Set apart

by Rebekah Johnson

"But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the LORD that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul." 2 Samuel 21:7

Because of the "oath" - the covenant made before God between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18) - Mephibosheth was set apart, protected and loved by David. Nothing Mephibosheth had done merited this distinction. The "solemn, binding agreement" between David and Jonathan to look out for their respective households and descendants preempted everything else.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.   - 1 Samuel 18:3-4

"A covenant is a solemn, binding, agreement between two parties - one that usually carries with it not only certain blessings, but also responsibilities. Covenant carries with it a sense of connectedness - of two becoming one...When Jonathan gave David his robe, armour, sword, bow, and belt...he had to be making a symbolic gesture."

- taken from Covenant: God's Enduring Promise by Kay Arthur

Just as Mephibosheth was set apart and protected by the house of King David, so are we, the children of God, set apart and protected by our King. We are entitled to all that the Kingdom of God has to offer. We have been joined together in covenant with Christ because of His work on the cross. "For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." - Matthew 26:28