Elevating the Outcast

Introduction

Welcome online…

Outcast

a person who has been rejected by society or a group

I would not be surprised to find a lot of people here have felt that at one time or another in their lives

I pray you do not feel that way at this church in this church family

if you do, speak to me later and I will try and help

We have been looking at the life of David

David now has rest as the king of Israel, in his palace, the ark has come to Jerusalem

at a time when he could look for other kingdoms to conquer, more material wealth to obtain, David does the unthinkable

he elevates somebody from the family of the man who tried to kill him

2 Samuel 9 CSB

1 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. 3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”

Back in the story of Saul and Jonathan dying in battle, in

2 Sam 4:4 it says that Jonathan’s son who was five years old was being carried out by his caregiver. In their rush and accident happened and the boy became lame in both feet

a bad story for Saul’s family just keeps getting worse, the king, the heir both die. The heir son becomes lame, an embarrassment to the family

2 Samuel 9 CSB

4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” 5 So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied.

I cannot imagine the fear Mephibosheth had coming before the king

the one who took the place of his family line

this normally meant death for anyone who had any sort of claim on the the throne

him being lame, he most likely lived with the thought that his disability kept him alive

2 Samuel 9 CSB

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”

Stunned… confused… he asks a very real question, “What have I done to deserve such a gift? Who am I that you would even show interest in me?

2 Samuel 9 CSB

9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.

PRAY!

The gospel is not a one time event, but a daily reminder of God’s love for us.

Four Characteristics of God’s Love

Characteristic Number 1 - God’s Love Initiates

Read verse one, tell the story of other two

2 Samuel 9:1–3 CSB

1 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. 3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”

David made a covenant with Jonathan

Jonathan has died over a decade ago

There is nobody around him that is asking him when he is going to fulfill this covenant

What does David get out of this

There is no financial gain, if anything this will cost him

does it matter if he can afford it?

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, there is nothing that we can give him that would enrich him

When you love somebody suddenly the cost doesn’t matter quite so much

Romans 5:6–10 CSB

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

Helpless = Used to describe someone or something as weak or of limited capacity, due to illness or some other limitation.

we were weak, unable to help ourselves

Ephesians says were were dead

it was in this state that Christ came and died for us

what did we do, nothing, we were dead, helpless people

Romans 5:6–10 CSB

7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God does not initiate the relationship and then tell us that it depends on us

I will die for your sins, then you must do all these things or I will take away my blessings

He pays for our sins on the cross which pays our debt

but he lives a perfect life and gives us that righteousness

Romans 5:6–10 CSB

9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

He initiates… and he sees it through. We have nothing to offer or cause him to love us.

Characteristic Number 2 - God’s Love Sees Us Differently

2 Samuel 9:6–8 CSB

6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”

Meaning of Mephibosheth vs his original name, Meribaal

meaning of names

Meribaal = man against or antagonist of baal

Baal was the main Caananite god

a god that should have been driven out when the Israelites came into the promise land, but was not

this false god would be a thorn in their side, bringing God’s judgement on the Israelites

born as the grandson of the king, he received this bold name

yet he was renamed, or called something else after his accident

Mephibosheth = man os shame

It is one thing when you change your name on your own

Jimmy was Quinn is James sometimes

at five years old Mephibosheth has an accident where he becomes lame, not his own doing

a lame person is seen as cursed by God

a lame person is shameful to their family

let alone the lame son of the royal family

left often to a life of begging because they could not provide for themselves

Now at the king’s table like he is one of the king’s sons

what a swing in a matter of a day or hours

living life as an outcast of society

summoned to the King, assuming that meant sure death

only to be elevated like you are a son!

If you are a believer in Christ, this is what has happened to you

you were an outcast, dead, enemy of God

but once you have been justified, saved through the blood of Jesus Christ you are a son

Galatians 4:4–6 CSB

4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Do not try and change the language to make this more inclusive

that is something people try to do often to make people feel better without understanding the text

daughters had no rights, no inheritance

you are not adopted in as a daughter with no rights

you are adopted in as sons!

Galatians 4:4–6 CSB

6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”

The spirit leads us to cry out to our Father….

this is a different relationship… He does not see us as messed up people reluctantly saved.

He sees us as a son!

Characteristic Number 3 - God’s Love is a Blessing Beyond Measure

2 Samuel 9:9–11 CSB

9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons.

What did David give to Mephibosheth?

The land that belonged to King Saul

The people to work the land and provide the food to his family

A place at the king’s table

This is the physical, but there are other “invisible” things that he received

status - he is now see as somebody the king loves

who is going to put this man down, he is loved by King David

he has brought him into his house and feeds him at his table

his family is taken care of in the future

we have the benefit of knowing that later, Mephibosheth gives this land to Ziba

but in the moment he has land, that will feed his family and be able to pass down to his family

this is a generational gift

The gift of grace that has been given to every believer was never supposed to be something that stays with you

Over and over in the OT, in Exodus and Deuteronomy especially, it is said so that the generations that follow will know what God has done

the Shema

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 CSB

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.

a prayer that the Israelites would recite, was not meant to be their own, but passed on from generation to generation

Deuteronomy 6:7 CSB

7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

We must share this amazing blessing that we have of the grace of God with our kids

there has been some who say, “let our kids make up their own mind about God and church.”

I have heard the argument that this is one of those things that each believer must do what they think is best… WRONG! The Bible says A LOT about bringing your children up in the Lord.

we make our kids do all kinds of things because we know that it is good for them

grace that is given to us available to the generations to follow

I want to see my kids, grandkids and so on down the line run to the arms of Jesus when I am in glory

The gift of grace is amazing, but knowing that those in the generations to follow is an even greater gift.

God’s Love is Eternal

2 Samuel 9:13 CSB

13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.

Mephibosheth did nothing to earn all of this

and the generational gift would have been more than he could have imagined

but he also got to eat at the kings table, not just once but for the rest of his life

David not only gave this gift, but understood what it was like to receive it from the Lord

after proclaiming in Psalm 23

the Lord is his shepherd

the Lord has given all he needs from sustenance to rest

after going with him through the darkest valleys

Psalm 23:6 CSB

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Revelation 21:6–7 CSB

6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

Conclusion

In 2 Sam 19, David is coming back into Jerusalem after being run out by one of his sons who was attempting to take his throne.

Those who were on David’s side went with him,

but Mephibosheth did not.

Not by his choice but betrayed by Ziba, the one who was to be caring for his family.

When confronted by David, Mephibosheth confessed all that happened.

David attempts to split the inheritance between Mephibosheth and Ziba.

Mephibosheth refuses, gives it all to Ziba.

Why! Worldly possessions seem worthless when you have been sitting at the table of the King.

We can chase after all worldly things, but when we sit at the Lord’s table and experience his love, we will be willing to give everything of this world away.

Have you experienced the Lord’s love in this way. Have you submitted to him as Lord and joined the feast at his table?