Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of II Samuel Chapter 9
Metaphysically Interpreting II Samuel 9:1-13
9:1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 9:2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. 9:3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame of his feet. 9:4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. 9:5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 9:6And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, thy servant! 9:7And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 9:8And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9:9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master's son. 9:10And thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 9:11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 9:12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 9:13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet.
August 2, 1896: II Sam. 9:1-13
1. On account of the affinity and covenant between David and Jonathan (I Sam. 20) David (Love) desires to find the good element that may remain from that old consciousness, that he may honor and sustain it, for the sake of his oath to Jonathan. Love forever finds and sustains the Good; only the false perishes.
2-3. But whatever of good that may remain “of the house of Saul” must be derived from the obedient Saul consciousness -- must be a son of Jonathan. “Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.” Notwithstanding Jonathan's fatherhood was Saul obedient, yet, because he remained loyal to Saul, [he was] disobedient, even unto death; the thought derived from that unholy relationship is “lame on his feet.” “Feet” denote the understanding. “Son of man, stand on thy feet, and I will speak unto thee” – Exod. 2:1.
He stands on his feet who is in good understanding in spiritual thought. To such, Spirit can “speak” with unmistakable inspiration, but not to him who is “lame on his feet.” “Mephibosheth” stands for those who are lame on their feet through an experience in the Saul consciousness, and who therefore accept the statements and creed of others secondhand, having no inspirational thought themselves.
4-6. Love finds such “in the house of Machir (sold into bondage) of Lodebar” (no pasture) and “sends and fetches him out” of that condition of bondage and starvation.
7. Every Mephiboseth, in sense bondage and spiritual starvation, may by the power and authority of Love, be restored to the good and sufficient estate of abundance of Good, theirs by the right of inheritance, understood by love.
8. “Lameness” in spiritual understanding is indicated by his misuse of “I Am” as “I am a dead dog.”
9-12. Love bestows with authority, and commands men to be our “servants”, who bring us the “fruits” of the land, because love has redeemed us “out of the house of Machir” and makes us “as one of the king's sons.”
13. Though “lame on both his feet” in Spiritual understanding, still every Mephiboseth is capable of feasting at the King's table continually on the all-satisfying bounty of Good provided by Love.
– UNITY magazine
August 8, 1920: II Sam. 9:1-13
What was the unbreakable tie between David (Love) and the descendants of Saul (the undisciplined will)? The tie which held fast was the true and lasting friendship which existed between David and Saul's son Jonathan, who symbolizes faith, meaning “the gift of God”.
What is the meaning of “Ziba,” servant of Saul? The meaning of “Ziba” is “statue,” or that which presents only a remembrance of former experiences after the personal will has yielded to the Divine Will.
Define the name “Mephibosheth.” “Mephibosheth” mans “Idol breaker.” He represents that faculty of mind, which, though without the full understanding of the spiritual law, symbolized by his crippled feet, (feet stand for understanding), has caught a glimpse of the Divine Pattern in the spiritual heavens of man's mind, and therefore endeavors to erase from the consciousness all limited images of mortal making.
In truth, what invisible spiritual power brought Mephibosheth into the house of David, where, henceforth, he was to eat bread at the king's table? David (Love) sees perfection everywhere, and draws to himself those forces of like character. Mephibosheth (Idol Breaker) erases false images which have been formed in the mind by false thinking, and thus opens the way for the perfect to manifest. Therefore, Mepfiibosheth is a servant of David (Love), and is worthy to eat at his table.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-08-2013
