle against a family, you wipe that family out. That's throughout the Bible, that's throughout world history. So when you finally take the throne away from someone who has been your enemy for so long, and you call for their last remaining family member, everyone assumes they know why. you're gonna wipe him out. And I'm assuming Mephibosheth probably felt the same way, which is why they say he shows up and immediately he bows.

So I would imagine trembling, expecting judgment, and instead David immediately says, do not be afraid. I am not here to hurt you, I'm not here to judge you, I'm here to restore you. And at first glance, this is a beautiful story, right? From a worldly perspective, it's forgiveness, it's how we should treat people. But we see the truth behind this story, just as we see the truth behind every event in the entire word of God. This shows us the grace and mercy shown to God's people, completely undeserved, but shown with effort, fervency, he went and found Mephibosheth.

So the question is why? Why would David, who has made many mistakes throughout his life, some really big ones, after finally ascending to the throne, Why would one of the first things he does is say, where's the last remaining family member of Saul so I can show him grace? To understand this in chapter nine, we need to understand the previous 15 years of David's life. So Mephibosheth did not simply come from Jonathan's house, he came from Saul's house, and Saul, had made David's life miserable. It wasn't your typical disagreement. It wasn't your typical this country versus this country.

It was this man hunting one man for the last 15 years. David lived in caves for years. He lived in the wilderness. He was a fugitive. that everyone was looking for him for years in the country that he had been anointed king of. 15 years. When David was anointed, he was a teenager. When Samuel poured the oil on his head and anointed him king of Israel, he was a teenager. This is 15 years later. He's around 30 years old when he's made king.

That span of time was a miserable time for David. 15 years between the promise and the fulfillment, between the anointing and the throne, and those were not, like I said, comfortable years. They were years of despair. He doesn't have the scriptures like we can look to. He was in years of despair and uncertainty and questions, what is happening here? Am I not the anointed? Years of waiting, years of suffering.

After David had defeated Goliath, which we talked about last week, it looks as though God's promise is probably going to come to fruition pretty quickly. He was the shepherd, very unknown, very unassuming. All of a sudden, he's the giant slayer. All of a sudden, they're singing songs about David overnight. It talks in the scriptures about how the women are singing songs that Saul kills his thousands and David his tens of thousands. So you think on a human perspective, oh, the ascension has begun, right? That's not at all the case.

Saul heard those same songs and Saul became incredibly jealous and very angry. And he hated David. And Saul was still king. The king, who should have embraced David, instead tries to kill him multiple times. He threw spears at him multiple times, personally. He chased him across the wilderness. He sent his armies after him.

And David, like I said earlier, becomes a fugitive, a wanted man. in the country that he had been anointed king of. The anointed king of Israel spends years hiding in the caves of Israel, sleeping in the wilderness, running nonstop, never home. There is no home. He was constantly running. never knowing when Saul or Saul's army or some of Saul's men were around the next corner for years. It would be a terrifying way to live and an awful way to live.

Matter of fact, during these years is when David wrote some of the most desperate Psalms that we are familiar with. Psalm 13, one and two, it says, how long, Lord, will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow on my heart?

I mean, that's heavy. You can hear the exhaustion, day after day, having sorrow on my heart. The anointed King of Israel. The waiting. Can you hear, you hear a man who trusts in God's promise, but has no idea how it's being carried out. Which is a familiar place for all of us. Just a much more extreme place for David. A man who trusts God but simply doesn't understand his plan.

Psalm 142, this is written while he was in a cave. It says, look and see, there is no one at my right hand. No one is concerned with me. I have no refuge, no one cares for my life. The chosen one of God. The anointed king feeling abandoned and completely alone. No one cares for my life.

This is what he went through. We go through these things so quickly sometimes that we stop, we don't slow down to realize these events are real. I mean, we talk about David's life as in shepherd, Goliath, wilderness, king. Didn't happen that quickly. And there's a human perspective to all of this because they are humans.

Psalm 56, it says, when I'm afraid, I put my trust in you. Not if. David knew fear probably better than any of us. Can you imagine living every day for 10 years wondering if today is the day you'll be murdered? A real chance that could happen. None of us live that way. David did. So when he says, when I'm afraid, David had real fear. David knew anxiety, David knew uncertainty. For 15 years, David lived between the promise and the fulfillment, with no idea when that fulfillment was coming. Between God's word and then trusting God's timing.

And then eventually, Saul dies. He dies in battle. And the man who hunted David for all these years, who was obsessed with David, is gone. Surely now David finally becomes the king, right? Receives the throne immediately, because that's got to be God's plan. That's not the case either. David is crowned king in Hebron, but only over the tribe of Judah.

Meanwhile, Saul's son Ish-bosheth is established as king over much of the rest of Israel. And this remains divided for a long time. There's a long struggle between the two. Years pass. Battles are fought. And that whole time, David continues to wait upon the Lord. The Lord has made a promise. David believes that promise. He doesn't understand the path to get there, but he trusts in the word of God.

So while David continues to wait, what is remarkable is David never forces the issue. He never gathers an army and declares himself king over Israel. He didn't show up to Saul the first time after being anointed and saying, I've been anointed king. You are no longer king. He never did anything like that.

God was going to bring him to the throne, and he knew that. Instead, he continues to trust that if God promised the throne, God would provide the throne. And eventually, God does exactly that. Ish-bosheth dies as well. The resistance collapse and the elders of Israel come to David and ask him to be king. And at last, after 15 years roughly, after Samuel poured oil upon his head, David is finally crowned king of Israel. The shepherd has become the king. The fugitive has now become the ruler. The caves are behind him. The promise has been fulfilled. Now what kind of king will 15 years of suffering produce?

Will it produce bitterness, vengeance, anger, score settling? And the question is answered in the very first sentence of chapter nine, is there anyone still left in the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake? and suddenly the grace of David becomes far more remarkable because it is not pointless grace. It is not grace out of a place of ignorance. It is him showing mercy to someone connected to the very house that hunted him. the very house that caused him years of pain, and that is where the story, the event, once again points to our Lord and Savior. David finally has power. Those 15 years of suffering have ended. The caves are gone. The running is over. The waiting is over.

The throne is secure, and what does he do with that power? He shows mercy. He seeks out someone from the very family connected to his suffering, and where the world would assume he was about to destroy, he instead restores. He doesn't condemn, he blesses. He doesn't seek revenge, he gives reconciliation. Because grace is unmerited favor. Justice is getting what you deserve.

And at this point we should understand the weight of this. because this is exactly what God has done for us. The Bible says we are not merely strangers. Just like Mephibosheth, we are members of the wrong household. We are of Adam. We are enemies. We are rebels. We rebel against the things of God. We belong to the wrong kingdom, the house of Adam, yet God does not respond as we deserve. Instead, he pursues us with grace.

And notice that, the pursuing. Mephibosheth doesn't go looking for David. I'm guessing Mephibosheth was very much hoping David never noticed him. He understood his place. I'm connected to the family that is going to be under judgment. Please don't notice that I'm over here in this town. He's not going to, David. David seeks Mephibosheth. The king asks, where is he?

The king sends, the king finds, the king brings. The entire story moves because the king is the one doing the work. And that is exactly how salvation works. God is always the mover. The shepherd seeks the sheep. The father runs to the prodigal son. The savior comes to seek and save the lost. The grace of God is not offered, it is pursued.

So now we arrive at this question. And it's a question we often arrive at when we go through the scriptures. Why? Why does David do any of this? The answer has been sitting right there in verse one of chapter nine the entire time, the first line that we read. Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake? Everything hinges on those words, for Jonathan's sake.

David is not blessing Mephibosheth because of Mephibosheth. David doesn't know Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was probably a very fervent Saul supporter. Because Jonathan was beloved, so is Mephibosheth. because Jonathan was the king's friend, because Jonathan had a covenant with David, because David loved Jonathan. That grace flows to Mephibosheth because of his relationship to the son of the king.

For Jonathan's sake, those words point us to Christ. Why does God forgive any sinners? It's a very simple question. And there's only one answer. It has nothing to do with them. This world, even my natural instinct is to think, like, why does God forgive any sinners? Well, maybe they're not so bad. Maybe they've got some goodness in their heart. That is not the answer. The only reason God forgives any sinners is for the sake of His Son.

Why does God adopt rebels? Why does God welcome rebels to His table? Why does He give an inheritance to who are, by definition, the enemy of God? Why does He prepare a place for these people that will be theirs and theirs alone for eternity, solely for the sake of the King's Son, Jesus Christ?

We are not accepted because of our performance. We are not accepted because of who we are. Who we are would only prove to send us away. We are accepted because of who the son is. We are not welcomed because of our worthiness. We, like Mephibosheth, are worthy only of condemnation. We are members of the wrong house. We are of Adam's race, the sinful race, the cursed race.

We deserve judgment from the King, just as Mephibosheth did. But instead, for the sake of the Son, we are sought and found and given a place at his table. And it says, a place at the table like one of the king's sons. Grace is beyond worldly description in the fact that it takes the enemy rebel of God and not only forgives them, but makes them one of his children. through the work and blood of Christ for the sake of Jesus Christ. Because of the beloved, we are given a spot at the table, just as Mephibosheth's entire standing before David completely rested on Jonathan.

It's actually interesting, David, before even knowing who we're talking about, said, who can I show grace to for Jonathan's sake? That's how much it had to do with Mephibosheth. He didn't even know who it was yet. Who can I show this mercy to and this grace to that is deserved by Jonathan?

Our entire standing before God Just as Mephibosheth's standing rests on Jonathan, our standing rests completely on Jesus Christ. Imagine Mephibosheth standing before David. What can he point to? Which is why he drops to his knees immediately. Can he point to his righteousness? Can he point to his usefulness? He's a cripple. There's symbolism there too. He has no usefulness. He's crippled in both of his feet, especially back in those days. You can do nothing. You have nothing to offer. And when it comes to our salvation and our place at the table of God, we are crippled, useless, nothing to offer.

But for Jonathan's sake, for Christ's sake, we are given a place that has been earned and freely given to the people of God. His only claim was Jonathan and that is enough. Not only is it enough, it's the only answer. If Mephibosheth tried to argue his right to be there according to his life or his family or his accomplishments, he would only give David reason to change his mind.

So what is your claim before God? Church attendance, good works, your morality, the goodness in your heart, your service, your giving, your only claim is Christ. Claiming anything else will only give reason to doubt. Your only hope is Christ. Your only righteousness is Christ's. Your only acceptance in the presence of God the judge is Christ's acceptance.

David is a beautiful picture, but Jesus is the greater David. David suffered before receiving his kingdom. Jesus suffered before entering his glory. David was rejected by Saul. Christ was rejected by the world. David waited for God's timing and Christ submitted perfectly to his Father's will. David ascended a throne, Christ ascended the throne. And from that throne, both kings extend grace. David sought one man, Jesus seeks his multitudes. David restored an inheritance, Christ restores an eternal inheritance. David welcomed a man to his table. Christ welcomes sinners to his family forever.

David acted for Jonathan's sake and God saves sinners for Christ's sake. So the wonder of this story is not that Mephibosheth found the king, the wonder is that the king found Mephibosheth. And the wonder is that not merely that the king found him, the wonder is why. And it says it right there in the first line, for Jonathan's sake. The gospel declares the exact same truth. God sought us. God will find and call every one of his people. God will save every one of his people. God will adopt every one of his people and give every one of them a seat at his table as sons and daughters.

Not for our sake, not because we deserve it, but for the sake of his beloved son. And once you've been shown the truth, you would have it no other way. That tells me that if it's done for the sake of his beloved son, that the surety of my salvation rests on his beloved son, who never changes, who never fails, who never moves I don't want my salvation hinging on anything else. I want no part of it. If I have any part of it, it will fail.

Gratitude. for the perfect plan of salvation that God has put in place, that only the salvation of his people rests only on his beloved son. It makes it perfect and it makes it victorious every time. And because of that, every believer can come boldly before the king and know they are welcomed, accepted, and loved. The king asks, where is he, where is she? And by sovereign grace, he seeks, finds, and gathers, and brings his people home.

Not because of who they are, but for the sake of his son. Our father, we thank you so much for your son. We thank you for the love you have for him, the earned love, the justified love. The only truly justified love you can show is for your son, and that love is also for us. That you have given us such a gift, such a blessing, And we are so grateful, Lord, that through your Son, and for his sake, we are saved. We thank you for this, and we pray all these things in Jesus' name, amen. Take out your hymnals once again, and we'll turn them this time to number 698. Only a sinner, and we'll stand as we sing, 698.
Broadcaster:
Grace Community Church
Theology:
#Grace #Soteriology #Predestination
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Same Scripture

Sermons on 2 Samuel 9

Mephibosheth Spared Don Fortner · 2 Samuel 21:7
Is There An Object of Mercy? Frank Tate · 2 Samuel 9
Mercy For The Sake Of Another Marvin Stalnaker · 2 Samuel 9
As for Mephibosheth Clifford Parsons · 2 Samuel 9:11-13
David's Kindness to Mephibosheth Jim Byrd · 2 Samuel 9

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Mephibosheth Spared Don Fortner · Mar 15, 2020 · 2 Samuel 21:7
Is There An Object of Mercy? Frank Tate · Jul 23, 2023 · 2 Samuel 9
Mercy For The Sake Of Another Marvin Stalnaker · Dec 19, 2021 · 2 Samuel 9
As for Mephibosheth Clifford Parsons · May 23, 2021 · 2 Samuel 9:11-13
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