Mephibosheth

The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from 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 lame in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. (2.Samuel 9:3-5).

Mephibosheth was son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. His father and grandfather had fallen in battle with the Philistines. When news of this reached the one who looked after Mephibosheth, an accident occurred which had a serious outcome for Mephibosheth. 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 disabled. His name was Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 4:4).

Mephibosheth didn’t have a good life. When he was young and dependent on others' help and support, he was betrayed by the person who was closest to him. The woman who looked after him dropped him when rumors of those fallen in the war reached her. She was set to be his provider and protector. In an instant she disappeared out of his life and left him to the circumstances. In a way we don’t know, Mephibosheth came to Machir of Lo-debar. Now, many years later Mephibosheth lived in Lo-debar and was taken care of by Machir. He lived in fear that he would be found because he was of the royal offspring and thereby a potential acquirer of the throne.

Lo-Debar means “no meadows” or “no pastures”. Mephibosheth lived in a place where there was no growth, or fruit crops. He literally had a dry life, dependent on others for survival. One day Mephibosheth saw a dust cloud approaching, disabled as he was, he could not escape anywhere. Those who came were from Jerusalem, from King David, and the came for him. “When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “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 belong to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (9:6-8).

Life's harsh reality had done that Mephibosheth had a low self esteem. He called himself a dead dog. A dog gets the remains of humans. A dead dog on the other hand is a useless animal that are not estimated and appreciated. But this self esteem was going to be changed because the king would show him mercy.

Mephibosheth was of royal blood, and there had been a fall in his life. So it is with all mankind. We are created in God's image and we are his relatives and offspring: For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his offspring. Therefore since we are God’s offspring… (Acts 17:28-29a) When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, all of mankind fell: But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Romans 5:15). Just like Mephibosheth fell, so it is with every man, we have all fallen.

A huge transformation took place in Mephibosheths life. When he came to Jerusalem, he got a place at the king’s table, together with the king's sons, and the chief of the king’s servants. His paralyzed legs were not noticed, because they were now hidden underneath the table. Also, the property that had belonged to his grandfather, Saul, were given back to him. Mephibosheth was restored in all areas.

It is the same today. The merciful King has sent out his commandment from Jerusalem (the church; revelation 3:12, 21:10) to rescue those who live secluded and forgotten in the dry places, without any personal growth, fruit or grain. The great King, Jesus Christ, have summoned you. He wants to bring you to his church, Jerusalem. As David knew about Mephibosheth before he called him, Jesus knows about you. David also knew that Mephibosheth was paralyzed in both legs, but it didn’t prevent him to show mercy.

Jesus knows about your fall. He knows those who have betrayed you and he knows you have a dry spiritual life away from the church. He calls on you to show you his mercy. Do not hide from Jesus. He will restore you and let you eat at the king's table forever: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:5-6).