Over the years I have spoken to believers from all across the globe. Different nationalities, different ages and different backgrounds. For all of their differences though, besides their admission of being believers, they all have something else in common: They are all worried and unsure – not unsure of God’s existence, but rather unsure of His intentions. They aren’t sure of God’s intentions towards them – whether He will do them good or evil… they aren’t sure whether God will protect them and provide for them.
In all honesty, I do understand this mentality, because I used to experience it myself. It’s impossible to be totally sure when it comes to God if you’re on a shifting foundation based on self. If you are looking to your own behaviors and performance to dictate whether you receive blessings or not from God, then you will always be on the shifting sand of your current performance-level. However, thank God that the Bible does not actually teach that we earn favor from God through our own performance or behavior! Today we will be studying how God will surely do us good, and all because of Jesus Christ and His perfect obedience.
Now it may surprise you that for the majority of our study today, we will be reading from the Old Testament portion of scripture. It usually surprises people that a teacher of the Gospel of Grace would read from the Old Testament. However if you are familiar with my other studies, you know that I cover the entire Bible equally. I fully believe that Jesus can be seen in every area of scripture, and He even taught about Himself from the Old Testament writings (such as in Luke 24:27); so if that’s the way that Jesus taught from the Old Testament, it is certainly good enough for me.
Today we are going to be taking a look at the life of someone you may or may not be familiar with, by the name of Mephibosheth the greater. His story shows us an amazing portrait of the grace of God if we take the time to examine it. Mephibosheth is King Saul’s grandson, and his father obviously was Jonathan, friend of David. Mephibosheth’s name in Hebrew means “Destruction of Shame”, or as we would more likely say today in English “No more shame”. There’s going to be some Hebrew in today’s study because unlike our modern culture, God places a high-priority on names and their meanings, as we will see.
So let’s dive into the text and see what the Spirit has for us, as we begin with 1st Samuel 18:1-4:
“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”
We are beginning here with an incident between Jonathan (Mephibosheth’s father) and David because this is an important foundational point. As we see in verse 1, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. There are some groups today who attempt to make the claim that Jonathan and David were sexual partners, but that is in no way what this is describing.
If you remember some of our previous studies, your “soul” is comprised of your mind and your emotions. The term “knit” used in this verse means to be in-league with. It basically means that they were thinking the same thoughts, they were on the same wavelength. And as the second part of the verse states, Jonathan loved David “as himself” this was the type of neighborly love commanded in the Old Covenant Mosaic Law. So they were good neighborly friends.
In verse 2 of our text, Saul took David into his kingdom (after-all, he just slayed Goliath!), and then in verse 3 is where the pivotal thing happens…
Some information must be given here. Jonathan, as the first-born son of King Saul, was the crown-prince in-line for the throne. (1st Chronicles 9:39), but what Jonathan does here changes things. We see in verse 3 that Jonathan and David make a covenant. Why was this covenant made? Because Jonathan loved David as himself – keep that fact in mind. Who initiated the covenant? Jonathan. And look at what Jonathan does in verse 4 as his part of the covenant… He strips off his robe, his garments, his sword, his bow, and his belt, and gives them to David; which is in-effect saying to David “you take my place of authority.” Jonathan was giving David his birthright as the next king of Israel. Remember, Jonathan is the crown-prince; these are not the clothes of a commoner that Jonathan is wearing, these are his royal robes along with his royal arms. Jonathan did this for David, and to know what David’s part was, it is found in 1st Samuel 20:14-15:
“And you shall not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
But also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD has cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.”
So to recap: who was in line for the throne originally? Jonathan.
Who initiated the covenant with David? Jonathan.
Now fast forward a little bit, to 2nd Samuel 4:4, and enter Mephibosheth:
“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.”
We learn something about Mephibosheth here. That he was lame in his feet. He was fave years old, and the news came that both his grandfather Saul and his father Jonathan had died in battle (1st Samuel 31) his nurse was afraid because as we see in verse 1, all of Israel was troubled, and furthermore, if they just killed King Saul and his son, then the next in line would be the next-of-kin! So the nurse panicked, picked up Mephibosheth and ran for their lives! But as we read, she fell, and the boy was permanently injured and became lame in his feet.
Keep this facts also in-mind as we fast-forward to the next time he is mentioned in 2nd Samuel 9:1-7:
“And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, Are you Ziba? And he said, Your servant is he.
And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
And 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 Lodebar.
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold your servant!
And David said to him, Fear not: for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
Here we see David now well established as king over Israel… and he remembers his covenant with Jonathan, those years ago. Now a servant from the house a Saul gets called in, whose name was Ziba. (loosely translated as an ally in Hebrew). And David asks him, is there anyone from the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? The word “kindness” used both here and in verse 1 is hessed which means Mercy, Grace. Notice that this is not the mercy and grace of David or Jonathan, but it is the mercy and grace of God that David is looking to show for Jonathan’s sake. It is because of the covenant that was cut those many years ago. Ziba then responds and tells David, Jonathan has a son, Mephibosheth, who is lame in his feet.
In verse 4, David asks where Mephibosheth is, and Ziba responds that he is currently in the house of Machir (which means sold), who is the son of Ammiel, in Lo-Debar. Now Ammiel means my kinsman is God. And Lo-Debar means no word or without pasture.
So taking all of this information in, it paints an intricate portrait of Mephibosheth here… and for those of you who have stuck with me so far through this entire study today, you’re about to be glad because here is where this all comes together. Look at the picture that this scriptures have painted of Mephibosheth:
A covenant was cut between two parties, one being his father, which guarantees him mercy and favor.
This was done before he was even born.
However up until this point he has had no word,no pasture of rest, though he is with the kinsman of God which has been sold.
Sound familiar yet? Now I want you to imagine what is going through the mind of Mephibosheth when he hears that David sent for him. Remember that King Saul and David had quite the feud going, and Mephibosheth is next-of-kin to Saul’s throne. Mephibosheth is probably expecting David to kill him at this point. Furthermore, it’s not that far of a stretch because Mephibosheth is blemished he is a cripple, he is a symbol of shame and reproach, and he is a natural enemy of David because of his lineage.
This is actually where most believers are at today. They don’t see God as a friend, they don’t see Him as an ally, and as I mentioned in the opening of this study, it is impossible to have assurance of the goodness of God towards you when you are focused on yourself. This is the beauty of this story. Mephibosheth was lame in his feet. His walk was not perfect! He cannot get from A to B on his own, he has to be carried. Looking at himself Mephibosheth would have every reason in the world to believe that his death was at hand.
Yet look at verse 7, look at the words of David to Mephibosheth: Fear not: for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake.
Not what Mephibosheth was expecting! And many believers today, are looking at themselves, estimating their own worth and value to God, some realizing thy are lame, some not but all in the same position and just when we expect the hammer to drop – Gd says the words: Fear not. Which has been the consistent message of God from the very moment Jesus was foretold to Mary by the angel, and all throughout Jesus’ ministry. Whenever He would appear and people would tremble, He would say Do not be afraid.
When we look at ourselves, it’s often easy to get discouraged and expect the worst, but the most important thing to remember, the very essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Grace! The undeserved, unearned, unmerited favor of God. Friend, it is not about you or your performance. Remember, Mephibosheth was lame in his feet, he had nothing of any worth going for him, but David still said “fear not”… and why did he say it? “I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake.” – It was the covenant relationship that made all of the difference.
Now was this just an ethereal, feel good thought for Mephibosheth? Not at all! Look at the rest of the verse: and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually. That’s not just a little blessing, that is royal, kingly redemption! All the land of Saul your father, and to eat at the king’s table continually!
We aren’t even done yet… take a look at verses 10-12:
“You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in the fruits, that your master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Then said Ziba to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelled in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.”
The entire house where Mephibosheth stayed has now become his servants! They till the land for him! They work, and he profits! This is the blessing of God my friend! This is His unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor.
Today, you can fear not. God will surely show you kindness, for Jesus’ sake.