I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.  John 14:18
Text Box: Home Text Box: God’s heart is for His love to be known to the orphans. He wants to come to them, accept them, provide care for them, and nurture them. He wants to receive each one of them so they may experience His forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He is waiting to welcome them into His family... Psalm 68 : 5 - 6Text Box: 2 Samuel 9 David and Mephibosheth  1 David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"  2 Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?"       "Your servant," he replied.  3 The king asked, "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?"       Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet."  4 "Where is he?" the king asked.       Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."  5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.  6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.       David said, "Mephibosheth!"       "Your servant," he replied.  7 "Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."  8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"  9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)  11 Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.  12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at Text Box: Thoughts to Consider Jonathan says to David in 1 Samuel 20:15, “And you shall not cut off your loving-kindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 1 Samuel 20:17 says: And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life. David sought to show kindness to Mephibosheth, of Saul’s household, out of his covenant with Jonathan. David was fulfilling his vow and proving his love. Jesus loved us as He loved Himself. And we now have the opportunity to reaffirm our covenant with Him, proving our love, by showing kindness to an orphan. The heart motive for orphan ministry should be love for Jesus. David is known as a man after God’s own heart. We see a glimpse of God’s heart in David reaching out to take care of an orphan named Mephibosheth in treating him as one of his own sons. Insights into the possibility of caring for an orphan: David asked if there was anyone he could show kindness to and sought after an opportunity to show this kindness in asking if anyone was still in need. Ask God if there is an orphan you can help, a ministry to orphans you can support, and/or an orphan you can adopt… He overlooked his being crippled and asked “where is he?” Make a commitment to respond past their appearance, disability, or background. Many orphans can be unattractive, abused, disabled, or have aids. He then brought him from Lo Debar (which means “barren”). You have the privilege of bringing an orphan hope, light, and love (out of their having nothing, out of their darkness, or out of their feelings of loss, hurt, shame, guilt, and/or emptiness) He called him by name, acknowledged him as important. You can make an impact by getting to know them through sponsorship, letter writing, gift giving and/or going to visit them. Find out their name and show them love in Jesus’ name. He said to him not to be afraid, he was going to show him kindness. Know that many orphans are abandoned, mistreated, and/or feel worthless. Reassure love with genuine kindness shown (faith in action) such as providing food, clothing, and shelter. He restored the land and invited him to eat at his table. Give/provide them a future hope and a safe/special place of acceptance. He assigned families and servants to farm the land to take care of him. Consider supporting caretakers, teachers, and churches in the care of orphans. Go and visit them to help care for them awhile or as a long-term missionary. David let Mephibosheth always eat at his table like one of the Text Box: Text Box: King of kings Orphan Reach Evangelism