After fully assuming the throne, David began a search throughout the kingdom for any descendants of Jonathan remaining. He found one son, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth had been crippled when a nurse dropped him as they were fleeing after the deaths of then King Saul and his son Jonathan. They were fleeing because it was the practice of the day for the new dynasty to kill any remnants of the old dynasty. That was to prevent rebellion and attempts to re-take the throne. [2 Samuel 9]
Mephibosheth was in hiding, in a remote part of the kingdom. He was poor and shamed, even referring to himself as a “dead dog.” David sends for Mephibosheth, who as I wrote yesterday, probably came with “…only a fearful expectation of judgment….” [Heb 10:27 NIV]
After falling prostrate at David’s feet, the king surprises him. He lifts him up and gives him life instead of death. He invites him to sit at the king’s table for the rest of his days, he calls him “a son” and restores to him the fortunes of his grandfather Saul. Mephibosheth did absolutely nothing to deserve any of this. It was an amazing and beautiful act of mercy and grace on the part of King David.
Let’s face it, we are all Mephibosheth’s. We are descendants of Adam who sinned and passed that sin and punishment to all of us. We had “…only a fearful expectation of judgment….” Instead of death however, when we prostrated ourselves at the feet of Jesus we received life, sonship, acceptance and restoration. We now sit at the table of the king as sons and daughters. We have an eternal inheritance and God will one day restore to us all that sin has taken.
John 1:16: From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. [NIV]
