Loyal love, what is it? How would you define it?
We've often heard the definition that loyal love (loving-kindness or chesed in Hebrew) is "kindness that lovingly attaches itself to an object and does not let go until its purpose in connection with that object is realized."
Continuing in the same vein, Insight on the Scriptures (Vol. 2:153-156) provides this definition:
"It is an act that preserves or promotes life. It is intervention on behalf of someone suffering misfortune or distress. It is demonstration of friendship or piety."
Therefore, loyal love is more than a feeeling: it's shown by the way that we act.
Therefore, loyal love is more than a feeeling: it's shown by the way that we act.
David showed loyal love to Mephibosheth and now we'll consider 3 aspects of this loyal love.
1) Read 2 Samuel 9:1
1) Read 2 Samuel 9:1
David actively searched for someone to whom he could display loyal love, especially someone from the house of Saul. After all, he had once written in Psalm 41: "Happy is anyone who shows consideration to the lowly one"
While thinking of David's example, we might ask, Do we look for opportunities to help lowly ones? Whether with our time, energy or assets? We need to be proactive in this regard, not passive.
2) David acted immediately to help Mephibosheth, the disabled son of Jonathan. Read 2 Samuel 9:5-7. David promised Jonathan that he would always act with loyal love toward his household. Here we see how he kept that promise to his dear friend Jonathan. Notice too that David did not hesitate; he quickly rendered assistance to Mephibosheth.
3) David assigned Ziba to care for the inheritance of Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:9-10). His actions likely mitigated the pain of Mephibosheth's disability. Today many of our friends are contending with a figurative thorn in the flesh: it could be a disability, the loss of a loved one, financial challenges or severe depression. Are we doing our best to mitigate their pain as they endure various trials?
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2) David acted immediately to help Mephibosheth, the disabled son of Jonathan. Read 2 Samuel 9:5-7. David promised Jonathan that he would always act with loyal love toward his household. Here we see how he kept that promise to his dear friend Jonathan. Notice too that David did not hesitate; he quickly rendered assistance to Mephibosheth.
3) David assigned Ziba to care for the inheritance of Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:9-10). His actions likely mitigated the pain of Mephibosheth's disability. Today many of our friends are contending with a figurative thorn in the flesh: it could be a disability, the loss of a loved one, financial challenges or severe depression. Are we doing our best to mitigate their pain as they endure various trials?
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Whatever our friends are enduring, they will benefit immensely if we show them loyal love. May we render practical assistance by giving our time, energy, and assets to help lowly ones in our midst. Lending to the lowly one is like lending to Jehovah: he will repay your kind and tender acts of loyal love (Proverbs 19:17).
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