Intro

I often spend Sundays watching old sermons on YouTube, and it is amazing how God will sometimes use this to reveal His truths to me.  I will find that my Scripture readings and devotionals dovetail with whatever message I “randomly” chose to stream- God is good!  This week’s post is the result of such an experience, and I hope it speaks to you as it did to me.

Scripture and Commentary

2 Samuel 9

And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “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.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

This short chapter is often overlooked as just an historical detail, but it wonderfully portrays a foreshadowing of God’s plan for man’s redemption.  Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, David’s closest friend from his youth, and the grandson of King Saul.  Mephibosheth became lame at age five, when his nurse fell with him while trying to flee after the battle in which Saul and Jonathan were killed.  He would have one day become king, had his ancestors not fallen away from God.  Instead, he wound up broken, hiding in the desolate refugee wasteland of Lo-debar.  This beautifully parallels the state of fallen man.  We were created to be in fellowship with God in His royal household, but because of our fall we are broken and desolate refugees.

While dwelling on the goodness of God, David decides to seek a member of Jonathan’s house to which he might show kindness.  He sends a servant to seek out Mephibosheth.  It must have been terrifying initially for Mephibosheth to see the king’s messengers approaching.  He had been in hiding for many years, fearing for his life as the heir to the former king.  Yet in faith he agreed to accompany David’s men, and upon seeing David, fell to his knees and acknowledged him as lord.  This leads to Mephibosheth’s inheritance being returned, and his position in the royal household being established.  He is redeemed, and counted among the king’s own sons!  Once seated at David’s table, all signs of lameness are covered, and he is once again a prince.

Ephesians 2:4-10

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 8:14-16

14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 The Spirit you received doesn’t make you slaves. Otherwise you would live in fear again. Instead, the Holy Spirit you received made you God’s adopted child. By the Spirit’s power we call God Abba. Abba means Father. 16 The Spirit himself joins with our spirits. Together they tell us that we are God’s children.

Beyond having enough faith to come to the meeting, Mephibosheth had done nothing to earn the king’s favor.  Likewise, our works have not earned us a place at God’s table.  Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  Instead, it is the work of God to restore us through Christ to what would have been our birthright had we not fallen.  We are, like Mephibosheth said, as dead dogs.  But God in His mercy has chosen to redeem us through Christ.  Once redeemed, we sit at His table with all our flaws covered by His blood.

Conclusion

As we embark on 2018, let’s endeavor to remember we are God’s children, and joint heirs with Christ.  Let’s not hesitate to follow the advice given in Hebrews 4:16:

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Instead, let’s accept the gift of our redemption with a spirit of thankfulness and of service, glorifying God.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.