My name could easily be Mephibosheth, could yours? Strange name, but an amazing story.
This morning, Spurgeon pointed me to the account of King David seeking to find any living descendants of Saul’s house that he may show them the kindness of the Lord for Jonathan’s sake (2 Samuel 9). It is amazing because Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son…you remember Jonathan, right? David’s best friend and Saul’s son. Anyway, Mephibosheth was crippled in both legs (it actually reminds us in the last sentence of the chapter: “Now he was lame in both his feet”).
When David learned of his existence, he called for him to be brought to him. When he arrived, David said the following:
Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.
I love Mephibosheth’s response. He said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” Isn’t that crazy? Because of his condition, he referred to himself as a dead dog. It didn’t matter to him that he was the grandson of a king…one who should have been in line for royalty himself. Yet he understood that because of his condition, he was considered by most an outcast.
Man, I am Mephibosheth. One who is crippled because of sin, yet has been picked up from the dunghill in order to eat at the table of the King. In Christ, there is such a restoration that, just as David looked at Mephibosheth and saw his beloved friend, Jonathan, so the Father looks at me (and hopefully you, too!) and sees His beloved son, Jesus. What did Meph. do to deserve such grace from David? Nothing. He was simply in the likeness of his father and was accepted in, crippled legs and all, and given a seat at the table of the king. What have I done to deserve such grace? Nothing…I’m just created in the image and likeness of God. I am crippled and broken, but God is making me complete. What grace!
I am Mephibosheth. Who are you?
