The King's Grace

One of the greatest examples of grace in the Old Testament is found in II Samuel, Chapter 9. The story of grace in this chapter is a portent of what was to happen later in the New Testament when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I’ve always marveled at the similarity between the two stories, and especially appreciate how the Old Testament passage has a knack for bringing grace down to our level of understanding.

From Webster’s: Grace – (1) Unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification (2) A virtue coming from God (3) A special favor - Synonym: Mercy

King David had established his kingdom and defeated those that would oppose him. His rule and his power was absolute, and at the time of the story it appears that he has had time to reflect on all that has happened during the few years since King Saul’s death. Now he finally has the opportunity to tie up any loose ends that might remain.

“And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” II Samuel 9:1

Many years before, David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, had become best friends. They had made a pledge to each other to remain as such, despite troubles that were brewing between David and Saul. Now, remembering that pledge as well as the friendship they had shared, David asks if anyone is left alive in Saul’s family that he can show kindness to in honor of his late friendship with Jonathon.

There was a servant in the palace named Ziba, and he replied to David when asked, that Jonathon had a son that is still alive named Mephibosheth. Then he adds the tag-line that ‘he is lame on his feet.’ In essence he is saying that there is one left, but he is a cripple, and hence, not worthy of the King’s time. David ignores the label, and asks where he can find him, and Ziba replies that he lives in Lo-debar. I’ve studied that word over the years and the meaning of Lo-debar appears either to be ‘no communication’ or ‘no bread’ depending on whose translation you read. Either way, the point is made. Mephibosheth is by this time merely a footnote, or in a state of no longer being relevant. Again, however, David ignores this information and sends someone to get him.

If you study history, you know that kings and princes were usually family, and the crown was passed down from generation to generation. When a new king gained power that was not of the original family; that family was in trouble. Usually the new king would wipe out the remaining family members of the old king to prevent someone from bringing up later that the old king’s family was better suited for the job due to their leadership, blood-line, etc.

Whether you knew this or not, it is apparent that Mephibosheth did. When he is brought before King David, he falls on his face, does reverence, and proclaims himself to be David’s servant. Imagine the thoughts going through his mind at that time. He probably thought he was going to be the latest victim of the purge that was sure to follow David’s accession to the throne. Crippled and worthless, unable to defend himself, standing before the king who had the ultimate power of life and death over him, he does all that he is capable of doing. He asks for mercy, requesting to be thought of as merely a servant of the new king.

But this is not what David had in mind at all. David orders Ziba (the man who loved tag-lines) to give to Mephibosheth all of Saul’s land and possessions, and Ziba and his fifteen sons were to take care of the place for him. And then David adds, “but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table.” What a day it must have been for poor, destitute, crippled Mephibosheth. He had ridden an emotional roller-coaster of fearing the worst but now getting the best that life had to offer, all in one afternoon!

We are very much like Mephibosheth, crippled by our sins and by the labels others place on us. “He’s a good guy, but he had a little problem with…” or “Yeah, she does a great job, but do you remember when she was younger and…” Worst of all, the sin that cripples us also keeps us separated from God, and we understand that God is going to judge us one day and we know that we will have nothing to offer when that day arrives. So we dwell in our own land of no communication or no bread, while we fearfully wait for the other shoe to drop.

In our wildest dreams we have no idea that the King is calling us out of grace. Just as Mephibosheth had nothing to offer King David, we have nothing to offer God. But in the same manner as David’s friendship with Jonathon, due to the fact that Jesus paid our sin penalty for us, God is ready to accept us and has prepared a place for us at His table. All we have to do is accept the gift that has been freely provided for us through His Son.

Now that, my friends, is Amazing Grace!