撒 母 耳 記 下 9  1 大 衛 問 說 ： 掃 羅 家 還 有 剩 下 的 人 沒 有 ？ 我 要 因 約 拿 單 的 緣 故 向 他 施 恩 。  2 掃 羅 家 有 一 個 僕 人 ， 名 叫 洗 巴 ， 有 人 叫 他 來 見 大 衛 ， 王 問 他 說 ： 你 是 洗 巴 麼 。 回 答 說 ： 僕 人 是 。  1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?  2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

4 王 說 ： 他 在 哪 裡 ？ 洗 巴 對 王 說 ： 他 在 羅 底 巴 ， 亞 米 利 的 兒 子 瑪 吉 家 裡 。 3 王 說 ： 掃 羅 家 還 有 人 沒 有 ？ 我 要 照 　 神 的 慈 愛 恩 待 他 。 洗 巴 對 王 說 ： 還 有 約 拿 單 的 一 個 兒 子 ， 是 瘸 腿 的 。  4 王 說 ： 他 在 哪 裡 ？ 洗 巴 對 王 說 ： 他 在 羅 底 巴 ， 亞 米 利 的 兒 子 瑪 吉 家 裡 。 3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.  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 Lodebar.

5 於 是 大 衛 王 打 發 人 去 ， 從 羅 底 巴 亞 米 利 的 兒 子 瑪 吉 家 裡 召 了 他 來 。  6 掃 羅 的 孫 子 、 約 拿 單 的 兒 子 米 非 波 設 來 見 大 衛 ， 伏 地 叩 拜 。 大 衛 說 ： 米 非 波 設 ！ 米 非 波 設 說 ： 僕 人 在 此 。 5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.  6Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

8 米 非 波 設 又 叩 拜 ， 說 ： 僕 人 算 甚 麼 ， 不 過 如 死 狗 一 般 ， 竟 蒙 王 這 樣 眷 顧 ！  7 大 衛 說 ： 你 不 要 懼 怕 ， 我 必 因 你 父 親 約 拿 單 的 緣 故 施 恩 與 你 ， 將 你 祖 父 掃 羅 的 一 切 田 地 都 歸 還 你 ； 你 也 可 以 常 與 我 同 席 吃 飯 。  8 米 非 波 設 又 叩 拜 ， 說 ： 僕 人 算 甚 麼 ， 不 過 如 死 狗 一 般 ， 竟 蒙 王 這 樣 眷 顧 ！ 7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew 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.  8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

 9 王 召 了 掃 羅 的 僕 人 洗 巴 來 ， 對 他 說 ： 我 已 將 屬 掃 羅 和 他 的 一 切 家 產 都 賜 給 你 主 人 的 兒 子 了 。  10 你 和 你 的 眾 子 、 僕 人 要 為 你 主 人 的 兒 子 米 非 波 設 耕 種 田 地 ， 把 所 產 的 拿 來 供 他 食 用 ； 他 卻 要 常 與 我 同 席 吃 飯 。 洗 巴 有 十 五 個 兒 子 ， 二 十 個 僕 人 。 9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.  10Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 洗 巴 對 王 說 ： 凡 我 主 我 王 吩 咐 僕 人 的 ， 僕 人 都 必 遵 行 。 王 又 說 ： 米 非 波 設 必 與 我 同 席 吃 飯 ， 如 王 的 兒 子 一 樣 。  12 米 非 波 設 有 一 個 小 兒 子 ， 名 叫 米 迦 。 凡 住 在 洗 巴 家 裡 的 人 都 作 了 米 非 波 設 的 僕 人 。 11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded 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.  12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13 於 是 米 非 波 設 住 在 耶 路 撒 冷 ， 常 與 王 同 席 吃 飯 。 他 兩 腿 都 是 瘸 的 。  13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

The Beauty Of Kindness 恩慈之美 May 16th, 2010 Dr. Hamilton

Some quotes about kindness: 1. Mark Twain, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” 2. Samuel Johnson, “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” 3. Ashleigh Brilliant, “Be kind to unkind people. They need it the most.” 4. Mother Teresa, “Spread love everywhere you go; Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” 5. Abraham Joshua Heschel, “When I was young I admired people who were clever. Now that I am old, I admire people who are kind.”

Some Bible verses about kindness: Galatians 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, ” 加 拉 太 書 5:22 聖靈所結的果子、就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、 5:23溫柔、節制．這樣的事、沒有律法禁止。 2. Ephesians 4:32, “Be KIND and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.” 以 弗 所 書 4:32並要以恩慈相待、存憐憫的心、彼此饒恕、正如　神在基督裏饒恕了你們一樣。

3. Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen 3. Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people…clothe yourselves with compassion, KINDNESS, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ” 歌 羅 西 書3:12所以你們既是　神的選民、聖潔蒙愛的人、 就要存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心。 1 Thessalonians 5:15, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be KIND to each other and to everyone else.” 帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 5:15你們要謹慎、無論是誰都不可以惡報惡．或是彼此相待、或是待眾人、常要追求良善。 5. 2 Timothy 2:24, “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be KIND to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” 提 摩 太 後 書2:24然而主的僕人不可爭競、只要溫溫和和的待眾人、善於教導、存心忍耐、

. Some Bible verses that talk about SHOWING kindness: Genesis 19:19, Lot to the men who saved him from Sodom, “Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have SHOWN great kindness to me in sparing my life.” 創 世 紀19:19你僕人已經在你眼前蒙恩、你又向我顯出莫大的慈愛、救我的性命、我不能逃到山上去、恐怕這災禍臨到我、我便死了。 Genesis 24:12, Abraham’s servant, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, give me success today and SHOW kindness to my master Abraham.” 創 世 紀24:12他說、耶和華我主人亞伯拉罕的　神阿、求你施恩給我主人亞伯拉罕、使我今日遇見好機會。

Genesis 39:21, “the LORD was with him (Joseph); he SHOWED him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” 39:21但耶和華與約瑟同在、向他施恩、使他在司獄的眼前蒙恩。 Genesis 47:29, Jacob to his son Joseph, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will SHOW me faithfulness and kindness.” 47:29以色列的死期臨近了、他就叫了他兒子約瑟來、說、我若在你眼前蒙恩、請你把手放在我大腿底下、用慈愛和誠實待我、請你不要將我葬在埃及．

5. Joshua 2:12, Rahab to the two Hebrew spies, “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will SHOW kindness to my family, because I have SHOWN kindness to you.” 2:12現在我既是恩待你們、求你們指著耶和華向我起誓、也要恩待我父家、並給我一個實在的證據、 Ruth 1:8, Naomi to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD SHOW kindness to you, as you have SHOWN to your dead and to me.” 1:8拿俄米對兩個兒婦說、你們各人回娘家去吧、願耶和華恩待你們、像你們恩待已死的人與我一樣．

Ruth 2:20, Naomi to Ruth, “ The LORD bless him (Boaz) Ruth 2:20, Naomi to Ruth, “ The LORD bless him (Boaz). He has not stopped SHOWING his kindness to the living and the dead.” 2:20拿俄米對兒婦說、願那人蒙耶和華賜福、因為他不斷的恩待活人死人．拿俄米又說、那是我們本族的人、是一個至近的親屬。 8. Ruth 3:10, Boaz to Ruth, “The LORD bless you my daughter. This kindness is greater than that which you SHOWED earlier.” 3:10波阿斯說、女兒阿、願你蒙耶和華賜福、你末後的恩比先前更大、因為少年人無論貧富、你都沒有跟從．

9. 1 Samuel 20:13, Jonathan to David, “But SHOW me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed.” 20:13我父親若有意害你、我不告訴你、使你平平安安的走、願耶和華重重的降罰與我．願耶和華與你同在、如同從前與我父親同在一樣。 10. Our two texts for today, 2 Samuel 9:1 and 3, the words of King David, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can SHOW kindness?” 1 大 衛 問 說 ： 掃 羅 家 還 有 剩 下 的 人 沒 有 ？ 我 要 因 約 拿 單 的 緣 故 向 他 施 恩 。 --the idea here is that kindness is not something you simply talk about or think about; it’s something you do, something you SHOW.

God is a KIND God: Again, one of our texts for today, David asks in 2 Sam. 9:3, “To whom can I show GOD’S KINDNESS?”9:1大衛問說、掃羅家還有剩下的人沒有、我要因約拿單的緣故向他施恩。 Isaiah 54:8b, “…but with everlasting KINDNESS I will have compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.” 54:8我的怒氣漲溢、頃刻之間向你掩面、卻要以永遠的慈愛憐恤你．這是耶和華你的救贖主說的。 3. Jeremiah 9:24, “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me that that I am the LORD, who exercises KINDNESS….” 9:24誇口的卻因他有聰明、認識我是耶和華、又知道我喜悅在世上施行慈愛公平和公義、以此誇口．這是耶和華說的。

Ephesians 2:6-7, “And God raised us up with Christ…in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his KINDNESS to us in Christ Jesus.” 2:6他又叫我們與基督耶穌一同復活、一同坐在天上、 2:7要將他極豐富的恩典、就是他在基督耶穌裏向我們所施的恩慈、顯明給後來的世代看． 5. Titus 3:3-5, “At one time we were foolish, disobedient…But when the KINDNESS and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us….” 我們從前也是無知、悖逆、受迷惑、服事各樣私慾和宴樂、常存惡毒〔或作陰毒〕嫉妒的心、是可恨的、又是彼此相恨。 3:4但到了　神我們救主的恩慈、和他向人所施的慈愛顯明的時候、 3:5他便救了我們、並不是因我們自己所行的義、乃是照他的憐憫、藉著重生的洗、和聖靈的更新。

truth about God : (1) for one reason or another many people, Christians included, have a difficult time believing that God is really a kind God; (2) to call God “kind” does not mean that God is soft” Note here Romans 11:22, “Consider therefore the KINDNESS and STERNNESS of God: STERNNESS to those who fell, but KINDNESS to you, provided that you continue in his KINDNESS.” What a combination—God is both kind and stern! 11:22可見　神的恩慈、和嚴厲．向那跌倒的人、是嚴厲的．向你是有恩慈的．只要你長久在他的恩慈裏．不然、你也要被砍下來。

What can we learn about kindness from our text of today, 2 Sam. 9? 1. Kindness looks for opportunities to express itself. 2. Kindness is never prejudiced or selective. 3. Kindness gives liberally and extravagantly. 4. Kindness is directed at those most in need. 5. Kindness takes the initiative in meeting the need of somebody else. 6. Those who have experienced God’s kindness most likely will be the persons who are ready to extend a similar kindness to others.

Questions for discussion in follow-up to the sermon: 1. Give your own definition of kindness. What does it mean to be kind? 2. Why do you think the Bible so often speaks of “showing” kindness? 3. Share a story in which you were the recipient of somebody else’s kindness. 4. Share a story in which you were kind to somebody. 5. Why do you think some Christians have a hard time believing that God really is a kind God? 6. Do you think there is any difference between people just naturally being kind or doing kind things, and the kind of kindness that the Holy Spirit supernaturally produces in the life of a follower of Christ?