"THE GREAT STORY OF MEPHIBOSHETH" BY THE ENGLISH TAFFY NEVILLE STEPHENS

  As soon as the kings of the nations around Israel saw that a strong man was ruling over the tribes, they began to make war upon David, for they feared to see Israel gaining in power. So it came to pass that David had many wars. The Moabites, who lived on the east of the Dead Sea, went to war with David, but David conquered them, and made Moab submit to Israel. Far in the north, the Syrians came against David; but he won great victories over them, and took Damascus, their chief city, and held it as a part of his kingdom. In the south, he made war upon the Edomites, and brought them under his rule.

For a number of years David was constantly at war, but at last he was at peace, the ruler of all the lands from the great river Euphrates on the north, down to the wilderness on the south, where the Israelites had wandered; and from the great desert on the east to the Great Sea on the west. All these lands were under the rule of King David, except the people of Tyre and Sidon, who lived beside the Great Sea on the north of Israel. These people, the Tyrians, never made war on Israel, and their king, Hiram, was one of David's best friends. The men of Tyre cut down cedar-trees on Mount Lebanon for David, and brought them to Jerusalem, and built for David the palace which became his home.

Turn with me to 2^nd Samuel 21, and let me show you a beautiful picture of God’s free and amazing grace in Christ. My text is found in verse 7.

David killed all the sons of Saul’s house at the command of God. The slaughter of Saul’s seven remaining sons was an act of strict justice. — “But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul.” All the sons of Saul were slain; “but the King spared Mephibosheth.”

Who was this prince Mephibosheth? He was Jonathan’s son, the last living survivor of the royal house of Saul. When the news of Saul’s death and of the death of his sons on the battlefield of Gilboa reached the royal palace, Mephibosheth was only five years old. His nurse took Jonathan’s little boy up in her arms and fled down to Lodebar. In her panic, Mephibosheth fell from her arms and was crippled. From that day on, he was lame on both of his feet.

Let’s go back to 2 Samuel 9:1-13.

Sixteen years had passed since David made a covenant with Jonathan. Now, the time had come for David to fulfill his covenant promise to Jonathan (1 Sam. 20:14-17).

(1 Sam 20:14-17)  "And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: (15) But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. (16) So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. (17) And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul."

Now David is determined to fulfill his covenant promise to Jonathan. So he sought out last survivor of his dear friend and companion. David sent for Mephibosheth, and brought him to the palace. When Mephibosheth first learned that the king had found him, he must have been terrified. He knew what had become of Saul’s sons. Fearful and trembling, he came into David’s presence, expecting to be slain. What a blessed surprise he found! David showed him nothing but kindness and mercy. He was made to be as one of the king’s sons.

Follow along, as I show you how this story sets forth the gospel of Christ. Behind the noble kindness of David toward Mephibosheth, the marvelous grace of God towards us shines forth brilliantly. When the poor, crippled son of Jonathan was brought from Lodebar to Jerusalem, and made to sit at the king’s table, I am sure that words could not begin to express his gratitude. And when a slave of sin and Satan is made an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, he is lost in wonder, love, and praise. Eternity itself cannot render to the Lord the praise and adoration we desire to give him.

Proposition:  David’s kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake is a beautiful picture of God’s lovingkindness and tender mercy to sinners for Christ’s sake.

Divisions:  As we go through this chapter, I want to show you five things about this man Mephibosheth, and show you how they speak of the grace of God to us in Christ.

ONE. MEPHIBOSHETH WAS IN A VERY MISERABLE CONDITION WHEN THE KING SOUGHT HIM OUT.

He was altogether unworthy of David’s attention, regard, and favour. But David freely showed kindness and mercy to him. And we are unworthy to receive anything from God; nevertheless, he is gracious to us.

A. The name “Mephibosheth” means shameful, and a shameful man he was.

He was poor, destitute, and helpless. Well may all the sons of Adam be called “Mephibosheth.” We are “a shameful thing.” “We are all as an unclean thing” (Isa. 64:6). “From the soul of the foot even unto the crown of the head, there is no soundness in us, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores” (Isa. 1:6). “Man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity.” Like the leper, we have an incurable disease. Like the harlot, we are defiled. Your name and mine is Mephibosheth, “a shameful thing,” in heart, in will, and in deed.

B. Mephibosheth was the king’s enemy.

He was the son of Saul, a natural enemy to David. He was hiding from David. But David was not his enemy.

1.    By nature, all the sons of Adam are enemies of God (Rom. 8:7).

2.    We were hiding from God when he saved us.

3.    But God is not the enemy of his people.

·       Through Jesus Christ God has reconciled us to himself (Rom. 5:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:19-20).

(Rom 5:5-10)  "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

(2 Cor 5:19-21)  "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

·       And God is ever beseeching lost, lame, languishing sinners to be reconciled to him.

C. Mephibosheth became lame through a fall (v. 3).

2 Samuel 9:3  “And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.”

2 Samuel 4:4  “And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.”

Even so, “God created man upright,” but we became helpless, lame cripples through the fall of our father Adam (John 6:44).

(John 6:44)  "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

D.             And Mephibosheth was in a far country (v. 4).

2 Samuel 9:4  “And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.”

1.    He was far away from the king.

2.    He was far away from Jerusalem.

·       The place of blessing.

·       The place of peace.

·       The place of worship.

3.    He was  in the house of Machir, which means “sold.”

4.    He was down in Lodebar, the place of no bread.

5.    This is our condition by nature.

You who are yet without faith in Christ are far away from God. You are far away from Christ. You are sold under sin. You are in a desert place, where there is no bread.

NOTE: “Lodebar” is written across the fields of this world. When will you wandering prodigals realize this? Come to your senses, man; and come to Christ (Psa. 68:6; Lk. 15:16).

Psalms 68:6  “God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”

Luke 15:16  “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

Like Mephibosheth, you who are without Christ are in a miserable condition. Oh, may the Lord show you your condition!

TWO   MEPHIBOSHETH WAS CALLED BY THE KING (v. 4-5).

2 Samuel 9:4-5  “And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. (5) Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.”

David sought Mephibosheth and fetched him to the palace. I love that word “fetched.” Don’t you? Here again, we see God’s marvellous grace toward sinners. He seeks his own sheep. And when he finds his sheep, he fetches it home.

A. David sought Mephibosheth — Mephibosheth did not seek David.

·       A Sovereign Choice

·       A Personal Call

·       An Irresistible Fetch (Ps. 65:4; 110:3)

Salvation begins with God. He takes the initiative. Man goes astray. Man hides from God. But God seeks and finds his own. It is written, “I am found of them that sought me not.”

God almighty sends his Spirit to seek and find his people, who have strayed far away from him. He always finds them; and he always brings them home. He says, “Follow me,” and they follow. He says, “Come unto me,” and they come.

·       Abraham was in Ur.

·       Moses was in Midian.

·       Zachaeus was up in a tree.

·       Saul was in the desert.

·       The Ethiopian Eunuch

B. Mephibosheth came before the king in reverent submission (v. 6).

2 Samuel 9:6  “Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!”

1.    When he first came before David, he reverenced him with fear and trembling. He did not know what David would do with him. He could kill him, or he could let him live. So Mephibosheth threw himself at the king’s feet.

2.    David broke the poor man’s fear. He called him by name and spoke peaceably to him. “Mephibosheth, fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness.”

3.    Have you thrown yourself down at the feet of Christ the great King? That’s the way to obtain mercy.

Blessed be his name, he calls his own by name; and he speaks peace to our souls!

C. Now get this — Mephibosheth was received in all his deformity.

Just as he was, without any improvement, David received the poor cripple. And the Lord our God receives sinners in all their deformity.

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee -

O Lamb of God, I come.

Come ye weary, heavy laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall.

If you tarry till you’re better,

You will never come at all.

D.             Mephibosheth was received for the sake of another (v. 7).

2 Samuel 9:7  “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”

David received Mephibosheth altogether for Jonathan’s sake, because he loved Jonathan. And God receives us altogether for Christ’s sake, because he loves his Son (Tit. 3:3-7).

Titus 3:3-7  “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

On the basis of Christ’s righteous obedience as our Representative and voluntary death as our Substitute, God receives believing sinners. It pleases God to look on Christ and pardon all who believe on him. Just as David received Mephibosheth because of his relationship to Jonathan, God receives us because of our relationship to Christ.

E.  When Mephibosheth came to David, he learned to have a proper estimate of himself (v. 8).

2 Samuel 9:8  “And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”

Listen to me now. It is only after we come to Christ that we truly have a proper view of ourselves. Do not expect to find repentance until you come to Christ by faith.

THREE  MEPHIBOSHETH WAS RECONCILED TO THE KING BY AN ACT OF THE KING’S OWN MERCY (vv. 9-10).

2 Samuel 9:9-10  “Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. (10) Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.”

David restored Mephibosheth and made him as one of the king’s sons. Once again, he was made to be a prince in Israel.

A. Mephibosheth got more in David than he had lost in Saul. — And we got more in Christ than we lost in Adam.

1.    He has given us life eternal.

2.    He has given us peace (Rom. 5:1).

3.    Christ has given us an incorruptible inheritance.

4.    Christ has provided for us all that we need.

5.    And in Christ we are given the highest possible honor and dignity (1 John 3:1).

B. And under the king’s table Mephibosheth’s crippled feet were covered.

He was still lame on both his feet, but his deformity was covered under David’s table. Now, blessed be God, in Christ all the deformities of his people are covered!

FOUR  ONCE MORE, MEPHIBOSHETH WAS GRANTED PERPETUAL FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION WITH THE KING.

The king’s house was his house. He dwelt with David. He was always accepted in David’s presence.

A.   Children of God, it is our privilege and joy to dwell with the King.

1.    We walk in his company.

2.    We are allowed to speak freely to him.

3.    We live upon his riches.

4.    We rest under his protection.

B.   Because of the grace he had received, Mephibosheth loved the king above everything (19:24-30).

2 Samuel 19:24-31  “And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. (25) And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? (26) And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. (27) And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. (28) For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? (29) And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. (30) And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.”

1.    He waited patiently for the king’s return.

2.    He wanted nothing but the king.

3.    Because of his great love for the king, Ziba despised him.

4.    Children of God, we ought to imitate this man Mephibosheth.

·       Ought we not love King Jesus supremely?

·       Give up everything to him and for him.

·       Wait patiently for the King’s return.

·       Desire nothing but Christ himself.

FIVE.     Now, I want you to see one more thing — ALL OF THIS WAS DONE FOR MEPHIBOSHETH, BECAUSE OF A COVENANT MADE LONG BEFORE HE WAS BORN (1 Sam. 21:7).

When the King returned and finally destroyed all the sons of Saul (seven of them), Mephibosheth was spared because of David’s love for Johnathan. David loved Mephibosheth because of his relation to Johnathan and because of the covenant he made with Johnathan.

2 Samuel 21:7  “But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.”

And, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, all that we have in Christ and all that we have experienced of divine grace, has been given to us because of a covenant made between God the Father and God the Son long before we were born. Mephibosheth did not know anything about the covenant, but David did! God our Father loves us and deals graciously with us because of Christ and our relation to him. Indeed, he loves us as he loves his dear Son!

Application:

1.    Is there in this house of worship any Mephibosheth? Any poor, shameful, helpless sinner who needs mercy? Come, throw yourself down at the feet of King Jesus and sue for mercy.

2.    Children of God, let our hearts be filled with love, adoration, praise, and thanksgiving for the kindness of God which he has shown unto us for Christ’s sake. As David fulfilled his covenant with Jonathan in Mephibosheth, so the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour, will fulfill all his covenant in us.

THE CRIPPLE AT THE KING’S TABLE This event takes place some years after King Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle with the Philistines and shortly after David had finally become king over all of Israel. This story is the story of David and Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth is the last remaining member of Saul’s house, being that he was the son of Jonathan. He was a cripple, and there was no reason for David to show any special regard for him. But because of the great love that David had for Jonathan, he took Mephibosheth into his household and gave him a seat at his table, the table of the king. A seat at the table of the king. What an amazing thing! Think for a moment: to sit at the king’s table was an unspeakable honour. Maybe if Mephibosheth had been a great warrior, it would make sense. Maybe if he was a part of David’s family. Mephibosheth was neither. He was lame. A cripple. He could do no great works to earn David’s favour. On top of that, he was the grandson of Saul – a man who tried to kill David on more than one occasion. How is it, then, that this great honour was bestowed upon an undeserving cripple? It was because of the great love that David had for his closest friend, Mephibosheth’s father Jonathan. David loved Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake. 

 This is a relatively short story but a powerful one nonetheless. Perhaps you think this is an isolated event in which a man showed great love for his friend by taking his crippled son into his house and seating him at his table. However, we can see ourselves in this story as well. We are all cripples. We may not be physically crippled, but we are all lame in our hearts, crippled in our souls. We have no worthiness in ourselves that would require or incline God to love us. We do not deserve His kindness or His love. We are not lovely. Yet God places His love on us. Why? Because the Father loves the Son. Jesus is the Beloved of the Father, and He loved us enough that He would come and suffer and die in our place. And the Father has given Jesus the reward of His suffering: His bride (Isaiah 53:7-12). 

 Just as David loved Jonathan and loved Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake, so the Father loves Jesus and loves us for Jesus’ sake. Our standing with God is not based on us, but His favour is shown to us in Christ and because of Christ. This love is bewildering. It makes no sense. We are not lovely; we are ugly with sin. We have no worthiness in ourselves to deserve the love of God. Yet He loves us anyway. Mephibosheth became part of David’s household – in Christ we are adopted into God’s household. This is truly amazing love. 

Just as David invited Mephibosheth to eat at his table all the rest of his days, God also invites us to come and fellowship at His table. We cannot come on our own. Instead we must be carried. We are crippled like Mephibosheth. Jesus invites us to come. One day we will physically sit at our Lord’s Table when He returns for His bride, and we will share in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. There is a special intimacy in breaking bread and eating with one another. Christ invites us to share in this special fellowship with Him. We do not deserve a place at the King’s table. Yet, out of His great love and grace, we have a place at the table if we are betrothed to the Beloved – Jesus Christ. And there in the presence of the King we will remain for eternity. God has seen fit to give us a little glimpse of this table fellowship while we are here on this earth awaiting our Bridegroom. This glimpse is given to us in The Lord’s Supper. Again, stop and think. When you partake of Holy Communion you are coming to the King’s table. You and I do not deserve to be there. Yet, in Holy Communion, we are invited to the Lord’s Table where Jesus is the Host. He invites us to come and fellowship with Him, and He feeds us with Himself. There in Holy Communion we meet Jesus in a special way. He is there in His true body and blood as well as in His divinity, and there He nourishes us with Himself and we enjoy sweet, intimate fellowship with our Lord and Saviour. The King brings us cripples to His table. What an amazing honour and privilege our King has granted us! What love is this that invites poor beggars and cripples with nothing to offer to come and dine with the King of Kings? Amazing love. Amazing grace. 

May you think of God’s great love for us when you read the story of David and Mephibosheth. May you think of it when you think of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb that is awaiting us who are in Christ Jesus. May you think of God’s great love for us when He invites you to come and dine at His table in Holy Communion. We have no intrinsic worthiness in ourselves. We are but poor cripples carried to the table of our God and King. 

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” – Revelation 19:9

Maranatha Blessings,

Nev.