Mephibosheth (12-11-12)

2 Samuel 4:4 - "Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son crippled in his feet He was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame And his name was Mephibosheth."

In 2 Samuel chapter 9 we're given a historical account of an event in the life of David. Saul's son Jonathan had a son by the name of Mephibosheth. After Jonathan and Saul fell in battle and David took his place on the throne, Mephibosheth and his nurse fled in fear, and in the process he became crippled. In many civilizations in those days when a new king from a new family would take the throne he would completely wipe out all of the family of the former king to prevent repercussion, so this is why they fled in fear. David however, rather then destroying Saul's family, sought to do good to them for the sake of his friend Jonathan. So in 2 Samuel 9 we're given this account - "Then David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "I am your servant." The king said, "Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet." So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar." Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!" David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly." Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?" Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master's grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall eat at my table regularly." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king's table regularly Now he was lame in both feet."

At the end of this account we're given a reminder again that he was lame in both feet. This may seem redundant or out of place, but everything in Scripture is placed perfectly. In this account David is a type of God the Father, and Mephibosheth, believe it or not, is a type of mankind. "Now he was lame in both feet." If we look back at 2 Samuel chapter 4 we read - "Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son crippled in his feet He was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame And his name was Mephibosheth." David was the king, and it happened that while Mephibosheth was fleeing from the king he fell and became lame. This is very similar to what we're told in Genesis chapter 3. God is the King of kings, and in Genesis 3 Adam began to rebel against the Kings command, he sinned and disobeyed God and mankind is now paralyzed by a disease we call sin. This event in the garden of Eden is commonly known as "the fall." Just like Mephibosheth was damaged in the fall while he was fleeing from the king, we have been affected by the fall and have rebelled against the King.
But that's not the end of the story. Even though he ran from David in fear, David desired to show lovingkindness toward him, and he did. He gave him property and possessions, and on top of that Mephibosheth regularly dined at Davids table. And God desires to treat fallen man the same way. He desires to rescue us, "we who were once enemies of God", and He desires to clothe us with His righteousness, and give us possession and position and wealth in heaven that does not fade away. And not only that, but He also says that to the one who hears his voice, and opens the door to Him He will come in and dine with them.   
Mephibosheth didn't do anything to earn Davids favor, and not only that, but he couldn't do anything to earn his favor. David simply desired to show the kindness of God to the house of Saul. David had the love of God in his heart, and it worked it's way out. There is nothing we can do to earn Gods favor. But because of His essential character and nature, because of His unchanging love, He desires to show grace to us, unmerited favor. Not because of anything we've done, but simply because of who He is. In His great lovingkindness toward us He made a way, and invites us to dine with Him. And He made the way possible through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."