"Saved By Gace" (Conclusion)

2 Samuel 9. 1-11

“Saved By Grace” (Conclusion)

K. Adrian Scott

July 19, 2026

Review.

As you probably remember, the basis for everything that took place between David and Jonathan and has come to fruition with David’s new relationship with Mephibosheth is because of the blood covenant that was made between David and Jonathan, the son of former King Saul.

Some Christian theologians teach that salvation is the result of a covenant between the Lord and the believer, but that isn’t true. Our salvation is the result of the divine Covenant between God the Father who draws everyone who is a Christian believer ad the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Please do not take my word for it, but let’s hear what the Scripture has to say about it –

The Text.

v. 1; “Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”

First, let the Word of God clearly states, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” [John 6.44].

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” [John 15.16].

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

And why is it incorrect to say, ‘I decided to come to Christ, or I decided to become a Christian?’ Because that is not possible. Here is what the Scripture says about our hearts before we became a Christian –

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” [Genesis 6.5].

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it”? [Jeremiah 17.9].

“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.” [Romans 6.20]

“We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” [Romans 7.14]

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” [Ephesians 2.1].

Question – Can a dead man ask for help? The obvious answer is “NO.”

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.” [Romans 8.7]

V. 2; King David summons Ziba, the former servant of Saul to search for such a person to whom the King may show him kindness.

V. 3; Ziba finds a son of Jonathan and says this son is crippled in both feet.

V. 4; King David asks, “where is he?” He lives in the house of Machir in Lo-Dear.

vv. 5-6; David has Mephibosheth brought from his residence in Lo-Debar to him.

V. 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.”

Preaching Point.

Here is the restoration of Mephibosheth where the shame of his current status is erased, having been cut off from relationship with King David because of his grandfather, Saul’s sin. But now he is invited to the abundant fellowship of the King of Love.

This text reminds us of the experience everyone who believes in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, will experience with our heavenly host. First, there is the supernatural restoral of our relationship with the High King of Heaven through salvation, and we are no longer estranged or separated from God because of sin. This restoration is made possible because we have been delivered from sin’s bondage and then, and only then, can we enjoy a right relationship with the King, God Almighty.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” [Romans 8. 1-2]

Note: Isn’t it amazing to think of the correlation between an earth that was dark and without form according to Genesis 1, and then in another place the Word of the Lord says, “Look, I am ready to create new heavens and a new earth! The former things will not be remembered; no one will think about them anymore.” [Isaiah 65.17]

Then think of the human heart which, due to the original sin of Adam (and Eve), is described as wicked since its purity and innocence were compromised [Genesis 6.5]. But, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we have been given a ‘new heart’ as we have come into Christ’s Light – “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” [Ezekiel 36. 25-27]

The earth in its original state was filled with darkness, and the Lord has promised to make the earth new again, filled with the glory of God. Then the human heart in its original state is filled with wickedness or sin, and through the new birth of the Holy Spirit, everyone believer is given a new heart.

In other words, there will be a redemption of the original creation on earth as well as a new heaven, and there will have been the redemption of the souls of everyone who believes.

v. 8; “Then Mephibosheth bowed and said, ‘of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”

This is a humble confession, as Mephibosheth considered himself dead, which he was as good as dead. He was dead while he was living! And we were spiritually dead before Christ came into our lives – “And you were dead ...” [Ephesians 2.1]

v. 9; “Then the King summoned Ziba, Saul’s attendant, ad said to him ‘Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I thereby give to your master’s grandson.”

Preaching Point.

Here is the actualization or the fulfillment of what was promised in verse 7, and it serves as a reminder of the inheritance of the saints, you and me, in that everything that was lost because of the sin of Adam and Eve will be restored to us! This is God’s complete plan of Redemption, the restoration of all things - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘behold, I am making all things new." [Revelation 21. 1-5]

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” [2 Peter 3. 10-13]

v. 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.”

Here is the eternal security that the Lord has promised us. “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, ...” [John 10.28]. Here is the continuing fellowship we not only have with the Lord right now, but we will enjoy this fellowship with Christ forever! This is exactly what our communion table represents also. Our fellowship with Christ as we sit around a common table.

This text is God’s story of redemption through human history. v. 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.”

Here is the promise of the King fulfilled. God keeping the Word of God.

The Proposition.

Mephibosheth is moving. But in my mind’s eye I can imagine King David did not even bother to tell Mephibosheth to pack his bags. Where you’re going, the clothes that you are used to wearing will no longer be appropriate. So, he began to toss out the clothes of fear and insecurity; he threw away the clothes of alienation and separation; don’t bring the clothes of anger or the clothes of malice. Put away the clothes of bondage and put on the clothes of freedom, which I purchased! Leave your old clothes there. I have had you fitted with new clothes ready for you to wear. And here is the robe of righteousness made especially for you, that we will drape over your shoulders as soon as you walk enter the door.’

Mephibosheth asks, ‘but what about my shoes?’ And the king replies, ‘you will have no need for those shoes that are worn from helplessly wandering for a place of security. I have new shoes ready for you! Throw away those shoes worn down by aimlessly walking and looking for a home. I have new shoes for you!

The Close.

The King is ready, are you? Are you ready to move to your new home, where you can leave the old behind and everything is brand new? A new perspective; a new joy; new hope for a new future?

The King is waiting.