Mephibosheth:

We are introduced to our person of interest in 2 Samuel 4.

2 Samuel 4:4 KJV 1900

4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

This passage tells us a little bit about this boy’s pedigree and condition.

Think a little bit about his pedigree.

He is the grandson of the King of Israel.

For the first 5 years of his life, he lived the life that you would expect for a prince.

His home was a palace.

He had servants that cared for him.

His father was an important figure in the kingdom, heir to the throne.

He most likely received everything that could be afforded to him.

Until everything changed in a single day of tragedy.

Notice, also, the boy’s condition.

He was orphaned at the age of 5.

Both his father and his grandfather died, on the same day, in a battle against the Philistines.

The only person left to care for the boy was his nurse.

In her attempt to save the boy, she accidentally injured him.

Fearing that the young boy might be next on the list of deaths, the nurse scoops him up and flees.

As she runs, carrying a 5 year old, something happens so that the boy falls and injures himself.

The boy’s injury was most likely something that, in today’s world, would have been no big deal.

But, in his time, it meant that he would be lame on his feet for the rest of his life.

This poor, innocent 5 year old had his entire life ripped away from him.

His only crime was the family he had been born in.

As a new king arose, the boy’s connection to the old line made him a threat.

He would need to live a life of anonymity if he had any hope of surviving.

So, he was taken into hiding.

That boy’s name was Mephibosheth.

For a long time, he was able to remain hidden.

It couldn’t last forever.

Things would happen that Mephibosheth couldn’t control or even know about.

We skip forward 16 years and 5 chapters to 2 Samuel 9.

Mephibosheth has been quietly living his life in secret.

He is 21 years old. (David is 46)

He has a young son of his own, Micha.

His legs never did heal.

The town that he lives in had, at one time been known by it’s pastureland, but now was known for it’s lack there of.

Debir - Pasture

Lo-Debar - No Pasture

What did he know or think about his king?

David and Mephibosheth’s dad had been the best of friends.

Did Mephibosheth have any memory, or had anyone told him about how close David and his dad had been?

Was there ever a thought of revealing himself to the king on the basis of being Jonathan’s son?

If there was, it was quickly squashed by the fear of how David might view Mephibosheth.

He had been in line for the throne.

David would be justified in viewing Mephibosheth a threat.

Whatever friendship and closeness David and Jonathan had enjoyed, there was no chance that any benefits of this would trickle down to Mephibosheth.

He had come to accept that it was best for him to remain hidden for as long as he could.

David was too powerful.

There were too many unknowns.

It was too risky to think that he would be accepted by this rival king.

Unbeknownst to Mephibosheth, though, David had not forgotten his friend, Jonathan.

Nor had he forgotten the promise he had made to his friend back in 1 Samuel 20:14-17

1 Samuel 20:14–17 KJV 1900

14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Many years on, David is looking for some way that he can keep his word.

Verse 3 tells us that he wants to do exactly what Jonathan had requested of him.

That was to “shew the kindness of God” to Jonathan’s family.

David initiates this project by calling one of Saul’s former servants, a man by the name of Ziba.

Ziba is a complicated character.

He plays a pretty big role later in biblical record.

I believe he ends up betraying Mephibosheth.

In this interaction, though, Ziba seems to be protecting Mephibosheth.

David asks several questions, and Ziba gives him truthful but precise answers. 3-4

He only reveals what he has to.

In the end, he tells David where Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan could be found.

David immediately sends for Mephibosheth.

Imagine what it was like for Mephibosheth to receive that message.

One day he is out of the house doing his best to keep up with Micha, who may have been just learning to walk.

His son has brought much joy into his pained life.

As he watches the toddler waddle around, he wishes that he could run and play with his boy.

He wishes that his dad could have met his grandson.

He thinks about the fact that, instead of a palace, Micha will have to grow up in the wastes of Lo-Debar.

Even in the good times, there are constant reminders of all that he has lost.

As he looks out on the horizon, he sees dust rising from the road as horses and their riders gallop toward the town.

This is certainly strange.

Nobody ever wants to come to Lo-Debar, they only want to leave.

Maybe they are just passing through...

But they aren’t passing through, to his surprise they ride straight up to his house.

Mephibosheth does his best to prop himself up to see why these riders have come to his house.

To his surprise, he finds that these are royal messengers.

His heart drops as they announce to him that the king has requested his presence in Jerusalem.

He always knew there was a chance this day would come.

After 16 years he thought that maybe he would be allowed to live his life.

But, now, it seems like his time had come.

He has no choice but to go with the men.

Thankfully, they seem to have been aware of his condition as they have made provision for him to travel with them.

Mephibosheth tells his small, young family goodbye and heads off to face the king.

Upon reaching Jerusalem, Mephibosheth is quickly ushered in to see the king.

Mephibosheth doesn’t know what is on David’s mind or why he has been brought to the palace.

As he comes into the king’s presence, he falls to the ground and reverences the king.

If there is a chance for mercy it will only come through humility.

David responds to Mephibosheth’s entrance by saying only the man’s name.

Mephibosheth’s mind must have raced.

Was their malice in David’s voice?

It didn’t seem like it.

Was it a trick of his mind or did he detect something else in the voice of the king?

Was there a hint of pity?

Was that kindness he heard?

Better off to assume nothing.

Mephibosheth responds shakily.

Behold thy servant!

David understands the fear that Mephibosheth must have felt.

Oddly enough, there were times that David had stood before Mephibosheth’s grandfather and wondered if he would be put to death.

David puts Mephibosheth at ease.

There is no evil intent in David’s heart for this young man.

He tells him not to fear.

David did not arrange this meeting to judge Mephibosheth for the family he was born into.

Which is what he probably assumed.

Instead, David seeks to offer Mephibosheth an opportunity to be shown kindness for the sake of his father.

Mephibosheth would be the beneficiary of someone else’s actions.

He must have been shocked, after all these years to hear the king talk so fondly of his late father.

Perhaps he had felt like the only one who remembered what a good man his dad had been.

David continues by announcing that Mephibosheth will receive much of what He lost as a 5 year old orphan.

He will inherit the familial lands of his grandfather.

The inheritance of land in Israel was supposed to be tied the family forever.

Saul’s lands had been lost when he died.

They either went to the crown.

They were overrun by squatters.

Either way, Mephibosheth would regain control of these lands by command of the king.

He will return to a life in the palace.

He will leave the land of no pasture.

Instead, he will sit continually at the table of the king.

Think of how this changes the prospects for his own son!

Mephibosheth is rightfully overcome with the goodness of King David.

He bows himself back to the ground.

In an expression of gratitude and humility, Mephibosheth wonders...

How could anyone take note of a man like him?

He is worse than a dog; he is a dead dog.

And yet, David’s goodness has extended even to him.

Mephibosheth had done nothing to earn the favor of the king.

He really had nothing to offer the king.

Neither of these factors were influential in David’s actions.

David showed kindness to Mephibosheth because Jonathan had earned it years earlier.

Mephibosheth was the beneficiary of someone else’s actions.

I strongly believe that we are to see a picture of the gospel in this passage.

We see the fall of man in Mephibosheth’s loss.

Humanity was born in to privilege.

We had everything we could possibly want or need.

But, because of who our father was, we lost it all.

We see the physical impairment that Mephibosheth suffered from.

He hadn’t always had it.

Just as we were not always hampered by sin.

Now though, our sin touches every part of our life experience.

Even the best parts of life are interrupted by sin.

January 7, 2014

January 8, 2014

Here is the refreshing part: there is a king out there that is summoning us to Himself.

People everywhere hear His call.

They are unsure of how to respond.

Does He wish to do them good or ill?

Those who respond in humility find His favor poured out upon them.

Not because of anything they have done.

Not because they have anything to offer Him.

For the sake of another, this king shows us favor.

The other, of course is Jesus.

His actions made it possible for us to experience the pleasure of God.

Because of Jesus we gain an inheritance.

Because of Jesus, we are included at the table of the Lord.

We are Mephibosheth.