Mephibosheth

                                                                                        

Aloha Dearest Family,

                Today we will learn about a man from the Old Testament named Mephibosheth. This man is noted in scripture, not for what he had done, but who his father was and the blessings he received because of it. Mephibosheth was the last remaining son of Jonathan, King Saul’s grandson. Early in David’s life, after he slew Goliath, David became good friends with King Saul’s son Jonathan. David became closer than a brother with Jonathan and Jonathan risked his life several times to save David’s life. In the course of time, both Saul and Jonathan were killed in the battle of Mount Gilboa and David became King of Israel. Under David’s rule Israel became unified, David’s enemies were vanquished and for the first time in a long time, the land had peace.

                One day David decided to show kindness to Saul’s household for Jonathan’s sake and inquired if there were anyone left of Jonathan’s family. David calls for Ziba who was the servant to Saul’s family and discovers that Jonathan has one remaining son - Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet (when Mephibosheth was just five years old, his nurse, after hearing about Saul and Jonathan’s death, dropped the child when she was fleeing. Both feet were broken and he became lame). At this time Mephibosheth was living in the household of Machir in a city called Lo-debar, far away from his family’s inheritance. David then called for Mephibosheth to appear before him. What would you do if you were Mephibosheth? The king of Israel, the most powerful man in all the land, wants to see you. He could have never guessed that on this day his life would change forever.

                “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!” 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.” (II Samuel 9:6 and 7)

Mephibosheth would be the distinguished guest of King David for as long as he lived. In the ancient East, you wouldn’t eat with just anyone. You only ate with your family or your closest, most intimate friends. This is the amount of respect David was showing Mephibosheth, for Jonathan’s sake. Furthermore, his family’s inheritance would be restored to him.

                “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. 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. 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.” (Verses 9-11)

Mephibosheth wouldn’t have to work his own land. Ziba and his son’s would work the land for him and bring him the proceeds. This would provide Mephibosheth an income. This was the kindness that David showed to Mephibosheth because of the kindness that Jonathan showed David when he was in trouble.

                This record is often overlooked among the many acts that David did in his life. But if we examine it a bit closer we will find that it corresponds to many points of the Christian calling. Here are some similarities:

                -Before David called him, Mephibosheth was in a poor situation. He was living among strangers as a cripple far from home. 

               – Before God called us we were also in a dire situation. We had no life within us and we were separated from God Almighty. We were strangers from the covenant of God’s promises, having no hope. (See Ephesians 2:12)

                -Mephibosheth spent most of his life as a cripple. Through no fault of his own, he could not provide for himself. He would never be able to change his situation. Before we were called by God we were sick without a cure. Through no fault of our own, we all inherited Adam’s sinful nature and The Word said that we were “dead in trespasses and sins”. And someone who is dead cannot help himself out of his circumstance.

                -After David called Mephibosheth, his family’s inheritance was restored to him.  Because we are now children of God we share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ. We are “joint heirs” with him.

                -Mephibosheth had the privilege of eating with the king everyday. We now have the awesome privilege of enjoying sweet daily fellowship with our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And when Christ returns for us we will feast with the King of Kings at his banquet table. Everything we will ever need will be supplied to us.

            -Lastly, Mephibosheth did not earn this special treatment by the king. It wasn’t anything that he did. It was given to him because of the kindness that his father Jonathan showed to David.  The kindness that is bestowed upon us by our Father is not because of what we did. Jesus Christ earned it for us. But we did the one thing that God asked us to do. We confessed His son as our Savior and believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. When we did this God was able to transfer us into His kingdom where He could lavish upon us blessing upon blessing. The promise is that we will be with Him and his son forever. 

                                        Love Always, Ray