Unmerited Favor: Mephibosheth
II Samuel 9
I'm seeing pictures of Christ everywhere in the OT. It's especially evident in the story of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth is the grandson of Saul, and therefore an enemy. If David were to follow the practice of most kings of the time, he would have killed Mephibosheth as a potential threat to the throne. But because of the merits of his father (Jonathan), he is instead treated like one of the royal household.
God is kind to us, children of the enemy, because of the merits of Christ. Out of honor and love for Jonathan David accepts Mephibosheth. Out of honor and love for His Son God accepts us, cripples and enemies that we are. We are both enemies, subject to wrath and judgement, and cripples, evoking pity. Both wretched and dangerous, we are accepted on the merits of another--because of a covenant that has been made.
Mephibosheth had no pretensions to greatness. (His very name means "a shameful thing.") He knew he was defenseless and at David's mercy. When David's servants appeared to fetch him, he no doubt trembled in fear. Would David kill him, grandson of the enemy, as was the practice? Maybe he did not know of the promise David had made to his father.
Mephibosheth, with his crutches, or on his litter, must have made a pitiable figure as he entered the grand throne room and faced David, seated majestically on his throne. He fell on his face before David. He couldn't stand--now he demeans himself further by falling on his face. The moment of truth has come. What will David say? He utters one word..."Mephibosheth." He calls him by name, and no doubt there is kindness in his voice. In his fear, Mephibosheth doesn't hear it. He hastens to say "Behold, thy servant."
Notice Mephibosheth's humble, open attitude, that enables David to show him mercy. This is how we must come to Christ...humbly, making no attempt to hide our wretchedness, realizing we are dependent on Him for all and deserving of nothing. "Behold, thy servant." Those words are so hard for us to say, but maybe that is because we don't realize our true station, as Mephibosheth did.
David reassures him--"Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake." He also promises to restore Saul's lands, the original family plot, to Mephibosheth. He is undoing all the trouble caused by Mephibosheth's sinful grandfather and restoring things as they would have been--Mephibosheth becomes a landowner, not as rich as a king, but not one who relies on the mercy of another, either. He doesn't just allow Mephib. to be a hanger-on at the palace, a "welfare recipient," a "pity friend" who is tolerated. He gives him back his responsibility and manhood.
Isn't that what God in his goodness does for us? He doesn't just save us from hell and say "ok, you can hang out in a corner of heaven when you die, but don't expect anything else." No, He gives us a job and an inheritance and a position. He makes us His own children. He restores what sin has corrupted.
Mephibosheth's response is one of wonder: "Why should you look upon such a dead dog as me?" He is astounded at this powerful king's mercy, not understanding the love that prompts David to show it. David had been looking for someone to whom he could show mercy for Jonathan's sake. Now that he had found him his heart yearned to show him kindness, in honor of his dear friend.
The story doesn't end with Mephibosheth's life. We see him eating at the king's table, treated like one of the king's own sons. But we find out later that the blessing continues...God sent him a line of descendants known for their power and prowess in battle. They were experts with the bow, as their ancestor Jonathan had been.
David overturned Mephibosheth's life of shame and taught him his value as one that was loved. Now that he was in the palace, befriended of the king and treated as a son, it would do him no good to act as before--shamefaced, craven, apologetic, hiding. To have done so would have been an insult to David's kindness.
To be honest, Mephibosheth was not a man of great spirit or courage. We see him later taken advantage of by his servant, and not coming with David when David is exiled by Absalom. He offers the excuse that he could not saddle a donkey for himself, and Ziba tricked him. But he must have had other servants besides Ziba. His motives were not malicious as Ziba said ("he hoped to gain the throne for himself") but neither did he do all that was possible to show his allegiance to David.
This, too, is too often a realistic portrayal of the Christian. Years pass and we forget to be grateful and loyal to the One who has done so much for us. We offer excuses and claim weakness as our reasons for not doing all we can to be loyal. May we never forget that we are "Mephibosheth" and may we never stop wondering at the mercy that brought us into the royal family.
I'm seeing pictures of Christ everywhere in the OT. It's especially evident in the story of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth is the grandson of Saul, and therefore an enemy. If David were to follow the practice of most kings of the time, he would have killed Mephibosheth as a potential threat to the throne. But because of the merits of his father (Jonathan), he is instead treated like one of the royal household.
God is kind to us, children of the enemy, because of the merits of Christ. Out of honor and love for Jonathan David accepts Mephibosheth. Out of honor and love for His Son God accepts us, cripples and enemies that we are. We are both enemies, subject to wrath and judgement, and cripples, evoking pity. Both wretched and dangerous, we are accepted on the merits of another--because of a covenant that has been made.
Mephibosheth had no pretensions to greatness. (His very name means "a shameful thing.") He knew he was defenseless and at David's mercy. When David's servants appeared to fetch him, he no doubt trembled in fear. Would David kill him, grandson of the enemy, as was the practice? Maybe he did not know of the promise David had made to his father.
Mephibosheth, with his crutches, or on his litter, must have made a pitiable figure as he entered the grand throne room and faced David, seated majestically on his throne. He fell on his face before David. He couldn't stand--now he demeans himself further by falling on his face. The moment of truth has come. What will David say? He utters one word..."Mephibosheth." He calls him by name, and no doubt there is kindness in his voice. In his fear, Mephibosheth doesn't hear it. He hastens to say "Behold, thy servant."
Notice Mephibosheth's humble, open attitude, that enables David to show him mercy. This is how we must come to Christ...humbly, making no attempt to hide our wretchedness, realizing we are dependent on Him for all and deserving of nothing. "Behold, thy servant." Those words are so hard for us to say, but maybe that is because we don't realize our true station, as Mephibosheth did.
David reassures him--"Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake." He also promises to restore Saul's lands, the original family plot, to Mephibosheth. He is undoing all the trouble caused by Mephibosheth's sinful grandfather and restoring things as they would have been--Mephibosheth becomes a landowner, not as rich as a king, but not one who relies on the mercy of another, either. He doesn't just allow Mephib. to be a hanger-on at the palace, a "welfare recipient," a "pity friend" who is tolerated. He gives him back his responsibility and manhood.
Isn't that what God in his goodness does for us? He doesn't just save us from hell and say "ok, you can hang out in a corner of heaven when you die, but don't expect anything else." No, He gives us a job and an inheritance and a position. He makes us His own children. He restores what sin has corrupted.
Mephibosheth's response is one of wonder: "Why should you look upon such a dead dog as me?" He is astounded at this powerful king's mercy, not understanding the love that prompts David to show it. David had been looking for someone to whom he could show mercy for Jonathan's sake. Now that he had found him his heart yearned to show him kindness, in honor of his dear friend.
The story doesn't end with Mephibosheth's life. We see him eating at the king's table, treated like one of the king's own sons. But we find out later that the blessing continues...God sent him a line of descendants known for their power and prowess in battle. They were experts with the bow, as their ancestor Jonathan had been.
David overturned Mephibosheth's life of shame and taught him his value as one that was loved. Now that he was in the palace, befriended of the king and treated as a son, it would do him no good to act as before--shamefaced, craven, apologetic, hiding. To have done so would have been an insult to David's kindness.
To be honest, Mephibosheth was not a man of great spirit or courage. We see him later taken advantage of by his servant, and not coming with David when David is exiled by Absalom. He offers the excuse that he could not saddle a donkey for himself, and Ziba tricked him. But he must have had other servants besides Ziba. His motives were not malicious as Ziba said ("he hoped to gain the throne for himself") but neither did he do all that was possible to show his allegiance to David.
This, too, is too often a realistic portrayal of the Christian. Years pass and we forget to be grateful and loyal to the One who has done so much for us. We offer excuses and claim weakness as our reasons for not doing all we can to be loyal. May we never forget that we are "Mephibosheth" and may we never stop wondering at the mercy that brought us into the royal family.
posted by Emily at 12:58 PM
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