By Pastor Greg
A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball
game. He asked one of the youngsters what the score was. "We're losing
18-0," was the answer. "Well,"
said the man. "I must say you don't look discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy said,
puzzled. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't come to bat yet."
I like that boy’s attitude.
Some people become discouraged when they fail to see
the desired results. But most people are discouraged because life doesn’t turn out the way they expected. Some people become discouraged when find
themselves at a place or in a situation they never imagined; they wake up one
morning and realize they are far from the green grass of home.
Take Mephibosheth, for example. He was handicapped; crippled because of an
unfortunate accident. When he was just a
child, his nurse picked him up in a hurry, and as she was rushing out of the
room she dropped the boy, and he became
crippled. It’s sad, really; this nurse
panicked when she learned that Mephibosheth’s father and grandfather had been
killed.
You’ve
probably never heard of this man. And if
you’re thinking his name sounds biblical then yes, you are correct. He lived
about 3,000 years ago when David was King
of Israel. Mephibosheth’s grandfather
was Saul, and Saul hated David. While Saul was king, he pursued David across
Israel. However, rather than responding
in hate, David responded to Saul with
patience and respect. David could have
killed Saul on two occasions, but instead, he showed restraint. He would not kill someone anointed to
leadership by God.
But Mephibosheth did not know this. Neither did his nurse.
The nurse feared for Mephibosheth’s life. In those days it was common practice for a
new king to execute anyone related to the old one; surviving family members
could become a threat. Well, since David
would soon be anointed as the new king of Israel, she assumed he would come to the palace and execute all those related
to the old king. But, the nurse did not
need to be afraid; you see David was unlike any other king during that
time. David was a man ruled by grace.
Mephibosheth was sent to live with a man called Makir in the land of Lo-debar – a desolate
place which literally means “no pasture.”
And for 18 years, Mephibosheth was living in a desert, hiding from his
king all because he had been told the king would have him executed.
Have you ever experienced this? Do you know what it’s like to live in
Lo-debar?
Imagine this man’s life. Crippled at the age of 5. Sent to live in a desolate place. His father and grandfather killed. And ever since he was a boy, he had been in
hiding; told that if people found out who he
was, he would be killed (sounds like the
beginning of some comic book superhero, doesn’t it). For 18 years he had been told to be afraid of
the king. Do you think Mephibosheth
lived with discouragement?
I believe the story of Mephibosheth is included in
the Bible for two reasons. First, it
shows us what sort of man David was, and secondly, it demonstrates something
the Bible calls grace.
2 Samuel 9 tells us what happened to Mephibosheth;
we are told what became of that poor crippled boy who was taken out into the
wasteland. After about 18 years – once
David was securely settled into Jerusalem – he asks if there are any of Saul’s descendants still alive. A servant tells him about Mephibosheth. So, David sends a carriage out to Lo-debar
and escorts the young man back to Jerusalem.
Picture this crippled man standing before the king – the very man he had
been told to fear. Surely, this young man must have been afraid. Surely, he must have expected to be punished…
to be killed. He expected a sad ending to a sad and miserable life. And yet, Mephibosheth did not know the heart
of the king. He did not know what sort
of king was seated on the throne.
Rather than
call Mephibosheth to the palace for an execution, David invites him there to
show him grace.
(2 Samuel 9:5-10) David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was
Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David,
he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings,
Mephibosheth.”
Mephibosheth
replied, “I am your servant.”
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend
to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will
give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you
will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and
exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead
dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba
and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul
and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm
the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth,
your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.”[1]
Mephibosheth received grace, not because he earned
it or did something to deserve it; Mephibosheth was treated like a son because
of a promise made by the king.
God does the same thing to you and me.
We do not receive what we expect when we come to
God. We come to God expecting to be scolded and punished for who we
are and what we have done. Yet, because
of a promise, we receive grace. We are
invited into the palace and treated like a son or a daughter, not because our
behavior has been excellent, or our deeds have been commendable. We receive more than we can imagine because
of a promise the King has made… the promise God has made. He has promised to
show us grace when we place our faith in Christ. Jesus has purchased this grace for us by His
death upon the cross. Instead of receiving
the punishment we deserve, “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was
whipped so we could be healed”
[2]
(Isaiah 53:5).
In David’s exchange with Mephibosheth, I see an excellent example of what grace truly is: it is God’s favor and blessing
extended to us for no other reason than it is what He chooses to do. “By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like
everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us
so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins,
he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace
that you have been saved!)”[3]
(Ephesians 2:3-5).
I’m not sure if you can identify with
Mephibosheth. I can. Do you know what it is like to be afraid of a
king…not an earthly king, mind you, but the King of Heaven? Do you believe that God hates you because of
your sin? Has this fear of God caused
you to live in a dry, desert place? Is
your life parched and dry? Do you
struggle to find joy and peace? Are you
discouraged with a life that has no value or purpose? Maybe you don’t really know God at all.
Like Mephibosheth, and like myself, you will be amazed at what will happen when you come to God
through Jesus the Son. When you place
your faith in Jesus, you will receive God’s grace. Instead of punishment,
He will shower you with His love and His grace.
[1]
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation
(2 Sa 9:5–10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[2]
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation
(Is 53:5). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation
(Eph 2:3–5). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
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