The Covenant That Cannot Be Broken

By Danny Saavedra

“When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of pressed figs and a skin of wine. . . . Then the king said to Ziba, ‘All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.’ ‘I humbly bow,’ Ziba said. ‘May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.’”—2 Samuel 16:1-4 (NIV)

We all make covenants. As kids, we made pinky-promised secrets we swore we’d never tell. Maybe you made a pact with your best friend. Maybe you even spit-shook on it because it felt more official.

We’ll go to the same college no matter what.

We’ll never let a guy come between us.

As adults, our covenants get more formal. Marriage licenses, business contracts, loan agreements, and employment offers. Our word becomes a signature, and our vow becomes legally binding.

But what happens when we don’t keep our covenants? What happens when we sign a marriage license but later cite “irreconcilable differences” or a spouse cheats and shatters trust? When a business partner backs out after the deal is done? When an elected official breaks every campaign promise the minute power is secured? What happens when a spiritual leader—someone you trusted, respected, maybe even followed—uses their position not to shepherd but to manipulate? Not to serve but to control?

What happens when someone you love slanders your name? Or even worse, when someone tells you your friend slandered you, but it isn’t true!

In 2 Samuel 16, David’s still on the run. His heart’s broken, his kingdom’s falling apart, and even worse, his son betrayed him. And here, in his grief and desperation, he’s met by Ziba—the former servant of Mephibosheth, the disabled son of David’s best friend Jonathan.

Ziba shows up looking helpful—like an ally. And his story is that Mephibosheth stayed behind in Jerusalem, hoping the Israelites would restore to him his grandfather’s (Saul’s) kingdom. It’s a brutal accusation...one David believes. He doesn’t ask questions; he doesn’t wait for evidence. He doesn’t pray. Instead, he reacts when told, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

But (SPOILER ALERT) here’s what we know from later in the story (2 Samuel 19): Ziba lied! He manipulated David at a moment of vulnerability to gain wealth and status. He slandered Mephibosheth—who only stayed behind because Ziba betrayed him and left, and he couldn’t walk—and David believed the lie.

Ultimately, David broke the covenant with Mephibosheth, the very person he had promised both Jonathan and Saul he’d protect and preserve. Why? Because even wise, godly people fall into bad judgment when they’re tired, emotional, and desperate for affirmation. Have you ever heard of H.A.L.T.? It’s a simple but powerful acronym used in both counseling and discipleship contexts to help people recognize moments when they may be vulnerable to sin, poor decisions, or emotional breakdown. It stands for: HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY, and TIRED. David was very likely all of these at this moment.

This moment involves spiritual manipulation, abused trust, and broken covenant. And it shows us something deep and vital to the Christian life: the need for discernment, rooted in the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

David was a man after God’s own heart. But in this moment, he didn’t seek God’s heart—looking back at David’s journey, every downfall is actually marked by a lack of seeking the Lord. David was HALTing hard and sought relief, so he listened to the first voice that comforted him. And in so doing, he gave away something sacred because he felt betrayed, even though this betrayal, unlike Absalom’s, wasn’t real!

It’s Othello in the Old Testament. Like Shakespeare’s tragic figure, David becomes the victim of a lie told at just the right time by someone who knew exactly how to twist the knife. In Othello, Iago manipulates him into believing his wife, Desdemona, was unfaithful. It ended with Othello killing the woman he loved before learning the truth. In 2 Samuel 16, David doesn’t kill Mephibosheth, but he does disinherit him—and all because he trusted the wrong voice.

Let that sink in: One man’s slander temporarily overturned a royal covenant.

But, friend, the ever-present beauty in Scripture, even in the worst moments, even in the downfalls and shortcomings of people like David, is that they point us to the gospel; to the King who never breaks covenant, cannot be manipulated, and sees clearly—always.

Jesus is our King, and we’re His people—not because we earned it, but because He invited us in through His blood. Where David broke the covenant in weakness, Jesus sealed His covenant in strength with His own body on the cross. Where David revoked Mephibosheth’s inheritance based on a lie, Jesus secures our inheritance in truth, forever. And His covenant isn’t temporary, it isn’t emotional, and it isn’t broken when we disappoint Him.

The Hebrew word for covenant love is chesed—faithful, loyal, unbreakable love. It’s the kind of love that outlasts failure and overrules slander. David once showed it to Mephibosheth because of his love for Jonathan. But in this moment, he forgot.

Jesus NEVER forgets!

"For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’"—Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever"—Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself”—2 Timothy 2:13 (NKJV)

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us”—2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers...will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”—Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Let that all sink in!

Pause: Have you ever been misjudged or wounded by someone you trusted? Have you ever believed the wrong voice in a moment of weakness?

Practice: Today, read over the verses listed above slowly and prayerfully. Read them at different times throughout the day and week. Ask God to remind you of His chesed—His loyal, covenant love. Then take a moment to ask God to help you forgive those who’ve wounded or misjudged you, and ask Him for discernment going forward.

Pray: King Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, thank You for being the King who keeps covenant. When others lie, You speak truth. When others break promises, You remain faithful. Help me to walk in discernment, even when I’m tired. Help me not to believe every voice that comforts or condemns, but instead to seek Your voice and Your comfort. Help me not to be like either David or Ziba here, but to be like You! And when I feel forgotten, remind me that nothing can separate me from Your love. I pray all this in Your beautiful name, Jesus. Amen.