Let me take you on a journey. A journey to a small 727 square mile island that lies 3,680 miles to the west. This little tropical paradise is planted in the great expanse of the deep blue South Pacific. You might know it as Maui. On the island of Maui, it is a sparkling bright, sunny 78 degree day. The palms sway to their own peaceful harmony and life moves with the ocean. Ebbing to and fro in a melancholy rhythm that syncs so easily with the soul. As you look out upon the water, the blue of the ocean is only rivaled by the deeper blue of the endless sky. And it was on a Maui day just like this, that I found myself preparing to teach the lesson of Mephibosheth to eleven 3rd graders.
As Margie and I served on the island of Maui with Lahaina Baptist Church, God offered a very special ministry opportunity. To start a Good News Bible Club at the local elementary school. Yes, an after school Bible study club in an American public school. And people say miracles don’t happen. As I recall what God did in those young lives, it brings a smile to my soul. Every Wednesday afternoon a group of 3-4 of us would meet at the church and prepare our supplies. Bible study props, snacks, craft material, games, and fun CD’s to sing along with. We would load all of our supplies into small wagon and pull that wagon through the streets of Lahaina to the school, King Kamehameha III elementary. How my heart soared on those wagon walks, a heart expectant to see God’s hand touch young lives. And it was on one of these days, pulling that wagon, that I had the story of Mephibosheth running through my mind. Rehearsing the dramatic telling I had prepared in hopes of keeping a 7 year old’s attention. Oh, the sweet, sweet memories of where God will take you in His service.
So here I sit, 2 years later, once again studying the tremendous lesson that lies within 2 Samuel 9. This time in a near empty house in Fort Worth, Texas, as we are once again preparing to deploy and serve God internationally. There is a myriad of lessons, points, and examples for us within the story. A story of redemption, fear, and grace, A story of exaltation, kindness, and blessing. And it all flows from one single promise.
When David and Saul’s son Jonathan first met, we are told that God connected them. That “their souls were knit together.” A special connection that only God can allow as He touches two Godly hearts in a way that melds two into one. As a result of this soul connection, the two decided to make a covenant with one another. A promise. A handshake agreement that based on God, would last forever.
“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 18:1-4
How beautifully symbolic for Jonathan, the crown prince, to strip his armor and cloak and place it upon David. This was Jonathan seeing and feeling the anointing of God upon David. This was Jonathan in a powerfully unselfish display, giving up the throne he was entitled to, and claiming David as the new king. Not exactly the behavior you would see in politics today. In 1 Samuel 31 we see the death of Jonathan, his two brothers and his father Saul. In the following chapter David bitterly grieves for the loss of his friend Jonathan. But the covenant, the promise that stood between them, would not perish in death.
We see 2 Samuel chapter 9 opening with David searching for any remaining relatives of Jonathan. Now recall that if there is any, they would have a claim to the throne over David. It would be in David’s best interest to not only find them, but kill them, thereby removing any threats to his throne. But David does indeed find one long lost relative of Jonathan, his son Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was in hiding, in fear that if the new king found him, he would do as all other kings had historically done, eliminate the competition. But David, with a heart after God, has very different plans indeed. Let’s drop in on the story.
“And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 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.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
“Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 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.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 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. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. So, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:9-13
There is a plethora of lessons here, let’s look at a few.
1) David extended grace to Mephibosheth in his crippled state. Mephibosheth was dropped as a child and was crippled as a result. (2 Sam 4:4) He went into hiding, fearing for his life from a new king that would more than likely seek to kill him. But David extended grace to him. Friends, we are born sinners separated from God. We are crippled in our sin, sin that will bring us eternal death. But God sent His Son Jesus in His amazing grace and as a result, all sinners crippled by their sin, can claim God’s grace and be saved through the blood of Jesus.
2) David extended grace to Mephibosheth because of a promise with another. David had a covenant with Jonathan, not Mephibosheth. God saved you and me because of another, Jesus Christ. The day that we all leave these bodies of flesh and arrive at the throne of Heaven, God will not see us in our crippling sin, but see the unblemished, perfect, sin free blood of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, because He lives, we can be together with God eternally.
3) Mephibosheth received David’s grace with humility. We must receive the grace of Jesus. It is not automatic, but it is free. It is not done for you; you must claim it. In your crippled state you must humbly approach the throne of Jesus and ask for His saving grace. All that ask will be saved. (Romans 10:13)
4) David restored all that rightfully belonged to Mephibosheth. Folks, as we are, we are morally bankrupt sinners. But as we call upon the name of Jesus Christ to save us, we are adopted into the family of God. And when your Dad “owns the cattle on a thousand hills, every bird in the mountains, all creatures of the field, and the world and all that is in it” you have been adopted into the family of the King. (Psalm 50:10-12) We are all created by God and when we claim Jesus as our Savior we are restored as God's heirs.
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:4-6
Friend, have you claimed the amazing grace of God through Jesus Christ? Are you ready to admit that your sin has crippled you in this life? The bondage of your sin destroys, damages, and creates distance between you and a God that loves you more than you will ever know. Admit your sin to Jesus and then humbly approach Him and ask for His saving grace to immerse you. All you need to do is ask and in His perfect promise, He will hear you and graciously redeem your soul. And as you claim the salvation of Jesus, you will be restored. You will be brought into the palace of the King. You will dine at His table. And not one single dinner, “but you shall eat at my table always.”
May you today, claim the power of the promise…the promise of Salvation through Jesus.
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