Mercy and Grace

2 Samuel 19:18-30
    18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
    21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?”  22 And David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
    24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
    26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28 For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ” 30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

David demonstrated mercy on the one who cursed him when he was forced to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:5-8), for he could easily have had him severely punished or even put to death as king.  He instead trusted the LORD and showed Shimei the mercy God and shown him.  He also continued to show grace to Saul’s descendant and his best friend Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who was lame.  David wondered why he had did not left the city with him, but learned that Mephibosheth was deceived and therefore unable to go.  Nonetheless, he remained loyal and threw himself on the mercy of the king.  David demonstrated grace and forgave all as if nothing ever happened.  We see shadows of the Anointed Messiah, the Christ who is king over all, in David’s actions, but also the human side of humility and failure which we share with him.  He demonstrated mercy and grace in forgiveness of sin and unconditional acceptance as our Lord does with us in much more complete and eternal ways.  Let us then follow David’s example and Christ’s in forgiveness and grace (Luke 6:37) towards our enemies.