There is a very interesting story in the bible about someone with a very strange name. In the book of 2 Samuel, we find the story about Mephibosheth. Ever heard of him? Ever thought about the reason his story is in the Bible? Sometimes it’s easy to skim over stories in the Bible without looking for the deeper truths. I think it is especially easy to skim over stories about people with names that are hard to pronounce.
Who was Mephibosheth?
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan who was the son of Saul the first king of Israel. When Mephibosheth was just a boy, his father and grandfather died in battle. Because of the possibility of what could happen to the previous king’s descendants, in a hurry Mephibosheth was picked up and rushed out of the palace. In 2 Samuel 4:7 we read “Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became crippled. His name was Mephibosheth”. He was taken to a place called called Lo Debar, which in Hebrew means “a place of no pasture”. He was taken there for fear of the newly appointed king. He was spending his days in hiding with no rest because he believed that the king was his enemy.
Have you ever felt like you were God’s enemy?
Think about it. Everything he knew had been taken from him. He was crippled, all alone and living the rest of his days in fear for his life. This sounds like a tragedy of the worst kind. What a seemingly lowly existence. What a perfect example of a life of despair.
There was nothing he could do!
This could have been a tragic end to a very tragic story but something happened. Grace stepped in. When the newly appointed and anointed king had finally assumed his throne we read in 2 Samuel 9 that David had other plans for Mephibosheth. “The king asked, ‘Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?’ Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.’” David was a man after God’s own heart and a picture of the eternal king, Jesus Christ. Even though Saul had been his enemy and had tried several times to kill him, David still sought to bless anyone from his line. David tells a guy named Ziba to go and get mephibosheth. No doubt Mephibesheth was reluctant to go with Ziba. Was this end. Maybe it was just as well that he would finally be put out of his misery.
The surprise of his life
What a shock it must have been to realize that the king did not want to kill him but to bless him and honor him by letting him eat with him at the kings own table. What did Mephibosheth do to deserve this kind of treatment? Absolutely nothing! We read in verse seven the reason David did this. “‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’”
Do you see yourself in this story?
Do you see the reality of God’s grace in this story? He summoned us to His table and it wasn’t because of anything we had done. Because of his mercy and grace a crippled soul, hiding in fear and shame comes to dine with the king. It makes me stop and think about how much love I have been shown. Oh how He loves you and me. Oh how great is is love for the world. He is longing to show His kindness to others just like you and me. This brings up another point about another character in this story. Someone we can also identify with. Ziba was also a part of Saul’s kingdom but David had allowed him to be a part of his as well. Ziba was the one who went to get Mephibosheth.
God is calling us to go and get people like Mephibosheth
Who do you know like Mephibosheth? Do you know any crippled souls that are hiding in fear as God’s enemies? God is telling us to go and get them. Go and tell them of the grace and blessing He wants to bestow on them. Let’s go and get them. Let’s go and cary them to His table.
Jesse Heikkila
Modern Day Director