Day 43

Mephibosheth



2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9:1-13, 2 Samuel 19:14-30, Luke 14:12-14

BY Erin Davis

We all walk with a limp. Sin has twisted our hearts. It’s warped our lives. Humanity is handicapped by our failed attempts at holiness. I see us in the twisted feet and pitiful heart of Mephibosheth. As he grovels before King David and asks, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9:8), I hear an echo of David’s own words in Psalm 8:4: “What is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?”

Why would a perfect God love one as broken as I am? I am surely damaged goods. Yet, He does not cast me aside.

The story of Mephibosheth is a shadow of the sweetness of the Lord. Mephibosheth had a heritage of rebellion. His grandfather Saul ran from the law of the Lord in more ways than I have the keystrokes to recount, before dying in shame surrounded by his enemies. Disgrace might have seemed a fitting end to Mephibosheth’s story. Yet, he received grace instead. Plucked from the mire, he was given a seat at the king’s table. It’s a story that should ring some bells. Though we deserve darkness, we are welcome to pull up a chair to the table of the King of kings.

“Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.”
– Revelation 19:7

Crippled by the sins of his ancestors, and surely humbled by his own, Mephibosheth was the recipient of the king’s extravagant kindness. Instead of the poster child for brokenness, he became the poster child for grace.

Fast forward to the book of Acts. The world is being transformed in the wake of the gospel’s tide, when Peter and John encounter another broken man. Lame since birth, he lies daily at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, begging for scraps of mercy. Yet, he receives so much more. Peter says to him: “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6).

And he does.
He jumps up.
He starts to walk.
He enters the temple.
He is “walking, leaping, and praising God” (vv.8–9).

The people recognize him.
They are filled with awe.
They are astonished at what had happened to the beggar before the Beautiful Gate (v.10).

From outcast to insider…
From broken to made whole…
From lame to leaping…

This is our story. This is our song. May the world be filled with wonder before our great God.

Post Comments (22)

22 thoughts on "Mephibosheth"

  1. Shawn Parks says:

    Not only did David extend grace to Mephibosheth as a relative of Jonathan and invite him to his table for his entire life, but Mephibosheth extended the same grace and generosity to Ziba even though Ziba had betrayed him. Unless I am reading this wrong, when David determines to split saul’s land between the two men, Mephibosheth gives it all to Ziba. Again I see the beauty of a life in Christ in that when we receive the grace and mercy of God and are invited to His great banquet table, we are so changed by this undeserved adoption into His family that we look with new eyes to the people around us—even those who hurt us, betray us, and break our trust—and extend the same undeserved generosity and kindness that our Lord lavished on us. What more do we need than to sit at the table of our Lord. How his grace changes us. I would love to know how those around Mephibosheth on the day he announced that Ziba would have all his land (land that had been gifted to him by his king) reacted to that outward act of generosity and mercy. Lord, let me be so moved by the grace that you extended to me that I cannot help but extend the same grace and compassion to others, especially those who in mans eyes are undeserving! Let me act and move according to your standards!

    1. Melissa Graves says:

      Beautiful. Amen ❤️

  2. Anne Jones says:

    Thank you Jesus for your never ending Grace. Help me to be gracious to others

    1. Natasha R says:

      Amen!

  3. Churchmouse says:

    I know about generational sin. The sins of fathers and mothers modeled before their children are sometimes seen repeated in their own lives. I’m encouraged in today’s reading to see that generational kindness can also repeat itself and be rewarded. Jonathan, Saul’s son and likely heir to the throne, loved David and recognized David was to be the next king of Israel, not himself. Jonathan had a son Mephibosheth who through a tragic accident became lame at the age of five. Mephibosheth, as a generational heir to Saul’s throne, could have been seen as a threat to David. David could have removed him as a threat. David however remembers his friendship and bond to Jonathan and so extends mercy and generosity to Mephibosheth. This would have been exceptional kindness to a potential enemy. Jonathan’s friendship to David resulted in David extending a hand of fellowship to Mephibosheth.

    The kindness I extend to others may well lead to kindness coming around full circle. While that should not be the primary motivation, it may be an unintended consequence. May I show kindness and mercy as the opportunity arises simply because I have already been the recipient of God’s kindness and mercy. May I pay it forward. May it come back around. May there be unending circles spread far and wide.

  4. Ava Coache says:

    I was thinking the same thing!! :)

  5. Dominique Turnquest says:

    Amen. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who have passed from death to life. No shame. We are not refuse.
    Look up child!

  6. Linda R says:

    “Why would a perfect God love one as broken as I am?… yet he does not cast me aside.”
    Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. God’s grace is always amazing, as we expect shame, punishment, humiliation. But he raises us up to sit and eat with him at the king’s table. Feeling thankful at the goodness, the kindness, of my God this morning.

  7. Danielle Chamberlain says:

    Only thought is to include the passage 2 Samuel 16: 1-4 as it brings context to chapter 19 portion.

  8. Kristen says:

    Wow! What a wonderful devotional today. A reminder of the extravagant love of our God and our Savior, Jesus! How joyful to be invited to sit at the King’s table! https://youtu.be/JJ5lX3YoXF4

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