Grace to a Poor Specimen

Grace to a Poor Specimen

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

II Samuel 9:13

The behavior of Christlike saints points us to Christ Himself. David was such a saint. His relationship with Mephibosheth shows us just how Christlike he was. To gain perspective on the whole relationship, perhaps take the time to read all of II Samuel Chapter Nine. David sought to do good to the descendants of Saul, who had been his enemy. Mephibosheth was a son of Jonathan, Saul’s son. He was, as the result of an accident, paralyzed. The remarkable thing is how David treated Mephibosheth. It is the same way that Christ treats us.

The early portion of Chapter Nine details for us that David sought him and called him unto himself. So Christ has done with us. We dwelt in obscurity, perhaps ashamed of our heritage and our infirmity, yet Christ sought us, and called us unto Himself. David did not despise Mephibosheth’s heritage or his identity. Mephibosheth’s name means, ‘out of the mouth of shame.’ So Christ has not despised our heritage or our identity. We are by nature, ‘from the mouth of shame.’ Yet Christ still draws us to Himself. David did not despise his infirmity. He was ‘lame in both his feet.’ David could have left such a one in obscurity and no one would have blamed him. He however, not only made a place for him at the King’s table; he gave him property. So Christ does to us. Overlooking our natural infirmity, Christ gives us both place and property. We identify with Mephibosheth. We adore David’s greater son, who has bestowed such abundant Grace upon us.

Our Gracious and Generous Savior,
We praise You that You have sought us,
called us, and given us
both place and property.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning