A Dead Dog -

This short chapter is an incredible picture of grace. God’s unmerited favor through Christ towards us. It’s a story about a man named Mephibosheth. A man just like you and me in so many ways.

Will you please stand as he we read God’s word:

Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

He said, “At your service!”

3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”

And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”

4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6 Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”

And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”

9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”

“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

We first read of Mephibosheth in ch when he was just 5 years old. It has been several years since then as he is now an adult and even has a son.

4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

The name Mephibosheth come from two root words meaning “shameful thing” and “scatters” or “scatters the shameful things” and like many of us some of the shame does not scatter away. It sticks to us.

You see when his father Jonathan and Grand Father King Saul were killed in battle his nurse fled with M but drops him and he became lame in both feet for life.

When his father Jonathan and Grand Father Saul were killed in battle his nurse flees with M but drops him and he became lame in both feet for life.

Did you ever feel like you are crippled and it wasn’t your fault? Maybe you grew up poor or were too fat or too skinny or felt stupid or homely. So like “Phib” we’ve all got issues!

Now back to “Phib” why do you suppose they were fleeing? Simply put rival heirs to the throne were usually killed. Phib was a direct heir to the throne being the son of the eldest son (Jonathan) of the King.

But it’s more complicated than that for Phib. You see everyone seemed to know David was anointed to be King of Israel they also knew how Saul had treated David. In fact Saul made it his life’s work to destroy David over about a 20 year stretch. David had never lifted a hand to harm Saul during that time, even though he had been running for his life. Literally.

Based on verse 1, Its does not appear that David even knew whether “Phib” was even alive.

Think about it does it sound like Phib wants to found? Would you?

Imagine what he has been told his whole life…the king is to be feared. He wants to kill you after all; you have it coming based on what your ancestors did to him.

Do you feel now or have you ever felt like you want to run away and hide where no one can find you. Imagine you owe the IRS big money or have been sued and have no money. How do think Phib felt when David’s men show up at his house to bring him before the king?

How do think Phib felt when David’s men show up at his house to bring him before the king?

As mentioned earlier M is you and me prior to meeting the Lord. We were in hiding. Believing a “Phib” a lie about God and his purposes for us.

P2

Read-

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

The truth is God is for you! ..even in light of all you and your ancestors have done.

Note where Phib has been living, v4.

4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

M is living in someone else’s home, a guy named Makir. In truth Phib is a wealthy man but because of fear and false belief he lives as a poor man.

In someone else’s home, Makir. In truth M is a wealthy man but because of fear and false belief he lives as a poor man.

We are told that Makir’s home is in a place called “Lo Debar” which means the barren land.

It sounds like some of us. We have been living in “Lo Debar”, a barren place, a land of frustration and spiritual drought. . Hiding from God, afraid of God. God is only looking to smack us in the head or worse. We know what we are, we know what we’ve done.

The good news is God knows all about what you have done and who you really are, and yet he still loves you.

 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Think with me here: What did you think God was like prior to meeting Him? A lot depends on what your earthly father was like. If your father an angry and abusive your vision of your Heavenly Father was probably the same.

But notice. Who it is who is searching for Phib? David was; but for what purpose? It depends on if you know David’s character.

His purpose was to show kindness on behalf of Jonathan because of their special covenant. In a greater way the God of the Bible does not break His agreements. The word kindness used here is the Hebrew “chesed” often translated Loving Kindness or favor. Based on his covenant love for His people.

 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Look at V7 – So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

In the same way God is saying to you and me, Don’t be afraid, I am going to show you kindness and restore all the weath lost in the fall of your ancestors. And if that was not enough you will eat at my table forever as one of my son’s.

 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Look at V8 – He calls himself a “dead dog”. When one is confronted by the Holiness of Jesus Christ you see yourself as you really are. Phib’s, I am a “dead dog” is the true, honest response to confronting God’s grace. There is no pride in God’s presence.

John the apostle, says when confronted by Gods presence that he fell as a dead man. Peter’s response was, depart from me for I am a sinful man! Isaiah said I am a man of unclean lips, Daniel fell on his face and had no strength in him. When we meet the Jesus of the bible He make it clear who is and who we are not.

Someone has said, that the brightest light we can imagine is as a shadow compared to God.

Yes, we are “as dead dogs”, but we are not here because of our good works. But, only because of the blood of Christ and our relationship to Him.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The word grace here is the Greek word “charis” and means unmerited favor.

V9 We can only imagine Phib’s thoughts when he learns that he is not going to die or be punished but that David is restoring all his families land and even gives him servants to care for his needs. In a similar way God has given us all that belongs to Christ as co-heirs with Him and even given us heavenly servants, according to , Angels.

Finally, Phib, for the rest of his life is now part of David’s family and will eating at the King’s table forever..

As we close this morning, if you are feeling crippled, circumstances beyond your control have you living in fear, maybe you are living in Lo Debar, in barrenness, maybe you are ashamed and in hiding, my advice is to humble yourself before Jesus and let His Grace overwhelm you. If you need prayer we will be at the sides to pray with you.

Finally, before our closing song If you have never met Jesus and would like to have your sins forgiven and know that you have eternal life, I invite you pray this simple prayer of faith with me know.

Please bow your heads and pray with me:

Father I know that I am a sinner, Jesus Christ came to save sinners, Jesus Christ came to save me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. I will walk with you every day from this day foward. In Jesus Name, Amen.

If you prayed that pray come and see one of our elders at the sides.

Closing song and receive offering

Feel free to join us for some refreshments and fellowship following our service.

And now in the words of Paul the Apostle:

Close-

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.