2 Samuel 1:26 records David's lament for Jonathan—motivating his later kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake here.

In 1 Samuel 18:1-4, Jonathan makes a covenant with David, giving him his robe and armor — this bond is the reason David later seeks out Mephibosheth.

In 1 Samuel 20:14-17, Jonathan asks David to show kindness to his house forever — this is the direct request that David fulfills in seeking Mephibosheth.

In 1 Samuel 20:42, Jonathan and David swear a covenant between their seeds forever — this covenant is the basis for David's kindness to Saul's house.

In 1 Samuel 23:16-18, Jonathan strengthens David and renews their covenant — this deepens the loyalty David later shows to Jonathan's son.

This verse records the covenant of love between David and Jonathan that inspires David's search for a survivor.

Jonathan's request to never cut off kindness from his house is the specific promise David is now seeking to fulfill.

This reaffirmation of the covenant between David and Jonathan provides the foundation for David's inquiry here.

In 1 Kings 2:7, David instructs Solomon to show kindness to Barzillai's sons — a parallel act of gratitude, showing David's pattern of rewarding past loyalty.

1 Chronicles 19:2 shows David again seeking to show kindness, this time to Hanun, mirroring his loyalty to Jonathan's house.

Proverbs 27:10 advises not to forsake a friend or father's friend — David exemplifies this by not forsaking Jonathan's house.