Genealogy – Chapter 8
Today we
arrive at the genealogy of Saul. Now we
begin to focus in on the more important work of the chronicler. We have come through the ancient history and
have had an accounting of all of the tribes.
In order to focus on David, some time must be spent speaking about his
kingly predecessor, Saul.
There isn’t
much that I personally have to say about this genealogy except with respect to
those who come after Saul. Of course, we
hear about Saul and his son Jonathon.
Then we hear about Jonathon’s son Meribbaal (Also known as
Mephibosheth). You can read more about
Mephibosheth’s story in 2 Samuel 4:4, 9:1-13, 16:1-4, 19:16-30, and
21:1-9. In short, Mephibosheth was the
crippled son of David’s best friend and the grandson of one of David’s greatest
rivals.
What we
can see through this genealogy is that God continues to be gracious to the
lineage of Saul in spite of Saul’s behavior in opposition to David becoming
king. God could have smote Saul’s line
from the earth. Had David not had
compassion upon Mephibosheth, that may have been the likely result. But as we can see, Mephibosheth (Meribbaal)
fathers Micah and Micah begins a new and prosperous branch of the family tree.
God is
indeed merciful. God remembers and
punishes sin for such a short time compared to the amount of time that He
grants prosperity. God is harsh when
angry – although when harsh it is certainly justified! But even when God has right to be angry He
often chooses mercy instead. God is
always looking towards the future and desiring the best for us – even when we
get in the way of what He would like to do among us. The fact that Saul’s line is remembered even
after the greatness of David and after the exile is a testimony to the mercy of
God.
What has
God done for you and your family when He could have instead been harsh in
judgment? Do any of us not feel the
effects of God’s mercy when we deserved condemnation?
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