Mephibosheth
Open Your Bible
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.
22 thoughts on "Mephibosheth"
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Yes, Danielle 2 Samuel 16:1-4 was helpful to read. Thank you. Some of these stories have really been intriguing and prompted me to read well beyond and before the suggested verses to get the rest of the story!
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Well said.
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From outcast to insider…
From broken to made whole…
From lame to leaping…This is where our God takes us. Healing, restoration and makes us His sons and daughters. May we reflect His Grace and love as David and Mehibosheth did. May our praise echo and fill the earth. He is so good!!
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Why is it that most of the time, if I write a reply to someone, it doesn’t show up? I think this is why you see the same posts more than once sometimes. They can’t see that their post showed up at all.
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I agree, because otherwise you don’t see how Ziba betrayed Mephibosheth.
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This story paired with the devotional—wow! Simply wow. This is SO MOVING and POWERFUL!!! Thank you thank you thank you for this message and study. Praise God!
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This couldn’t come at a better time. Sometimes we feel we are owed something. Or that we are entitled. And I know at times we have been wrong or simply don’t get along with certain people but we are not to be mean to them but extend her kindness. So today because of Jesus and only because of Jesus in my life I will extend kindness to that person who has showed the opposite. Why? Because that’s what Jesus would do. And I don’t glorify myself one bit. I give all the glory to God because I couldn’t even do this if it weren’t for Jesus.
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May we all by Father Gods Grace and mercy WALK IN LOVE like His Son, Jesus did….have a blessed day my sisters.
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