Print
There are some stories in the Old Testament that provide us with vivid insights into New Testament truth. The story of Mephibosheth is one story that does that for me. This story is found in 2 Samuel 9 and tells of a crippled man who was a son of Jonathan and a grandson of King Saul.
When Mephibosheth was 5 years old his father and grandfather were killed in a battle against the Philistines and David was duly crowned King of Judah. Mephibosheth's nanny presumed, understandably I think, that David would now seek revenge on all of Saul's relatives because of the hostility that Saul had shown towards David over many years.
She took the 5 year old boy and fled. But in her haste she dropped him and the resultant injuries meant that he was crippled for life.They settled in a town called Lo-debar, which means "a place of no bread". (2 Samuel 4/4). By the time we meet Mephibosheth in chapter 9, he is old enough to have a young son himself (v.12) which means that this self-imposed exile lasted quite a few years.
I can only imagine what stories were told to Mephibosheth by his nanny; stories designed to instill fear into his life. As he grew up through those formative years into adolescence, his perspective on life and his fear of King David must have become so distorted. It seems to me that many, many people in our world live within the paradigm of fear when it comes to their idea of what God is like.
I don't mean that 'fear of God' which is a healthy and appropriate respect and awe of Almighty God. I refer to a fear that is more akin to a sense of terror. God is to be avoided at all costs. I imagine that Mephibosheth was controlled by such a fear and his attitude to the King was one of alienation.
In the meantime, David was pondering the covenant he had made with Jonathan and David's promise to provide for Jonathan's descendants in the event that something untoward should happen to him. He made enquiries to see if anyone from Saul's family still lived so that he "could show kindness for Jonathan's sake".
Was this question the precursor to a strategy that would purge the line of Saul and thus remove any immediate threat to David's position? It reminds me of Herod's strategy in Matthew 2 concerning the Christ child. His stated reason was to worship the child. His real reason was to kill the child.
Anyway, Mephibosheth is found and brought into David's presence. His fear must have been palpable because David's first words were, "Don't be afraid". The explanation that followed must have been the last words Mephibosheth expected to hear. They were words of recovery and restoration, not words of revenge and retribution.
I love the closing words that summarize the changed status of Mephibosheth "And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with David, as though he were one of his own sons". (v.11) It sounds to me that Mephibosheth was accepted by David because of the covenant relationship with Jonathan and adopted into the King's family. "…..as though he were one of his own sons".
Mephibosheth was relocated from the "place of no bread", a place of scarcity to the palace of the King, a place of plenty. So here is an Old Testament story illustrating the New Testament truth of grace, kindness and adoption.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NLT
So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family — calling him "Father, dear Father."16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. 17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures — for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. Rom 8:15-17 NLT
Wonderful truth! Life-changing truth!
